Your age might say more about your salary than you think. Updated data from Quebec’s statistics agency reveals how incomes shift across generations, from entry-level paycheques to retirement nest eggs.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) has broken down average incomes in the province by age group, showing exactly how much Quebecers are making at different stages of life. In 1996, the average income for Quebecers 16 and older was about $35,000. By 2022 (the latest year available), it was over $54,000, even after accounting for inflation.
For context, Statistics Canada reported earlier this year that the national average salary is now about $67,467. According to their calculations, Quebec trails just below that at $65,214.
Here’s how Quebec incomes look when broken down by age.
15 to 29 years old
Wages rise quickly as young workers get older. In 2024, full-time employees under 30 earned an average of $28.50 an hour, but the number varies greatly (according to the most recent data on Hourly Compensation of Full-Time Employees from the Government of Quebec):
- 15–19 years: about $20/h
- 20–24 years: about $25.30/h
- 25–29 years: about $31.30/h
The annual after-tax income for 16- to 29-year-olds was about $26,900 in 2022. At this age, the gender gap is small — women earned 97% of men’s hourly wages.
Still, most in this group earned under $25,000 per year. Only a small share cracked $70,000 or more.
30 to 64 years old
Incomes jump once Quebecers hit their thirties. By 2024, the average after-tax annual salary was:
- $48,900 for women
- $58,300 for men
The gender gap grows here, with men earning nearly $9,400 more on average.
Among 40- to 54-year-olds, hundreds of thousands reported incomes above $70,000, with many in the $100,000–$499,999 range. At 55–64, earnings dipped slightly but remained high, with a big portion still in the $50,000–$99,999 range.
65 and older
Even past retirement age, Quebecers report steady incomes. In 2022, the average after-tax income was $31,800 for women and $43,200 for men — the widest gender gap of any group. There were 724,700 people with incomes between $1 and $24,999, 637,000 between $25,000 and $49,999, 256,700 between $50,000 and $69,999, and 137,000 between $70,000 and $99,999.
Plenty of seniors are still doing well financially. In fact, more than 100,000 reported between $100,000 and $499,999, and nearly 2,000 made over $1 million.
The big picture
Quebec salaries grow steadily with age, but the national picture shows the province still lags slightly behind Canada’s overall average. That means if you’re earning around $65K a year (before taxes), you’re roughly on par with other Quebecers, but you’d still be below average in provinces like British Columbia, Alberta or Ontario.
This story was inspired by the article “Voici le salaire moyen des Québécois selon leur tranche d’âge” which was originally published on Narcity Quebec.
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