If you’re asking, “How much do nurses make in Ontario?” you’re not alone—and the short answer has gotten more encouraging lately. In this guide I’ll walk you through current pay ranges, what overtime and premiums do to take-home pay, how nursing stacks up against other public-sector jobs, and what to watch for in 2026 bargaining rounds.
Ontario Nurse Salary: The Numbers That Matter
Base hourly rates vary by employer and experience, but registered nurses (RNs) in Ontario now typically start around $41.15–$42.41 an hour and rise through the grid to well over $50–$60 at more senior steps. When you factor in overtime, shift premiums, weekend and holiday pay, and specialty differentials, annual earnings commonly range from roughly $80,000 to more than $160,000 for those taking on extra hours. The reported average for RNs sits near $83,500 a year.
These are strong numbers compared with recent years—but context matters. For example, long-term care nurses won significant arbitration wins in 2024 that pushed starting rates and top-step pay up substantially, and hospital nurses are scheduled for further increases in 2026.
Why overtime and shift premiums change the math
Looking at base pay doesn’t tell the whole story. Ontario faces a nursing shortage — roughly 25,000 fewer nurses than needed — which has made overtime common. That means some nurses boost their income with large amounts of overtime; others endure unsafe, unsustainable schedules to cover shifts. For instance, there have been documented cases where certain nurses logged thousands of overtime hours in a single year.
So, while overtime can lift annual pay dramatically, it also points to staffing pressures that most nurses and the sector would prefer to see fixed through recruitment and safer staffing ratios.
How Ontario Nurse Salaries Compare to Other Public Sector Jobs
You’ll often wonder how nurses stack up against teachers, police, and firefighters. Historically, experienced nurses trailed these groups by 15–20%. The gap is narrowing thanks to recent settlements and arbitration rulings. For context:
- Teachers on the Sunshine List often average six-figure totals once allowances and back pay are included.
- Police salaries vary widely by role and region; senior officers and those with overtime can exceed typical RN earnings.
- Firefighters in large municipalities reach competitive top-step earnings prior to overtime.
Remember: comparing public-sector groups is rarely apples-to-apples. Overtime, premium pay, pension value, and job-specific risks all change the effective compensation picture.
Benefits and pensions: the hidden value
Beyond hourly pay, nurses commonly receive strong benefit packages that add real value: employer-paid extended health coverage, substantial dental contributions, vision allowances, health spending accounts, and access to defined-benefit pensions like HOOPP. Those benefits matter—sometimes as much as the pay grid—because they reduce out-of-pocket costs and boost long-term security.
- 100% employer-paid extended health coverage
- 80% employer contribution to dental plans
- Vision care allowances of $600 every two years
- Access to defined-benefit pension plans like HOOPP
What to expect in 2026 and why it matters
Contract timelines mean 2026 is important. Hospital nurses were scheduled for further wage increases by April 2026, and many long-term-care agreements roll through mid-2026—those renegotiations will shape the next wave of pay and working-conditions changes. The Ontario Nurses’ Association and other bargaining units are surveying members and preparing priorities, and continued vacancy numbers will keep upward pressure on wages and premiums.
At the same time, the real prize for many nurses won’t just be higher pay. It’s sustainable workloads, predictable schedules, and staffing ratios that let nurses do their jobs safely without chronic overtime.
For people thinking of joining the profession
If you’re weighing nursing as a career in Ontario, the financial picture looks better than it did a few years ago. There’s strong job demand and competitive pay when you include premiums and overtime. Plus, benefits and pensions are valuable. But also factor in the reality that many workplaces are short-staffed; retention will depend on employers and policymakers addressing workload and safety.
Key takeaways
- Base pay for Ontario RNs is in the low $40s to mid-$60s per hour depending on experience and sector; total annual pay commonly runs from about $80k to $160k+ with overtime.
- Recent arbitration decisions and contract increases (especially in long-term care) have narrowed historical gaps with other public-sector wages.
- Overtime raises pay but highlights staffing and safety problems.
- Benefits and defined-benefit pensions (like HOOPP) add significant compensation value.
- Watch the 2026 bargaining rounds—they’ll influence wages and workloads going forward.
Useful resources
For more data and context:
- Ontario Nurses’ Association—bargaining updates and member resources.
- HOOPP—pension overview for many healthcare workers.
- Ontario public-sector payroll summaries and Sunshine List data for comparison.
- Compare to How Much Do Police Officers Make in Ontario
And if you want deeper analysis of public pay and comparisons, browse related posts on Public Pay Pulse, such as how public-sector wages compare across Ontario and updates on long-term-care pay trends.