There’s a long way to go before closing the gender pay gap in Canadian accounting

TORONTO, March 8, 2026 – Canadian accountants are paid well but the difference in salary between male and female accountants is stark. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, which was officially established by the United Nations in 1977, data suggests the Canadian accounting profession has a long way to go before closing the gender pay gap. 

While the profession has taken steps to narrow that divide, data indicates that compensation differences among professional accountants outstrips the national average and widens over time. 

The gender pay gap, or gender wage gap, is the difference between the remuneration for men and women who are employed. According to the latest figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada has one of the worst records of gender pay gaps among its peers in the world. 

In its ranking of countries for full-time employee compensation, the OECD reports that, as of 2024, Canada has the sixth worst gender pay gap (16.5%) among 31 peer countries.

Across all the countries cited, the gender pay gap stands at 10.3% — meaning that the median full-time working woman earns about 90 cents to every dollar or euro earned by the median full-time working man. This rate has barely moved in recent decades. The United States, often cited for its highly compensated full-time professional positions, is the fourth worst among the group, ranking 28th among 31 peers. It places behind all peer EU and Commonwealth countries.

As the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) recently noted: “The gender pay gap has narrowed by 20 percentage points since 1977 when the federal government introduced Canada’s first pay equity provisions in the Canadian Human Rights Act. But it remains unacceptably wide.” 

Accountants earn far more than the average Canadian

Canadian accountants are paid well. As we reported last year, CPAs are earning more than ever before and compensation is outpacing inflation, according to a national survey conducted by market research company Leger, for Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. 

The 2025 CPA Compensation Study reported that chartered professional accountants living in Canada and abroad reported a median compensation of $150K. CPAs with three years or more of experience in the profession earned a national median compensation of $154K in 2024 — the highest since the study began in 2012. 

Between 2022 and 2024, the survey suggests median compensation for CPAs rose by 7.7 per cent — exceeding Canada’s 6.4 per cent inflation rate over the same period — and a 47 per cent increase over 12 years. 

These numbers compare favourably with the income of the average Canadian. For example, according to 2023 figures from Statistics Canada, the median income for Canadian earners is $42,600 and the national average is $54,600. However, the Canadian government often cites figures for “Canadian families and unattached individuals” instead. The “median market income” (pre-tax earnings) for this group was $68,700 in 2023. 

The pay gap among Canadian accountants is wide

As the Leger survey from CPA Canada reveals, male CPAs report a median compensation of $167K, compared with $139K for female CPAs, a difference of 18.3%. Among those with more than three years of experience, male CPAs report $174K, while female CPAs report $142K, a difference of 20%. 

According to CPA Canada, the gap widens over time — with the largest divide at senior levels. The largest divide appears among CPAs with 25 or more years of experience: $229K for men compared with $160K for women — a difference of more than 30 per cent. All of these figures exceed the Canadian gender pay gap of 16.5% as reported by the OECD. 

Accounting profession taking steps to close gap

CPA Canada reports that, “in alignment with International Women’s Day, several leading Canadian accounting firms are investing in programs aimed at accelerating women into leadership positions and addressing mid-career barriers.” 

For example, the Professional Women’s Network and Women Fast Forward programs from EY Canada focus on mentorship, sponsorship and leadership advancement. “Other firms, including Deloitte, KPMG and PwC, also run programs aimed at strengthening leadership pipelines and supporting women’s advancement across the profession.” 

Pamela Steer, the president and chief executive officer of CPA Canada, says the profession’s progress is encouraging and continues to gain momentum. “It is heartening to see firms across Canada strengthening leadership pathways and expanding support so more women can advance to the top of the profession.” 

Colin Ellis is a contributing editor to Canadian Accountant. Access the CPA Canada 2025 CPA Compensation Study. Detailed reports for each province are available here.