What is the average backend engineer salary in Toronto in 2026?

The average base salary for a backend engineer in Toronto in 2026 is approximately CAD $100,000–$120,000. Senior engineers typically earn CAD $110,000–$145,000 base, with total compensation reaching CAD $130,000–$185,000 when RRSP matching, bonuses, and RSUs are included.

Which Toronto companies pay the most for backend engineers?

Shopify and Cohere tend to pay at or near US startup rates, with strong RSU components. Among established enterprises, Wealthsimple and Thomson Reuters offer competitive total comp. The major banks (RBC, TD, BMO) offer strong benefits packages and pension contributions that significantly boost effective compensation at senior levels.

Does Go or Java pay more for backend engineers in Toronto?

Go (Golang) currently commands a higher market premium — roughly 12–18% above median base — driven by demand from Shopify and the fintech startup ecosystem. Java/Spring pays well at the major banks, with 10–15% premiums in enterprise roles. For absolute total compensation, senior Java engineers at banks can match Go engineers at startups when pension and bonus are factored in.

How hard is it to immigrate to Canada as a backend engineer?

Canada is one of the most accessible countries for tech workers. The Global Talent Stream (GTS) offers LMIA-exempt work permits processed in as little as two weeks for in-demand roles. Express Entry scores backend engineers favorably. US workers can use TN visas for near-immediate access, and employers like Shopify and Cohere actively sponsor international hires.

How does Toronto compare to Vancouver for backend engineering salaries?

Toronto generally offers slightly higher salaries — senior backend engineers earn CAD $110K–$145K versus CAD $105K–$138K in Vancouver. Toronto also has a larger and more diverse tech market, with stronger representation in fintech, enterprise tech, and AI. Vancouver is more concentrated in gaming and smaller tech firms, though its cost of living is also somewhat higher.

Backend Engineer Salary Toronto 2026: Fintech, AI & Big Banks

What backend engineers actually earn in Toronto — at Shopify, the big banks, and AI startups — in 2026

Toronto is one of North America's fastest-growing technology hubs — and in 2026, backend engineers here are benefiting from strong local demand, competitive salaries, and a quality of life that rivals any major US city. Whether you are a Canadian resident, an international applicant navigating Express Entry, or a remote engineer weighing a relocation, this guide breaks down what backend engineers actually earn in Toronto.

For a global benchmark, see the Backend Engineer Salary Guide 2026.

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Backend Engineer Salary Bands in Toronto (2026)

Salaries below are base pay in Canadian dollars (CAD). USD equivalents assume approximately 0.73 exchange rate (as of early 2026).

Level	Experience	CAD Base Range	USD Equivalent
Junior	0–2 years	CAD $65,000 – $90,000	~USD $47K – $66K
Mid	2–5 years	CAD $90,000 – $115,000	~USD $66K – $84K
Senior	5–9 years	CAD $110,000 – $145,000	~USD $80K – $106K
Staff / Principal	9+ years	CAD $145,000 – $190,000	~USD $106K – $139K

Total compensation — base plus bonus, RSUs, and benefits — typically runs 15–25% above base at large employers such as Shopify and the major banks.

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Top Toronto Employers for Backend Engineers

Toronto has no shortage of strong engineering employers across fintech, e-commerce, healthcare technology, and AI:

Shopify — Canada's most prominent tech employer, known for remote-friendly culture, strong RSU programs, and Go/Ruby stacks.

RBC, TD, BMO — Canada's big banks are among the largest technology employers in the country, with sizable platform and API teams and competitive total-comp packages for Java and Python engineers.

Wealthsimple — Canada's leading consumer fintech, offering startup-tier salaries with RSUs and an emphasis on Python, Go, and event-driven architecture.

Interac — Financial infrastructure for Canada. Deep Java expertise valued. Stable, government-adjacent work with strong benefits.

Thomson Reuters — Major enterprise employer with strong Python and microservices teams, excellent benefits, and hybrid work options.

Ubisoft Toronto — Games industry with C++ and backend services engineering; niche but well-compensated.

PointClickCare — Healthcare technology SaaS with steady growth, Java and .NET stacks.

Cohere — AI startup with serious pedigree. Pays at or above US startup rates to attract ML-adjacent backend talent.

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Stack Premiums in Toronto

Not all backend experience carries equal weight in the Toronto market. These specializations command meaningful salary premiums:

Go / Golang — High demand at Shopify, Wealthsimple, and fintech startups. Typically 12–18% above median base.

Rust — Niche but growing in infrastructure roles. Premium of 15–22% where it appears in job postings.

Java / Spring — Dominant at the banks (RBC, TD, BMO, Interac). Deep Spring Boot expertise commands 10–15% premium in enterprise roles.

Python / FastAPI — Standard at AI companies like Cohere and at data-heavy scaleups. Premium of 8–12% versus generalist backend roles.

