Does Calgary Pay the Highest Physiotherapy Salary in Canada?
When you think of physiotherapy job opportunities you definitely think of going where you can earn the best salary with the best working conditions. Yes, there are many physios that have migrated to Canada, but which cities really have the highest demand for physical therapists? No one wants to just move to another country without the assurance of getting an international job.
I also wonder why some countries know they are in dire need of physiotherapists but still make the employment process narrow and winding…*sigh*. Anyway, enough of my ranting.
So we are looking at Calgary now because there is a high demand for qualified physiotherapists in this city, compared to Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.
Working Abroad: Getting a Job in Canada
According to a report by Calgary Economic Development in 2012:
Between 2010 and 2020, demand for these workers is expected to increase by over 61 per cent, resulting in demand for approximately 2,100 workers in 2020. Employers will likely face difficulties recruiting qualified workers for
both newly-created jobs and existing positions that become vacant. In order to meet the high demand for physiotherapists, Calgary employers may need to access labour markets outside of Calgary, including international labour markets, to meet a portion of their hiring needs.
So there you have it! There are physiotherapy jobs in Canada, generally but Calgary is saying they need you more.
Another interesting fact about working in Calgary is that the physiotherapy salary is one of the highest in Canada. According to the same report:
Average annual wages of physiotherapists in Calgary are marginally higher than that of in the top-recommended cities in Canada. The mean hourly pay for physiotherapists in Calgary was $37.54 in 2011, compared with $37.14 per hour in Toronto and $35.30 per hour in Vancouver.
Also , the Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, physiotherapists in Alberta earn an average hourly wage of $43.73 and an average annual salary of $76,095. This is just a basic salary and doesn’t include benefits (P.S Calgary is in the Alberta province).
What you need to do to get qualified to work as a physical therapist in Calgary is basically the process which I outlined here previously. If you are also thinking of which Canadian province to apply to, you may consider Alberta so you can move on seamlessly to Calgary.
Highest employers of physios in Calgary are those in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector. So if you are looking for a job as a physiotherapist in Calgary, your best employers would most likely be in:
- Hospitals and Out patient Care Facilities
- Home healthcare services
- Ambulance services
- Daycare services
- Vocational rehabilitation services
- Social Assistance services
Hmm this must be an interesting place to get an international physio job or what do you think?