Median wage
$28.00 an hour
Alberta
Compared with Canada
1.8% lower
$0.50 below the Canadian median of $28.50
Job outlook
Good
4 of 5, 2025-2027
Job postings
2
on Job Bank in September 2026
Wages in Alberta
In Canadian dollars an hour, from 2023-2024 data. Low and high are Job Bank’s 10th and 90th percentiles.
Wage range in Alberta and Canada Alberta: median $28.00, from $17.36 to $39.40, middle half $25.00 to $39.40. Canada: median $28.50, from $17.80 to $39.40, middle half $23.00 to $33.00. $10 $20 $30 $40 Alberta: median $28.00, from $17.36 to $39.40, middle half $25.00 to $39.40 Alberta $28.00 Canada: median $28.50, from $17.80 to $39.40, middle half $23.00 to $33.00 Canada $28.50 The line runs from the low to the high wage, the dot is the median and the box is the middle half (lower to upper quartile).
Wages in Alberta compared with Canada
Wage Alberta Canada
Low
$17.36
$17.80
Lower quartile
$25.00
$23.00
Median
$28.00
$28.50
Upper quartile
$39.40
$33.00
High
$39.40
$39.40
Average
$29.78
$28.68
Job outlook
Good (4 of 5) for 2025-2027, from Job Bank’s 3-year outlook for Alberta.
Employment growth and retirements are expected to create new positions for opticians in Alberta. Outlook data
2 job postings on Job Bank in September 2026.
Licence needed in Alberta?
Licence required
Yes.
A licence, registration or certificate is required to work in this occupation in Alberta.
Education and training
TEER category 2
Usual education A college diploma or an apprenticeship of 2 or more years is usually required.
By region in Alberta
Job Bank’s economic regions, highest median first. A region links to its own page where its figures differ from the province’s.
Wage range by economic region in Alberta Alberta (all regions): median $28.00, from $17.36 to $39.40. Banff – Jasper – Rocky Mountain House: median $30.79, from $24.96 to $39.34. Calgary: median $30.48, from $23.63 to $36.54. Edmonton: median $29.71, from $23.34 to $35.28. Red Deer: median $29.29, from $23.72 to $38.50. Camrose – Drumheller: median $29.28, from $24.43 to $33.55. Lethbridge – Medicine Hat: median $28.91, from $23.61 to $35.69. Athabasca – Grande Prairie – Peace River: not stated. Wood Buffalo – Cold Lake: not stated. $10 $20 $30 $40 Alberta (all regions): median $28.00, from $17.36 to $39.40 Alberta (all regions) $28.00 Banff – Jasper – Rocky Mountain House: median $30.79, from $24.96 to $39.34 Banff – Jasper – Rocky Mountain House $30.79 Calgary: median $30.48, from $23.63 to $36.54 Calgary $30.48 Edmonton: median $29.71, from $23.34 to $35.28 Edmonton $29.71 Red Deer: median $29.29, from $23.72 to $38.50 Red Deer $29.29 Camrose – Drumheller: median $29.28, from $24.43 to $33.55 Camrose – Drumheller $29.28 Lethbridge – Medicine Hat: median $28.91, from $23.61 to $35.69 Lethbridge – Medicine Hat $28.91 Athabasca – Grande Prairie – Peace River: not stated Athabasca – Grande Prairie – Peace River Not stated Wood Buffalo – Cold Lake: not stated Wood Buffalo – Cold Lake Not stated The line runs from the low to the high wage and the dot is the median.
Wage range by economic region in Alberta (table) Region Low Median High Outlook Alberta (all regions) $17.36 $28.00 $39.40 Good (4 of 5) Banff – Jasper – Rocky Mountain House $24.96 $30.79 $39.34 Undetermined Calgary $23.63 $30.48 $36.54 Good (4 of 5) Edmonton $23.34 $29.71 $35.28 Good (4 of 5) Red Deer $23.72 $29.29 $38.50 Undetermined Camrose – Drumheller $24.43 $29.28 $33.55 Undetermined Lethbridge – Medicine Hat $23.61 $28.91 $35.69 Good (4 of 5) Athabasca – Grande Prairie – Peace River Not stated Not stated Not stated Undetermined Wood Buffalo – Cold Lake Not stated Not stated Not stated Undetermined
Wages from 2023-2024 data, Job Bank 2025 release. Job outlooks for 2025-2027. Job postings counted for September 2026.
Occupation titles, codes and TEER categories come from the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Statistics Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada .