Is $55,000 a good salary in Hamilton?
$55,000 is about an average salary for Hamilton — around the 55th income percentile, close to the median there. Take-home is about $42,870 after tax, CPP and EI.
Median individual income is $47,310 in Hamilton, against $44,640 across Ontario — so this salary sits at the 55th percentile locally and the 57th provincially.
Income figures cover the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Hamilton, the region Statistics Canada reports, not the municipality alone.
One page answers all three — how you compare, what you keep, and your tax rate.
I'm in the 55th income percentile in Hamilton.
Where you stand
How you compare to Hamilton earners
Based on individual employment income. You earn more than about 55% of residents.
Your paycheque
Where your $55,000 goes
Estimated 2026 deductions for a resident of Ontario, employment income.
Average tax rate ≈ 14.8% · Total deductions ≈ 22.1% · Marginal ≈ 23.2%
Educational information only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Figures are estimates based on official CRA & Statistics Canada data.
Take-home pay uses Ontario tax rates — income tax is provincial, not municipal.
Compare provinces
Where $55,000 goes furthest
Take-home pay, tax rate, and income percentile for $55,000 in every province and territory.
| # | Province / territory | Take-home pay | Avg. tax rate | Total deductions | Income percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nunavut | $44,223 | 12.4% | 19.6% | 56th |
| 2 | Northwest Territories | $43,410 | 13.9% | 21.1% | 46th |
| 3 | British Columbia | $43,386 | 13.9% | 21.1% | 57th |
| 4 | Yukon | $43,170 | 14.3% | 21.5% | 45th |
| 5 | Alberta | $43,059 | 14.5% | 21.7% | 55th |
| 6 | Ontario | $42,870 | 14.8% | 22.1% | 57th |
| 7 | Saskatchewan | $41,794 | 16.8% | 24.0% | 57th |
| 8 | New Brunswick | $41,627 | 17.1% | 24.3% | 63rd |
| 9 | Manitoba | $41,277 | 17.7% | 25.0% | 61st |
| 10 | Newfoundland and Labrador | $41,235 | 17.8% | 25.0% | 63rd |
| 11 | Quebec | $41,163 | 17.5% | 25.2% | 58th |
| 12 | Prince Edward Island | $40,905 | 18.4% | 25.6% | 62nd |
| 13 | Nova Scotia | $40,356 | 19.4% | 26.6% | 61st |
Ontario and Quebec figures are approximate: Ontario's surtax and Quebec's QPP2, parental insurance (QPIP), and prescription-drug contribution aren't modelled.
What's next