Secretary Salary in Canada

In 2025, the median wage for Secretaries was $26.44/hr.

Secretaries in Canada: job prospects, employment requirements, licensing.

The secretary occupation in Canada, often classified under administrative assistants, remains a large and stable field with about 233,800 workers employed as of 2023, reflecting its widespread role across industries such as public administration, health care, and education . Median wages are around $26 per hour nationally, with entry-level pay near $19 and experienced workers earning up to about $37 per hour . Recent trends show a mature occupation with an aging workforce, as roughly 41 percent of workers are aged 50 and over, which is expected to create replacement demand through retirements . At the same time, automation and digital tools are limiting strong job growth, resulting in a balanced labour market where demand and supply are projected to remain roughly in line through 2033 . In Ontario and most provinces, the short term outlook is rated moderate, meaning some new positions will arise but competition remains, driven by both modest employment growth and ongoing retirements . Overall, the occupation offers steady but not rapidly expanding opportunities, with future prospects shaped by technological change and the need to replace retiring workers.

Licensing

This occupation is not regulated in Canada. This means that you are not required to be registered with one of the provincial or territorial regulatory authorities to be authorized to practise this occupation in Canada.

SECRETARY-CLERK (NOC 13110)
2025	Wages/hr
Community/Area	Low	Median	High
Canada	19.23	26.44	36.88
Newfoundland and Labrador	19.57	26.37	34.66
Prince Edward Island	17.00	26.67	34.46
Nova Scotia	18.30	25.00	35.58
New Brunswick	17.79	25.00	35.44
Quebec	20.00	26.00	36.06
Ontario	19.00	26.67	37.95
Manitoba	17.00	24.32	34.66
Saskatchewan	18.20	25.00	34.80
Alberta	19.78	26.43	37.00
British Columbia	20.00	28.50	36.54
Yukon Territory	23.08	33.50	39.49
Northwest Territories	25.00	36.00	42.00
Nunavut	24.62	32.40	48.72
Source: Job Bank. 2026

In 2016, the median wage for secretaries and administrative assistants was $20/hr.

Secretary salaries in Canada vary by province; in 2016, secretaries in Nunavut reported the highest wages.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS (NOC 1241-B)
2016	Wages ($/hr)
	Low	Median	High
Canada	12	20	27.83
Nunavut	21.5	30.84	38.38
Northwest Territories	20	27.65	35.5
Saskatchewan	13	20	31.25
Yukon	18.8	25.97	31.05
Ontario	12	20	28.85
Manitoba	11	18	28.72
British Columbia	12	22	28.7
Alberta	13.75	21.25	28
Newfoundland and Labrador	12	21.7	26.67
New Brunswick	11.5	17.5	26.15
Québec	12.4	20	26
Nova Scotia	11.5	19.98	25.64
Prince Edward Island	12	19	25.13
Source: Job Bank. November 2016*

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