With Canada’s tech market booming and a surge in demand for roles powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning, the spotlight is now on future-ready professions. Job demand in AI-related fields has grown by up to 35%, driving the need for 2.6 million tech workers across the country. Cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and Calgary are leading the charge; Toronto alone has added 95,900 tech jobs in just five years. These trends make AI career paths among the most promising in today’s job landscape.
With higher demand for AI jobs in Canada, it is the best time to hone your skills and build a fulfilling career in the field. Here is an overview of the top AI job opportunities in Canada, industry insights, and the skills that you need to succeed.
Exploring High-Paying AI Jobs in Canada in 2025-26
Here is a closer look at the highest-paying AI job opportunities in Canada.
| Role | Average Salary (CAD) | Necessary Skills |
| AI Services Engineer | CAD 120-150,000 | Cloud computing, LLMs, and prompt engineering |
| MLOps Engineer | CAD 150-240,000 | CI/CD, Kubernetes, and cloud infrastructure |
| AI Trainer | CAD 80-100,000 | Content annotation, and AI model evaluation |
| AI Developer | CAD 100-130,000 | ML frameworks, Python, and AI architecture |
Here are some insights on building your career path in artificial intelligence.
AI Engineer
AI engineers build computer applications and programs that can learn like humans. These are created through several machine learning and AI techniques, combining various software development, data science, and programming skills.
Machine Learning Specialist
Machine learning specialists and engineers utilize data for training machine learning algorithms and other models. These are used in the creation of self-learning applications that require training and subsequent retraining to evolve according to specific requirements.
Data Scientist
One of the many AI specialist jobs that you can consider in Canada, AI data scientists play a vital role in extracting insights from data and applying them to create AI, computer vision, and ML models.
AI Product Manager
AI product managers supervise the development and unveiling of new AI products. The core goal of the job is to fill the gaps between internal teams and users. This will help businesses develop more valuable features and products accordingly.
AI Research Scientist
There are also several full-time and AI remote job opportunities in this field. AI researchers and scientists conduct experiments and publish their findings as they develop innovations. They collaborate with product development and engineering teams to create new products.
Also Read: Top 10 Online Data Science Courses & Certifications in Canada
AI Salaries by Experience Level
The following table shows the salaries you can earn as an AI professional in Canada at different experience levels:
Years | Annual Salary Range | Annual Average Salary |
1-3 years | CAD 77,000 – CAD 123,000 | CAD 97,000 |
4-6 years | CAD 81,000 – CAD 140,000 | CAD 108,000 |
7-9 years | CAD 85,000 – CAD 143,000 | CAD 110,000 |
10-14 years | CAD 93,000 – CAD 144,000 | CAD 114,000 |
15+ years | CAD 96,000 – CAD 155,000 | CAD 122,000 |
Sources: Glassdoor, as of November 14, 2025
AI Job Market Trends in Canada (2025-26)
The artificial intelligence (AI) job market in Canada is experiencing strong demand, rapid evolution, and high salaries. The key trends in this regard may be enumerated as follows:
- Robust Demand with Shifting Focus
- Talent Shortage
- High Wage Premium
- Industry Integration
- Focus on Specific Technologies
Apart from these, roles in the industry are also undergoing significant transformation.
The most in-demand roles in the industry in 2026 are:
- Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineers
- AI Research Scientist
- AI Developer or Engineer
- AI Services Engineer
- AI Product Manager
Along with them, Data Scientists are in high demand in this industry in 2026 as well.
The demand for these professionals is concentrated mainly in the tech hubs, such as:
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Vancouver
- Calgary
- Montreal
Among these, Calgary is the fastest-growing market.
Top Industries Hiring for AI Roles in Canada
In Canada, almost all industries are hiring for AI roles in 2026, as they recognize the impact that such technology and professionals skilled in its use can have on their operations.
The most prominent industries here are:
- Professional, Technical, and Scientific Services
- Insurance and Finance
- Manufacturing
- Technology, including Information Technology (IT)
- Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
- Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) and Retail
- Education
The above list shows the widespread demand for AI professionals in Canada that now includes many non-tech sectors as well. This is because businesses now recognize how AI can make them more efficient and help them make better decisions.