Kubernetes / container orchestration — Expected at platform-level roles; adds 10–15% at companies running significant cloud infrastructure.

Microservices / distributed systems — Table stakes at senior level but explicitly valued in job postings. Kafka experience in particular commands 10–15% above peers without event-streaming background.

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Toronto vs Vancouver vs NYC vs Remote

How does Toronto stack up against other popular markets?

Market	Senior Backend Base	Cost of Living Index	Notes
Toronto	CAD $110K – $145K	100 (baseline)	Strong fintech + tech ecosystem
Vancouver	CAD $105K – $138K	110	Slightly higher CoL, smaller market
NYC (USD)	USD $150K – $195K	175	High absolute pay, very high CoL
Remote (CAD)	CAD $100K – $150K	Varies	Top band matches Toronto on-site

On an after-tax, purchasing-power-adjusted basis, senior Toronto backend engineers often fare better than their NYC counterparts — especially when Canadian benefits and lower housing costs outside the downtown core are factored in.

For a European perspective, see the Backend Engineer Salary Berlin 2026 and Backend Engineer Salary London 2026 guides.

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Canadian Benefits You Should Know About

One of the most overlooked advantages of working in Canada is the total compensation package that extends well beyond base salary:

RRSP Matching — Most major Toronto employers offer 3–5% RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) matching, equivalent to a 401(k) match in the US.

Employment Insurance (EI) — Federally funded short-term income protection if you are laid off or take parental leave.

OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) — Provincial healthcare covers the vast majority of medical costs at no additional premium from your employer.

Parental Leave — Up to 18 months of EI-supported parental leave (shareable between parents). Many employers top up EI payments to 100% of base salary for the first 4–8 weeks.

Vacation / PTO — Ontario law mandates a minimum of 2 weeks; most tech employers offer 3–4 weeks, with unlimited PTO common at Shopify and startup-stage companies.

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Immigration: Getting to Toronto as a Backend Engineer

Toronto is one of the most accessible major tech cities in the world for international engineers:

Express Entry — Canada's points-based immigration system. Software engineers score well due to high NOC classification and strong demand. Invitation rounds targeting tech workers have been frequent in recent years.

Global Talent Stream (GTS) — An LMIA-exempt work permit fast-track specifically for high-skilled tech workers. Employers such as Shopify, Cohere, and Thomson Reuters regularly use GTS to bring in international hires. Processing can be as fast as two weeks.

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) — Province-level nomination that can accelerate permanent residence for in-demand tech roles.

TN Visas — For American and Mexican citizens, TN visas offer near-frictionless entry into the Canadian market — no quota, no lottery, and typically processed at the border or port of entry.

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How to Maximize Your Toronto Backend Salary

1. Target stack premiums deliberately. If you have Go, Kubernetes, or Kafka on your resume, lead with those skills when applying to Shopify, Wealthsimple, or fintech startups. The premium is real and consistent across job postings. 2. Benchmark in CAD, not USD. Job boards sometimes post salaries in USD-equivalent terms that distort expectations. Always confirm whether a posted number is CAD or USD before benchmarking. 3. Do not overlook the banks. RBC, TD, and BMO run large platform engineering organizations with strong total-comp packages including pensions and bonuses. The culture differs from startups but the financial outcomes are competitive. 4. Factor in Canadian benefits as cash value. RRSP matching at 5% of a CAD $130K salary is CAD $6,500 per year. Provincial healthcare saves thousands more annually compared to US employer-sponsored plans. These add up significantly over a career. 5. Use immigration sponsorship as negotiating leverage. If your employer is willing to sponsor a Global Talent Stream permit, quantify that benefit — legal fees, processing speed, and pathway to PR — when evaluating and negotiating your offer.

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Backend Engineer Salary Guide 2026 — global breakdown by market

Backend Engineer Salary Berlin 2026 — European market comparison

Backend Engineer Salary London 2026 — UK market breakdown

ML Engineer Salary Toronto 2026 — AI and ML roles in the Toronto market

Toronto in 2026 offers backend engineers a compelling combination: competitive salaries, world-class employers across fintech, AI, and enterprise technology, and one of the most accessible immigration systems in the world. Whether you are already here or planning a move, the market data is firmly on your side.

For a global benchmark, see the Backend Engineer Salary Guide 2026.

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Backend Engineer Salary Bands in Toronto (2026)

Salaries below are base pay in Canadian dollars (CAD). USD equivalents assume approximately 0.73 exchange rate (as of early 2026).

Level	Experience	CAD Base Range	USD Equivalent
Junior	0–2 years	CAD $65,000 – $90,000	~USD $47K – $66K
Mid	2–5 years	CAD $90,000 – $115,000	~USD $66K – $84K
Senior	5–9 years	CAD $110,000 – $145,000	~USD $80K – $106K
Staff / Principal	9+ years	CAD $145,000 – $190,000	~USD $106K – $139K