Is $85,000 a good salary in Edmonton?
Yes — $85,000 is a good, above-average salary for Edmonton. It puts you around the 75th income percentile, ahead of about 75% of earners, with about $62,458 in take-home pay after tax, CPP and EI.
Median individual income is $48,730 in Edmonton, against $47,910 across Alberta — so this salary sits at the 75th percentile locally and the 74th provincially.
Income figures cover the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Edmonton, 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 75th income percentile in Edmonton.
Where you stand
How you compare to Edmonton earners
Based on individual employment income. You earn more than about 75% of residents.
Your paycheque
Where your $85,000 goes
Estimated 2026 deductions for a resident of Alberta, employment income.
Average tax rate ≈ 19.7% · Total deductions ≈ 26.5% · Marginal ≈ 30.5%
Educational information only — not financial, tax, or legal advice. Figures are estimates based on official CRA & Statistics Canada data.
Take-home pay uses Alberta tax rates — income tax is provincial, not municipal.
Compare provinces
Where $85,000 goes furthest
Take-home pay, tax rate, and income percentile for $85,000 in every province and territory.
| # | Province / territory | Take-home pay | Avg. tax rate | Total deductions | Income percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nunavut | $64,422 | 17.4% | 24.2% | 70th |
| 2 | British Columbia | $63,351 | 18.7% | 25.5% | 77th |
| 3 | Northwest Territories | $63,105 | 19.0% | 25.8% | 62nd |
| 4 | Yukon | $62,837 | 19.3% | 26.1% | 66th |
| 5 | Alberta | $62,458 | 19.7% | 26.5% | 74th |
| 6 | Ontario | $62,250 | 20.0% | 26.8% | 77th |
| 7 | Saskatchewan | $60,320 | 22.2% | 29.0% | 77th |
| 8 | Manitoba | $59,727 | 22.9% | 29.7% | 81st |
| 9 | New Brunswick | $59,702 | 23.0% | 29.8% | 84th |
| 10 | Newfoundland and Labrador | $59,160 | 23.6% | 30.4% | 80th |
| 11 | Quebec | $58,627 | 23.9% | 31.0% | 79th |
| 12 | Prince Edward Island | $58,503 | 24.4% | 31.2% | 84th |
| 13 | Nova Scotia | $57,751 | 25.3% | 32.1% | 81st |
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