Income Level: Calgary Vs Edmonton

[darklord700]

Just trying to settle a debate I am having with my friend. The debate is if you are doing the same job, specifically white collar jobs like, accounting, IT, engineering etc, the pay will be higher in Calgary than in Edmonton.

I say yes but my Edmontonian friend says no (pays are the same in Calgary and Edmonton). He does concede that there're likely more better paying jobs in Calgary than in Edmonton.

What's your take?

[simmonjam1]

If the pay was more in Edmonton it must be a hardship allowance.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by darklord700

Just trying to settle a debate I am having with my friend. The debate is if you are doing the same job, specifically white collar jobs like, accounting, IT, engineering etc, the pay will be higher in Calgary than in Edmonton.

I say yes but my Edmontonian friend says no (pays are the same in Calgary and Edmonton). He does concede that there're likely more better paying jobs in Calgary than in Edmonton.

What's your take?

It depends on a number of variables almost to the point that the discussion is futile.

Going strictly anecdotal here, I've worked for companies that have an internally published pay-grade for positions. Salary ranges for positions in the Edmonton branch were roughly $4000-$5000 less per year than the same role in Calgary. It's just one company that I'm familiar with that did this, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was similar for other companies.

[shermanator]

There is also a lower cost of living in Edmonton, no?

[Fobulous]

Calgary and Edmonton being so close to each other I would highly doubt there is a significant difference in salaries between the 2 cities. Over a span of a year if it is a magnitude of less than $5000/year I would call them about the same.

[Rhettzky]

According to ASET's annual salary survey for 2011, it's Calgary. Not by much for entry level positions but increases with membership level.

Listed below by City and average total salary (Salary, OT, Bonus's, etc) per ASET's four membership levels:

Calgary - $68,103 (TT) - $94,641 (Assoc.) - $111,234 (CET) - $152,827 (RET)
Edmonton - $60,129 (TT) - $84,799 (Assoc.) - $97,745 (CET) - $123,982 (RET)

http://www.aset.ab.ca/Downloads/docu...r.ashx?id=4797

[TorqueDog]

That gap gets huge pretty quickly.

[VladtheImpaler]

Lawyers used to make significantly more in Calgary. I'm sure that's still true, but not sure if it's to the same extent.

[Muta]

$68,000 is the entry level starting salary? And that's on the low end?

Holy christ this city has too much money.

[Jacks]

There was just an article posted on this the other day but I can't find it now. If I remember correctly Toronto was highest, followed by Montreal and Vancouver. Calgary was a little bit behind with Edmonto a little behind Calgary. Wish I could find that article again.

[Olao32]

I used to work at a Big-4 firm as a CA. Comparing two employees, the same year and performance rating, the Calgary employee was paid more. However, the amounts were not significant... 5-10% if I remember correctly.

[Mtt48]

No way people in Montreal make more than in Calgary. I lived there for years and you make very little. Granted, housing and food prices are really low, but based on income Montreal isn't even close to Calgary.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by Olao32

I used to work at a Big-4 firm as a CA. Comparing two employees, the same year and performance rating, the Calgary employee was paid more. However, the amounts were not significant... 5-10% if I remember correctly.

5-10% difference is pretty big IMO

I'd love to get a 5% raise!!!

[bradster57]

I'm a CMA, so looking at the 2010 salary survey shows:

Edmonton
25th percentile: $93,000
Median: $111,800
75th percentile: $149,000

Calgary
25th percentile: $101,000
Median: $129,800
75th percentile: $170,000

So like a poster mentioned earlier, the gap seems to widen in the higher income brackets.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Muta

$68,000 is the entry level starting salary? And that's on the low end?

Holy christ this city has too much money.

Those numbers are from ASET (association of science and engineering technology professionals) and do not reflect the city or province as a whole. Engineering technologists make that much to start, but the science ones usually don't.

There is no way that the average starting salary for all professions is that high in Calgary.

[troutman]

We will never know how much black market income Edmontonians are hiding.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

There is no way that the average starting salary for all professions is that high in Calgary.

Doesnt seem like it unfortunately. My wife experience a nice 35-40% drop in her income by moving to Calgary (from the US though, not Edmonton).

Seems like you have to be in the energy game in this town to really get the monetary benefits. Which I guess makes sense around these parts...but it's still lame that the rest of us have to pay 8 bucks for a Big Rock because of it!

[yads]

Depends on the position. IT consultants make the same in both cities. Engineers make more in Calgary. Architects make more in Edmonton. I'd imagine it averages out in the end.

http://www.calgaryeconomicdevelopmen...centre/reports

[ranchlandsselling]

Here's our company groupings

1. Toronto/Vancouver/Calgary

2. Montreal/Edmonton

3. Burlington/Woodbridge
Kitchener-Waterloo/Other

4. Halifax

[Jacks]

Here it is.
http://lifewise.canoe.ca/Microgaller.../17284981.html

And yes, Montreal was higher than Calgary.

Edit:
Oops, looks like no Edmonton on there.