Income and Earnings, 2005$

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Abstract

In 2005, an estimated 18 201 000 people reported employment income (earnings), an increase of more than 1.5 million from five years ago. The national median earnings of persons 15 years and over was $26 850. These earnings were one component of household total income. The national median income for 12 437 470 households in 2005 was $53 634 up 2.3% from 2000. The map shows by census division and census subdivision the median household income, median earnings of individuals 15 years and older and the proportion of total income derived from total earnings and from government transfer payments in 2005 constant dollars.

Substantial geographical differences in median individual earnings and median household income can be observed. Only two jurisdictions, the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories, had individual median earnings above $30 000 in 2005. Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island were the only two jurisdictions with median earnings under $20 000. The Northwest Territories had the highest median earnings in the country at $39 981, more than double that in Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island. Nunavut had median earnings right at the national median.

Approaching $30 000, the median earnings in Alberta and Ontario were highest among the provinces. Due to the resource boom, the median earnings in Fort McMurray, Alberta were particularly high, at over $34 344. British Columbia and Quebec had median earnings at around $25 000, slightly below the national average. Most census divisions in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia had median earnings below $22 500; however, there were three pockets of higher earnings around the capital cities, Regina ($29 210), Winnipeg ($26 624) and Halifax ($27 219).

Individual earnings are only one component of total income. Other sources of income include government transfer payments, retirement income, investment income and other money income. Total household income, which sums up the income from all sources for all household members, workers and non-workers, provides a more comprehensive measure of the well-being of the household.

Alberta, Ontario and the three territories had the highest median household income in Canada. With earnings making up over 80% of total household income, all three territories had median household income greater than $60 000. The Northwest Territories stood out the most, registering a median household income of $80 085.

Alberta came in a distant second, with a median household income of $63 988. Earnings made up 80% to 95% of total household income in about half of the census divisions in Alberta, and for the other half, the ratio of earnings to total household income was 74% to 80%.

Ontario ranked third in terms of median household income ($60 455). Compared to Alberta and the territories, there was a larger disparity in household income level across Ontario. In the majority of the census divisions, earnings represented 63% to 74% of Ontarians’ household income, while government transfer payments represented 10% to 19%. In the highly urbanized southern Ontario, earnings represented a larger share of total household income (69% to 95%).

Median household income in British Columbia was close to the national average, at $52 709. The income level and the proportion of income from earnings were lowest in the interior, higher in the south west and highest in the north of the province.

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador all had median household income between $44 136 and $47 875. Government transfer payments represented 20% to 35% of total household income in most of the census divisions in Newfoundland and Labrador. In Manitoba, Quebec and Nova Scotia, government transfer payments typically made up 15% to 27% of total household income. Areas with high ratio of government transfer payments to total household income were often characterized by older populations, lower labour market participation rates or higher unemployment rates.

Family income, like household income, is another form of aggregated income. Family income is commonly compared to low income thresholds to determine the low income status for families. For more information on low income, please refer to Statistics Canada’s: Earnings and Incomes of Canadians Over the Past Quarter Century, 2006 Census. Additional maps on low income are available through the Data tables, figures, maps and animations link on that page.

The Daily is Statistics Canada's official release bulletin. The Daily for May 1, 2008 marked the public release of this census variable. Technical notes for this variable can be found at Income and Earnings Reference Guide, 2006.

The text was adapted from Statistics Canada, Earnings and Incomes of Canadians Over the Past Quarter Century, 2006 Census, Catalogue number 97-563-XIE2006001. Statistics Canada information is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the wide range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from the Statistics Canada's Regional Offices, its World Wide Web site at www.statcan.gc.ca, or its toll-free access number 1-800-263-1136.