Your Guide to Hiring Developers and Software Engineers in Ontario

The cities of Toronto, Ottawa, and Waterloo are home to thriving tech scenes, with many companies creating their headquarters in these cities. You can find talent for every job type throughout the country from entry level web developers, designers and developers, to senior software engineers. 

How many developers are there in Ontario?

In Toronto alone (the capital of Ontario), there are around 250,000 tech professionals spread out throughout the city and a whopping 317,000 tech workers in the entire province.  

Startups in Ontario

The startup scene in Ontario is thriving and has been growing since the early 2000s, with a number of successful startups and a supportive ecosystem of investors, accelerators, and incubators to develop new companies and ideas. 

Here are some key factors contributing to the strength of the startup scene in Ontario:

• Access to capital: There is a significant amount of venture capital and angel investor funding available to startups in Ontario. Canada reported $8.2 billion worth of venture capital funding in 2022 and almost $4.7 billion of that was from startups located in Ontario. 

• Supportive ecosystem: Ontario has a strong ecosystem of accelerators, incubators, and other organizations that support startups. These include organizations such as MaRS Discovery District, Communitech, and the DMZ at Ryerson University, which provide mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities for startups.

• Proximity to top universities: Ontario has a large pool of highly skilled tech talent, with some of the top universities in Canada located in the province. This means startups in Ontario can attract both interns and full time employees with a specialized skillset. Innovation hubs: Ontario has several innovation hubs that are home to clusters of startups in different technology sectors, such as the Toronto-Waterloo Region Corridor, which is a hub for AI, cybersecurity, and fintech startups.

• Government support: The Ontario government provides various support for startups, such as funding programs, tax credits, and other incentives.

Why companies hire developers in Ontario

Many companies find that Ontario is an ideal location for hiring developers in Ontario because of the province's track record of producing successful startups and workers in IT. 

Proximity to major markets 

Ontario is strategically located close to major markets, such as the United States and Europe, making it an attractive location for tech companies that need to serve those markets or that want to reach those markets as they expand globally. 

Government support 

The Ontario government provides support, financial incentives, and solutions for companies in the tech sector through programs such as the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit and the Ontario Business Growth Initiative.

Quality of life

Another major perk of hiring developers in Ontario is because Canada is known for its high quality of life, with excellent healthcare, education, and infrastructure. This makes it an attractive location for hiring motivated tech talent looking for that work-life balance. 

Types of developers and tech professionals and working in Ontario

Ontario is home to Toronto and Ottawa, two of the most populated cities in Canada. Ontario is home to a diverse range of tech professionals. You can find a diverse array of developers working in the Canadian province.

Including those with experience and offering services in: 

• Junior and senior software engineers

• Full stack engineers

• UX/UI designers

• Project managers

• Developers 

• C# developers 

• Application developers

• Game developers

• Mobile app developers 

• Java developers

• PHP developers

• Go developers

• WordPress developers

• .NET developers

• AngularJS developers 

• NodeJS developers 

How to recruit developers in Ontario

To recruit software engineers, developers, and other tech professionals in Ontario, companies can use job boards, partner with recruiting partners or local universities, network and attend industry specific events, or consult other hiring platforms.

• Standard job boards

• Remote-focused job boards

• Freelance platforms

• Developer sites

• Recruiting agencies

Salary ranges for developers and software engineers in Ontario

Salary range for software developers and engineers in Ontario vary depending on several factors, including years of experience, type of company, and specific skills and expertise.

• Junior Software Developer/Engineer: $30,00-$102,000 USD per year or $22-36 USD per hour for contractors

• Intermediate Software Developer/Engineer: $39,500-$116,000 USD per year, or $36-$60 USD per hour for contractors and consultants

• Senior Software Developer/Engineer: $52,500-$162,500 USD per year, or $60-$110 USD per hour for contractors

• Team Lead/Manager: $88,311- $132,437 USD per year, or $75-$150 USD per hour for consultants

Here’s a look at average developer salaries by programming language:

• $80,000-$114,000 USD per year for NodeJS developer 

• $76,000-$113,000 USD per year for JavaScript developers

• $72,000-$112,000 USD per year for AngularJS developers

• $58,000-$85,000 USD per year for PHP developers

• $57,000-$79,000 USD per for WordPress developers 

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