29 programs covered in Canada
Highest-Paying MS Computer Science / Data Science Programs in Canada (2026)
Ranked by broad market salary band for the role and city - not by QS rank or brand name, and not a per-university placement figure. These are tiered estimates from our Canada coverage list, not independently verified per school. For fully sourced, per-profile matches (with admit odds and visa risk flags), run the free assessment.
Highest average salary in Canada
Broad market salary band for the role and city - not a per-university placement figure.
| # | University | QS rank | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Toronto- Toronto | QS #29 | Rs 63.7L/yr |
| 2 | University of Waterloo- Waterloo | QS #119 | Rs 63.7L/yr |
| 3 | University of British Columbia- Vancouver | QS #40 | Rs 60.4L/yr |
| 4 | McGill University- Montreal | QS #27 | Rs 57.0L/yr |
| 5 | Simon Fraser University- Burnaby | QS #308 | Rs 57.0L/yr |
| 6 | University of Alberta- Edmonton | QS #94 | Rs 53.7L/yr |
| 7 | McMaster University- Hamilton | QS #173 | Rs 53.7L/yr |
| 8 | Western University- London (ON) | QS #151 | Rs 52.3L/yr |
| 9 | Queen's University at Kingston- Kingston | QS #191 | Rs 52.3L/yr |
| 10 | University of Calgary- Calgary | QS #211 | Rs 52.3L/yr |
Highest salary isn't the same as best value - see the same Canada list ranked by fastest payback instead, which weighs salary against what it costs to get there.
For comparison: fastest payback in Canada
The highest-paying program isn't always the one that pays for itself quickest - this cross-checks against cost.
| # | University | QS rank | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Waterloo- Waterloo | QS #119 | 0.8 yrs |
| 2 | University of Alberta- Edmonton | QS #94 | 0.9 yrs |
| 3 | University of Calgary- Calgary | QS #211 | 0.9 yrs |
| 4 | Simon Fraser University- Burnaby | QS #308 | 0.9 yrs |
| 5 | University of Victoria (UVic)- Victoria | QS #358 | 0.9 yrs |
Want this ranked against your own profile?
GPA, budget, and visa-risk-adjusted - not just a salary list. Free, no phone number.
Get My Honest Scorecard