Security / Penetration Tester salary in Canada
A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in Canada earns a median of C$210k ($150k) a year gross. The p10 to p90 range is C$170k to C$260k. That is 16% below the US median for the same role. Canada ranks 3 of 36 countries on our pay index. Juniors start near C$160k, leads reach C$320k.
Security / Penetration Tester pay by level in Canada
Gross annual pay in CAD. Junior pay is C$160k, lead pay is C$320k: leads earn 100% more. The bar spans p10 to p90 with the median marked.
| Level | p10 | Median | p90 | Range | Median (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junior | C$130k | C$160k | C$200k | $120k | |
| Mid-level | C$170k | C$210k | C$260k | $150k | |
| Senior | C$220k | C$270k | C$330k | $190k | |
| Lead | C$270k | C$320k | C$390k | $240k |
Estimates from posted pay ranges, base pay only. p10 and p90 are 0.82× and 1.22× the median. Methodology.
Security / Penetration Tester pay by city in Canada
Toronto pays most at 1.06× the national median. Pay factor 1.00 equals the country median of C$210k. Showing the top 8 of 11 cities.
| City | Tier | Pay factor | Mid-level median | p10–p90 | USD | QA jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | A | 1.06× (+6%) | C$220k | C$180k–C$270k | $160k | 150 |
| Vancouver | A | 1.04× (+4%) | C$220k | C$180k–C$270k | $160k | 15 |
| Ottawa | B | 0.97× (-3%) | C$200k | C$170k–C$250k | $150k | 9 |
| Calgary | B | 0.96× (-4%) | C$200k | C$160k–C$240k | $150k | 10 |
| Montreal | B | 0.95× (-5%) | C$200k | C$160k–C$240k | $140k | 19 |
| Waterloo | B | 0.94× (-6%) | C$200k | C$160k–C$240k | $140k | 3 |
| Edmonton | C | 0.90× (-10%) | C$190k | C$150k–C$230k | $140k | 1 |
| Winnipeg | B | 0.90× (-10%) | C$190k | C$150k–C$230k | $140k | 6 |
City factors are estimates (tier A = largest tech hubs). Remote roles are paid to the employer's pay band, which can differ from the city rate.
From gross to take-home in Canada
A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester on C$210k gross keeps roughly 70–76% after income tax and social contributions, about C$150k to C$160k a year.
In Canada, pay is usually quoted as annual base salary, hourly for contract roles. Estimate only: a single earner with no dependants and typical deductions. Bonuses, benefits, pension choices and regional taxes change the result. It is not tax advice.
QA roles open in Canada
1 Security / Penetration Tester role open today. Showing the closest matches from 320 QA listings in Canada.
Security Engineer, Application Security
AIML - Senior Applied ML Research Scientist, Accessibility
CoreOS Kernel Performance Engineer
132 listings in Canada show a real posted pay range (1 for Security / Penetration Tester). Others carry a model estimate marked “est.”.
Who hires Security / Penetration Testers in Canada
Employer mix by share of listings (320 listings in Canada). Names are withheld; we show the type of company.
- Games studios26%
- AI companies24%
- Healthtech companies16%
- Software companies10%
- E-commerce companies7%
Similar-paying countries
Mid-level Security / Penetration Tester median in countries closest to Canada on our pay index.
| Country | Local | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | CHF 150k | $170k |
| Australia | A$200k | $130k |
| Israel | ₪480k | $130k |
| Ireland | €120k | $130k |
| United States | $180k | $180k |
| Singapore | S$170k | $120k |
What this estimate rests on
The Security / Penetration Tester baseline uses 22 US posted pay ranges. For Canada, the country index is calibrated on 485 non-US observations in North America, so the regional sample is usable but still modest. Evidence score 7 of 8.
Security / Penetration Tester salary and jobs by city in Canada
Security / Penetration Tester salary in Canada: FAQ
What is the average Security / Penetration Tester salary in Canada?
The median gross salary for a mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in Canada is C$210k a year ($150k). The p10 is C$170k and the p90 is C$260k. This is an estimate based on posted pay ranges.
How much does a senior Security / Penetration Tester earn in Canada?
A senior Security / Penetration Tester in Canada earns a median of C$270k ($190k), with a range of C$220k to C$330k. Leads earn C$320k, 100% more than juniors at C$160k.
Which city in Canada pays Security / Penetration Testers the most?
Toronto has the highest pay factor at 1.06x the country median, which puts a mid-level Security / Penetration Tester at about C$220k ($160k). Québec City sits at 0.88x, around C$180k.
How does Canada compare with the US for Security / Penetration Tester pay?
A mid-level Security / Penetration Tester in the US earns a median of $180k. In Canada the equivalent is $150k, which is 16% below the US figure. Canada ranks 3 of 36 countries; the North America median for this role is $170k.
What is the take-home pay for a Security / Penetration Tester in Canada?
Roughly 70–76% of gross stays after income tax and social contributions for a single mid-level earner, which is about C$150k to C$160k a year on a C$210k gross salary. This is a generic estimate, not tax advice: benefits, family status and regional taxes change the result.
How many Security / Penetration Tester jobs are open in Canada?
PassRidge lists 1 live Security / Penetration Tester role in Canada, and 320 QA listings across all roles in Canada. 1 of the Security / Penetration Tester listings and 132 of all listings in the country show a real posted pay range; the rest carry a model estimate.
Other roles in Canada
| Role | Mid-level median | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual QA Tester | C$95k | $69k |
| QA Automation Engineer | C$140k | $100k |
| SDET | C$150k | $110k |
| QA Lead / Manager | C$130k | $93k |
| Mobile QA Engineer | C$120k | $89k |
| Performance Test Engineer | C$170k | $120k |
| Game QA Tester | C$76k | $56k |
| Accessibility Tester | C$110k | $83k |
| Business / Test Analyst | C$100k | $75k |
| Data / ETL QA Engineer | C$120k | $84k |
| Localization QA Tester | C$55k | $40k |
| AI / LLM Evaluation QA | C$120k | $88k |
| Release / DevOps Engineer | C$170k | $120k |
| Technical Writer (QA / Docs) | C$100k | $76k |
World view: Security / Penetration Tester salary by country · Security / Penetration Tester role guide · Hire a Security / Penetration Tester · Salary finder.