Head Nurse Salary in Canada

Pay Job Details Skills Salary Comparison Average Salaries Cost of Living Pay Adjustments FAQs About Our Data
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  2. > Salary
  3. > Head Nurse
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Last Updated: July 11, 2026

$117,344 USD

per year
Hourly Rate $56.42
Bonus $2,488

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Entry Level $81K
Average $117K
Senior Level $143K

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The average pay for a Head Nurse is $117,344, which is $56.42 an hour in Canada. The average salary range for a Head Nurse is between $80,850 and $143,160. On average, a Bachelor's is the highest level of education for a Head Nurse.

This compensation analysis comes from aggregated salary survey data for Canada. ERI's compensation information is based on employer-reported data collected from ERI's salary surveys, customer HRIS data, data from Proxies/10Ks and Forms 990, proprietary databases, and purchased survey data. Cost-of-labor data in the Assessor Series are based on actual housing sales data from commercially available sources, plus rental rates, gasoline prices, consumables, medical care premium costs, property taxes, effective income tax rates, etc. For more information, see ERI's methodology.

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Salary Potential for Head Nurse

Explore the estimated salary growth for Head Nurse in Canada for up to 5 years. The estimated salary of Head Nurse in 1 year will be $118,753, and in 5 years, will be $124,558.

Number of Years

2 Years

Estimated Salary

$120,178 USD

Percentage Growth

0%

Growth Trajectory

The estimated salary growth for Head Nurse in [# of years] is [salary], which is [average growth %] average growth. This information is based on ERI's compensation database.

What Does a Head Nurse Do?

Supervises and coordinates nursing activities in hospital unit. Assigns duties and coordinates nursing service. Evaluates nursing activities to ensure patient care, staff relations, and efficiency of service. Notes nursing care and visits patients to ensure that nursing care is carried out as directed and that treatment administered in accordance with physician's instructions. Directs preparation and maintenance of patients' clinical records. Requires RN license.

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Education, Skills, and Certifications for Head Nurses

Gain access to salary differentials for education and skills in ERI's Salary Assessor

Education

Below is the average education level for a Head Nurse. About 60% have a Bachelor's degree, 27% have a Master's degree, and 11% have a Associate degree.

  • Bachelor's Degree 60%
  • Master's Degree 27%
  • Associate Degree 11%
  • Doctorate Degree 2%
  • High School Diploma 0%
  • Less Than HS 0%

Top Skills

Below are top skills for a Head Nurse. 100% of Head Nurses have a skill in Evaluates nursing activities. The top 3 most popular skills for Head Nurses are Evaluates nursing activities.

  • Evaluates nursing activities 100%

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Compare Head Nurse Salaries by Location

See how Head Nurse salaries vary by region and find the best location for your career.

Average Salaries for Head Nurse

The average salary of head nurse in Canada is $117,344. The average salary of head nurse in California is $147,695. The average salary of head nurse in United States is $124,369. Explore the average salaries for head nurse in other locations below.

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Cost of Living in Canada

The cost of living in Canada is 0% equal to than the national average.

Whether you're planning to move or just want to see the cost of living in different locations, our cost-of-living calculator is the place to start. Compare salaries for other locations by city, U.S. ZIP code, state, or country.

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Why Your Salary May Look Different

This information is based on a specific job title and location, but real-world compensation can vary based on factors like years of experience, company size, shift differentials, and more. Because of these variables, your actual pay may fall above or below the average ranges shown. Use ERI's salary data and compensation management platform to identify market trends and accurately adjust pay so that you can price jobs competitively.

Based on the average salary in the United States, if your shift differential is 10%, then your pay will increase by $5.64/hour

*Some jobs may not be adjusted using shift differentials. Please contact [email protected] for additional information.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Head Nurse salaries and career insights

How much does a Head Nurse make in Canada?

ERI's data indicated that, on average, a Head Nurse is $117,344 per year or $56.42 per hour in Canada, which is 1% lower than the national average. Top earners have reported making up to $143,160. However, the typical pay range in Canada, is between $80,850 and $143,160 annually.

What is the salary potential for Head Nurse in 5 years?

Head Nurse is projected to see 6.1% salary growth in 5 years.

What are some factors that impact Head Nurse salaries?

Several factors can impact the salary, including experience, company size, job market, location, industry, and more. Understanding how these factors affect the role can provide opportunities to earn more. Use our salary calculator to find out how much you should be paid based on what someone in your area, with similar experience, earns.

How can I accurately price jobs for my organization?

There are several factors that can impact the salary, including experience, company size, job market, location, industry, education, certificates, shift differentials, and more. Understanding how these factors affect the role can help you spot pay gaps and retain top talent. ERI's Assessor Platform brings these factors together in one platform, making it easy to benchmark roles, analyze insights, and set pay with confidence.

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ERI Economic Research Institute was founded over 35 years ago to provide trusted compensation data for private and public organizations. ERI has established itself as a gold standard for global salary benchmarking and geographic differentials and has evolved to offer a complete compensation management software solution.

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With decades of experience in compensation, ERI offers an extensive and reliable salary survey database powered by the Assessor Platform, a comprehensive compensation management solution that optimizes complex processes for accuracy and efficiency.

HR and compensation professionals in organizations ranging from small companies to the Fortune 500 rely on ERI's Assessor Platform to:

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ERI's team of PhD-level data scientists and seasoned compensation professionals review and validate our salary data approximately every six weeks, ensuring the accuracy of the data that we publish. Learn more about our methodology.

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About Our Data

This page is an excerpt of the much more complete compensation information available in ERI's Assessor Series.

For over 35 years, ERI has compiled the most robust and accurate salary, cost-of-living, and executive compensation survey database available. Data are analyzed using AI and traditional statistics, depending on which approach is best for a particular application. ERI collects salary survey data from five different sources, which you can learn about here.

Verified Sources

Data sourced from internal salary surveys, purchased surveys, public sources, HRIS data, and proprietary databases.

Real-Time Data

Our salary database is updated and verified approximately every six weeks.

Quality Assurance

Along with our data scientists, we have included AI in our rigorous process to analyze and provide the highest quality data.

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Locations

35,900+

Job Titles

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Skills

5,500+

Certifications

1,100+

Industries

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