Family Doctor Salary in Canada

In 2025, the median wage for Family Doctors was $232,227/yr. 

Family Doctors in Canada

Family doctors in Canada, also known as general practitioners or primary care physicians, typically complete a medical degree followed by a two-year residency in family medicine accredited by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), after which they obtain certification (CCFP) and provincial licensure to practice independently. Recent trends show a persistent and worsening shortage of family doctors, with approximately 5.9 million Canadians lacking regular access to a primary care provider as of late 2025, a figure that has improved slightly from 6.5 million in 2022 but remains high amid population growth, an aging demographic with complex needs, and many physicians shifting away from comprehensive primary care or nearing retirement. Working conditions have deteriorated, with family physicians reporting higher burnout rates (38 percent) than international peers, along with elevated job stress (50 percent), frequent emotional distress (44 percent), heavy administrative burdens that consume about 20 percent of their time, and declining satisfaction with practicing medicine (down to 72 percent in 2025 from 88 percent in 2019). Job prospects remain very strong nationwide, with a projected strong risk of labour shortage through 2033 driven by retirements, insufficient new graduates choosing family medicine (only 27.9 percent of Canadian medical graduates selected it as first choice in 2025), and government efforts including expanded training seats, targeted immigration for physicians, and incentives for rural and underserved areas, though many new doctors face challenges such as high student debt and lower earnings compared to specialists. Provinces continue to implement team-based care models and recruitment programs to address gaps, yet demand far outstrips supply, creating excellent opportunities for both domestic graduates and internationally trained family physicians willing to navigate licensing pathways.

FAMILY PHYSICIAN (NOC 31102)
2025	Wages ($/yr)
Community/Area	Low	Median	High
Canada	90,826	232,227	435,240
Newfoundland and Labrador	86,738	204,492	396,356
Prince Edward Island	89,508	209,676	333,708
Nova Scotia	75,058	187,135	345,667
New Brunswick	89,344	187,297	346,082
Quebec	95,137	268,808	505,024
Ontario	84,266	233,752	451,418
Manitoba	97,422	240,395	487,678
Saskatchewan	N/A	N/A	N/A
Alberta	66,798	178,213	327,151
British Columbia	56,864	160,960	348,082
Yukon Territory	82,632	219,382	424,378
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. 2026

According to Canada’s Job Bank, in 2016, the median wage for family doctors and general practitioners in Canada was $125,002/year.

GENERAL PRACTITIONERS AND FAMILY PHYSICIANS (NOC 3112-A)
2016	Wages ($/yr)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	41,216	125,002	294,405
Saskatchewan	24,033	120,049	335,266
Alberta	54,003	125,239	326,535
Ontario	47,652	129,707	319,924
Newfoundland and Labrador	21,225	150,485	309,737
Québec	40,084	128,325	277,923
New Brunswick	48,210	122,065	276,379
Manitoba	44,803	118,682	273,224
British Columbia	40,144	104,451	242,695
Nova Scotia	22,512	111,830	202,431
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Prince Edward Island	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yukon	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. November 2016*

*Wages are reviewed and updated on the Job Bank Web site on an annual basis.

Licensing

Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces and territories for this occupation.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada