Security Engineer Salary Toronto 2026: C$80K–C$185K Guide

Toronto has quietly become one of the most compelling destinations for security engineering talent in North America. A dense concentration of financial services giants, a fast-growing AI startup ecosystem anchored by Cohere and Radical Ventures, and Canada's immigration-friendly policies create a market where security engineers are consistently in short supply — and compensation reflects it.

This guide covers 2026 salary ranges by level, the employers paying at the top of the market, which specializations and certifications command premiums, and how Toronto stacks up against Vancouver, New York, and remote roles.

For a global multi-city overview, see the Security Engineer Salary Guide 2026.

Security Engineer Salary by Level in Toronto (2026)

USD equivalents use a C$/USD rate of ~0.74. Financial services employers and top tech companies anchor the upper end of each band; government contractors and smaller consultancies sit at the lower end.

Top Employers and What They Pay

Financial Services (highest stability, strong benefits)

RBC — Senior security engineers earn C$135K–C$160K base, with RRSP matching and a comprehensive benefits package that adds meaningful value beyond salary

TD Bank — C$130K–C$155K for senior roles; strong investment in cloud security and zero-trust initiatives

BMO — C$125K–C$150K; active hiring for fintech compliance and cloud security specialists

Tech / AI Companies (highest upside)

Shopify — C$145K–C$175K for senior engineers with equity components; AppSec and cloud security roles most active

Cohere — C$140K–C$170K; model security and AI red-teaming roles at a premium; rapidly scaling security team

OpenText / Micro Focus — C$110K–C$145K; deep enterprise security product exposure

Legacy Tech & Consulting

BlackBerry (Cylance/UEM) — C$105K–C$140K; niche but respected brand in endpoint and IoT security

CGI Group — C$95K–C$130K; heavy government and defence contracts; security clearance a differentiator

Telus / Bell — C$110K–C$145K; growing cybersecurity services divisions with strong base benefits

Specialization Premiums

Toronto's market in 2026 rewards specific depth. These specializations command meaningful salary premiums:

Cloud Security (+C$15K–C$30K): AWS Security Specialty or Azure Security Engineer certifications substantially increase pay at financial institutions and tech companies migrating infrastructure to cloud. RBC, TD, and Shopify are all actively hiring cloud security specialists. Fintech Compliance / GRC (+C$12K–C$22K): Engineers who combine security fundamentals with PCI-DSS, SOC 2, and OSFI compliance knowledge are particularly valuable at the Big Five banks. This track also positions well for a CISO career path. Application Security / AppSec (+C$12K–C$20K): Secure SDLC, SAST/DAST tooling, and developer-facing security programs are consistently underhired relative to demand at Shopify, Cohere, and Toronto's fintech scale-ups. CISO Career Track (+C$20K–C$40K at VP/Director level): Engineers with CISM certification and strategic programme experience are increasingly competitive for VP Security and CISO roles at Toronto's mid-market companies — a track that exceeds C$200K+ at financial services firms.

Certifications That Move the Needle

CISSP is near-mandatory for senior security roles at RBC, TD, and BMO. OSCP is the practical credential that separates candidates at technical-first employers like Shopify and CGI's red-team practice.

City Comparison: Toronto vs Vancouver vs NYC vs Remote

New York offers the highest nominal salaries, but New York State and New York City income taxes combined with US healthcare costs substantially erode the premium. Toronto senior security engineers in financial services often achieve comparable quality-of-life outcomes — particularly with OHIP and RRSP matching factored in.

For London benchmarks, see the Security Engineer Salary London 2026 guide. For broader Toronto context across all tech roles, see Tech Salaries in Toronto 2026.

Canadian Benefits: Beyond Base Salary

Canadian compensation packages consistently undervalue when compared to US roles on raw salary alone:

RRSP Matching — Canada's primary retirement vehicle. Major Toronto employers match 3–5% of salary. At C$135K, a 5% match is C$6,750 per year in pre-tax savings — and every RRSP dollar reduces taxable income. Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) — Provincial healthcare covers the vast majority of medical costs at no employee premium. This replaces the employer-sponsored insurance costs US workers pay, saving C$8K–C$15K annually in equivalent coverage. Employment Insurance (EI) + Parental Leave — Federal income protection covers layoff periods and parental leave (up to 18 months). Many major employers top up EI payments to 100% of base salary for the first several weeks. Supplemental Benefits — Dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage are standard at banks and major tech companies with minimal or no employee contribution.

Immigration: Getting to Toronto as a Security Engineer

Toronto is one of the most accessible major tech hubs for international engineers:

Global Talent Stream (GTS) — LMIA-exempt work permit designed specifically for high-demand tech workers. Employers like Shopify, Cohere, and RBC use GTS to hire international security engineers in as little as two weeks — the fastest employer-sponsored work authorization in Canada. Express Entry — Canada's points-based federal system. Security engineers score well on NOC demand classifications. Provincial nominee programs including the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) can accelerate permanent residence timelines for tech workers. TN Visa — Available to US and Mexican citizens under CUSMA (formerly NAFTA). No cap, no lottery, typically processed at the border. Ideal for US-based security engineers evaluating Toronto before committing to full immigration.

The Bottom Line

Toronto's security engineering market in 2026 rewards specialists who combine technical depth — cloud security, AppSec, or offensive security — with the certifications that financial services employers demand. The Big Five banks provide salary stability and exceptional benefits; Shopify and Cohere offer the highest upside. Canada's immigration pathways make Toronto increasingly competitive for international talent.

For related Toronto role benchmarks, see the Backend Engineer Salary Toronto 2026 guide.