News & Press: News

National Salary Survey Results are In

August 16, 2021  

Survey demonstrates value of designation and highlights gender gap

We are pleased to share the results of the National Salary Survey. A group of HR associations across Canada came together to conduct a National Salary Survey using the third-party survey company, Insights West. The purpose of the survey was to better understand:

  • HR salaries, benefits, and other compensation
  • Job responsibilities
  • Acquisition and benefit of HR designations
  • Professional development activities.

It is important to gain better insights into the HR profession, but also to better understand professional development for HR professionals and the value of our professional designations.

Overall, we found that the survey results demonstrate both a perceived and actual value for designation. In addition, the profession is more educated and positioned to take on a more strategic role within companies. It is an exciting time to be part of the HR profession – and a time of opportunity.

Key Insights

  • In Manitoba, average annual salary is $83k, which is below the national average of $91k.
  • 87% of Manitoba members have seen an increase in their salary.
  • Designation is perceived as valuable, with 77% of CPHR Manitoba members saying that it has benefited their HR career, which is higher than the national average of 73%.
  • Over 9-in-10 Manitoba members are salaried full-time employees. This is higher than Canadian HR professionals in general and up a significant 6 points since 2016.

We are pleased to see evidence that holding a designation levels-up your salary and career progression:

  • Those with a CPHR designation are more likely to hold a job at the management level (63% with vs. 40% without)
  • Those with an HR designation have higher salaries, on average, than those without ($101K vs. $68K)

Unfortunately, the National Salary Survey revealed an ongoing gender gap. While HR is a female-dominated industry (82% of respondents identified as female), men are still more statistically successful in attaining higher salaries and higher positions.

  • Men tend to out-earn women ($103K vs. $89K).
  • Men are also more likely to hold a job at the management level or higher (57% vs. 48% women)

This illustrates that we have more work to do in encouraging and celebrating women in leadership.

These are just a few of the valuable insights CPHR Manitoba will be using to influence our policies and programs. The full Manitoba results are available here as well as highlights of the national results.



People Leading Business.TM
CPHR Manitoba is located on Treaty 1 territory, the home and traditional lands of the Annishinabe (Ojibwe), Ininew (Cree), Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and in the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. Our clean drinking water comes from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation in Treaty 3 territory.