How to Start a Career in AI in Canada
The AI ecosystem in Canada offers you a strong foundation to build an AI career. You need to adhere to the following steps to get your AI career up and running in Canada:
1. Building a Strong Educational Foundation
- Earning a Relevant Degree
- Considering Advanced Education
- Leveraging Online Certifications and Courses
2. Developing Essential Technical Skills
- Mastering Programming Languages
- Learning Core ML and AI Frameworks
- Understanding Cloud Platforms and MLOps
3. Building a Portfolio and Gaining Hands-On Experience
- Working on Personal Projects
- Participating in Competitions
- Securing Internships
4. Engaging and Networking with the AI Community
- Attending Local Events
- Joining Online Communities
- Connecting with Research Institutes
5. Targeting Job Applications Strategically
- Targeting Major Hubs
- Looking at Diverse Industries
- Tailoring Your Resume
All these steps are essential for various reasons. For example, a solid academic background is required to begin such a career in Canada. This is because there is a high demand for such experienced candidates in the North American country.
Essential Skills and Qualifications for AI Professionals in Canada
There are several vital skills and qualifications for AI jobs in Canada. These include:
- Python Programming.
- Data analysis and modeling.
- Machine learning libraries like NumPy and Pandas.
- Version control, continuous integration, deployment, and testing.
- Adaptability and continuous learning, attention to detail, time management, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or related disciplines.
- You can pursue master’s or PhD programs to specialize in cloud computing, algorithms, data storage, analysis, and modeling.
- Professional certifications including generative and applied AI, machine learning, Big Data, ML models, Python, R, Java, AI applications, deep learning, TensorFlow, PyTorch (deep learning frameworks), etc.
- Knowledge of topics like recommender algorithms, linear regression, anomaly detection, neural networks, etc.
- Other skills include data handling and analysis, manipulation with SQL and Pandas, NLP (natural language processing), computer vision, and cloud computing (Google Cloud, AWS).
Also Read: Top AI Project Ideas for Beginners in Canada
Future Outlook of the AI Job Market in Canada
Experts have predicted that the AI job market in Canada will remain strong in the foreseeable future, thanks to its solid growth rate and long-term high demand. However, it will also shift to hiring more specialized and experienced professionals than entry-level professionals.
The key trends in this scenario may be enumerated as follows:
- Persistent Talent Shortage
- Focus on Specialization and Maturation
- Industry Transformation and Integration
- Demand for Hybrid Skills
- Shift to Experience from Entry-Level Jobs
However, the industry will also face serious potential challenges within this timeframe, including a skills gap, the risk of regional disruption, and the need for workforce adaptation.
Overall, however, the long-term outlook for the AI job market in Canada remains positive.
Advance Your AI Career in Canada with upGrad’s Specialized Programs
upGrad will help you leverage the best AI job opportunities in Canada with industry-relevant programs, specializations in high-demand fields, hands-on learning, practical experience, and personalized guidance. You can expect robust support all throughout the program, along with industry partnerships and partnerships with reputed institutions.
Here are some courses you can consider:
- Executive Diploma in Machine Learning by IIIT B
- Post Graduate Certificate in Generative AI (E-Learning)
- Master of Science in Machine Learning & AI from Liverpool John Moores University
Related Article
Canada’s Highest Paying Non-Tech Roles in 2026
🎓 Explore Our Top-Rated Courses in Canada
Take the next step in your career with industry-relevant online courses designed for working professionals in Canada.
FAQs on Want a 6-Figure AI Job in Canada
Ans: Some of the highest-paying AI jobs in Canada include AI engineers, machine learning specialists, AI research scientists, and data scientists.
Ans: Some cities that offer excellent AI job opportunities in Canada include Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal, to name a few.
Ans: Several industries are hiring AI experts in large numbers, including healthcare, finance, media and entertainment, technology, education, and more.
Ans: Several certifications can boost your AI career prospects, including Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer, Microsoft Azure AI Engineer Associate, AWS Certified Machine Learning, CAIS, Generative AI, LLMs, computer vision, deep learning, etc.
Ans: upGrad can help you advance your AI career in Canada with innovative and flexible programs from leading institutions, hands-on training and practical skill development, personalized guidance, and access to helpful resources.
