Portfolio Group 
Portfolio Payroll 
Portfolio HR & Reward 
Portfolio Credit Control 
Portfolio Procurement 
Canada Payroll Salary Guide 2025/26
Second Edition | Featuring insights from the National Payroll Institute
With payroll teams playing a more strategic role and candidate expectations shifting rapidly, the second edition of the Canada Payroll Salary Guide from Portfolio Payroll Canada delivers vital data and analysis for employers navigating today’s complex hiring landscape.
This comprehensive, data-driven guide is based on survey responses from over 820 payroll professionals nationwide, combined with real-time market intelligence from our recruitment teams and expert commentary from the National Payroll Institute.
Whether you are hiring, budgeting, or benchmarking your own compensation, this guide offers an accurate, detailed view of pay, benefits, working models, and recruitment trends across the Canadian payroll profession.
What’s in the Canada Payroll Salary Survey:
- Role-by-role salary benchmarks across all provinces – Includes high, low, and average base salaries from Payroll Administrator through to Head of Payroll. Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta remain the highest-paying regions.
- In-demand skills and where the market is hiring – Seventy-four percent of employers plan to hire in the next three months, while standalone payroll roles now account for 35 percent of the market. Mid-level talent is in increasingly short supply.
- Remote and hybrid working insights – Forty-one percent of payroll professionals are now hybrid, and 43 percent say they would never return to a fully office-based role. Flexibility ranks just behind salary as a top motivator.
- Trends in benefits, bonuses, and employee expectations – Eighty-three percent of professionals want more flexible vacation options. Paid tuition, additional leave, and hybrid arrangements are now essential to attract and retain top talent.
Whether you are an employer looking to retain talent, expand your team, or improve your hiring outcomes, or a payroll professional assessing your market value, this guide is your go-to resource.
Our in-depth analysis enables you to benchmark salaries with confidence, assess total reward packages, and understand how working patterns and candidate priorities are shifting across the country.
Designed to support decision-making at every level, the Canada Payroll Salary Guide 2025/26 provides clarity, context, and competitive insight in a fast-changing market.
Download your copy of the 2025/26 guide
Looking to hire?
We recruit permanent and contract payroll professionals across Canada, from entry-level specialists to executive leaders. Contact us today to access the strongest payroll talent on the market.
Complete the form to get your free copy
Latest jobs
Are you a payroll expert with recent hands-on experience in UKG environments? Our client is looking for a Payroll Specialist to join their team as they prepare to launch their new UKG implementation! What You’ll Do: Process payroll accuratel...
View job & applyRole: Payroll HRIS Analyst System: UKG Location: Vaughan ON Travel : Hybrid 2 days a week Our client is actively looking to add additional resources to their HRIS payroll team. Job responsibilities: Support UKG systems configurations and upgrades ...
View job & applyRole: Payroll & Benefits Specialist Industry: Finance Role: Hybrid 2-3 days downtown toronto Our client is actively on the market for an experienced full cycle payroll professional able to own the entire payroll process and collaborate with fi...
View job & applyThe Portfolio Payroll Contract Team is seeking a hands-on Senior Payroll Lead / Manager to join a fast-paced Toronto organization. Amazing Hybrid Temporary opportunity for that individual that can take ownership of the full-cycle payroll process a...
View job & applyPortfolio Payroll is seeking an experienced Payroll Coordinator to join and support our payroll team. If you are a payroll professional with the right skills and experience, please review the details below. Responsibilities: Minimum 3 years of pay...
View job & applyJob Title: Payroll Administrator Location: Napanee, ON (On-site) Department: Finance Reports To: CFO Job Type: Full-time Position Summary The Payroll Administrator will be responsible for the accurate and timely processing of payroll, benefits adm...
View job & applyJob Title: Payroll Analyst Location: Toronto, ON (Hybrid/On-site) Department: Human Resources / Finance Reports To: Payroll Manager Job Type: Full-time Position Summary The Payroll Analyst will be responsible for processing and analyzing payroll f...
View job & applyOur Client is presently looking for an enthusiastic Payroll Benefits Specialist with exceptional experience in UKG – Contract role. The ideal candidate possesses 8-10 years of experience and will help support the entire payroll function, inc...
View job & applyRole: Payroll Analyst Location: Downtown Toronto OR Downtown Montreal Working model: Hybrid 2 days a week Our client is actively looking for a bilingual payroll professional to join their high volume processing team. Responsibilities / Qualificati...
View job & applyRole: Payroll Analyst Location: Downtown Toronto OR Downtown Montreal Working model: Hybrid 2 days a week Our client is actively looking for a bilingual payroll professional to join their high volume processing team. Responsibilities / Qualificati...
View job & apply