What Telemarketer Jobs Actually Pay in Canada (And What That Means for Your Budget)

So you’re looking at telemarketer jobs in Canada and wondering what they actually pay. Fair question. The answer is more complicated than a single number, because what you’ll earn depends on where you work, how you perform, and whether the job is purely hourly or includes commissions. Let me break down what the real numbers look like.

The Base Numbers: What Most Telemarketer Jobs Pay

Let’s start with the averages for telemarketer jobs, but keep in mind these are just starting points.

According to Indeed’s latest data, the average base hourly wage for telemarketer jobs across Canada sits around CA$20.15 per hour. That sounds decent on paper. But here’s the thing—that’s an average, which means some people are making significantly less and others are pulling in more.

Job Bank Canada gives us a more complete picture. For standard telemarketing roles (classified under NOC 65109), the hourly wage range stretches from about CA $15.00 on the low end to CA $33.17 on the high end. The median—meaning the middle point where half make more and half make less—is around CA $16.50 per hour.

Notice the gap between Indeed’s “average” and Job Bank’s “median”? That tells you something important: the distribution isn’t even. There are plenty of entry-level positions clustered around minimum wage or just above it, and then there are higher-paying roles that pull the average up.

If you’re working full-time (40 hours a week) at that median rate of around $16.50 to $17 per hour, you’re looking at roughly CAD $30,000 to $36,000 per year before taxes. Some sources put the typical annual salary for telemarketing and telesales agents at around CA$31,202 per year, though that likely includes part-time workers or people who aren’t working a full 40-hour week year-round.

What That Actually Means in Monthly Terms

Let’s get practical. If you’re earning $17 per hour and working full-time, your gross monthly income (before taxes and deductions) would be around $2,720 to $2,900. After income tax, CPP contributions, and employment insurance deductions, you’re probably taking home somewhere between $2,200 and $2,500 per month, depending on your province and tax situation.

Is that enough to live on? Depends entirely on where you are and what your expenses look like. In a city like Toronto or Vancouver, where rent for a one-bedroom apartment can easily run $1,800 to $2,500 per month, you’d be stretched thin. In smaller cities or if you’re sharing accommodation, it’s more manageable but still not exactly comfortable.

Location Makes a Huge Difference for Telemarketer Jobs

Not all provinces pay the same for telemarketer jobs, and even within provinces, cities vary quite a bit.

Ontario

In Ontario, the typical telemarketer wage hovers around CA$17.60 per hour. Toronto, being the largest market, has more telemarketing positions available, but the cost of living eats into your earnings. Smaller Ontario cities like London, Kingston, or Windsor might pay slightly less per hour, but your rent and transportation costs are lower, so it can balance out.

British Columbia

BC’s Lower Mainland and Southwest region (which includes Vancouver) shows a median wage of about CA$17.85 per hour. Vancouver is expensive—really expensive—so even though the hourly rate is slightly higher than in other provinces, you’re not necessarily better off financially unless you’re willing to live far from the city center or share housing.

Manitoba

Around Winnipeg, telemarketer wages sit closer to CA$15.80 per hour. That’s lower than Ontario or BC, but Winnipeg’s cost of living is also lower. A one-bedroom apartment in Winnipeg might cost $1,000 to $1,400 compared to $2,000+ in Vancouver or Toronto. So your dollars stretch further, even if you’re earning less per hour.

The High End

In some higher-paying markets or for experienced telemarketers who’ve proven they can hit sales targets consistently, the upper range can reach CA$28 to $33 per hour or even more when you factor in commissions and performance bonuses. But let’s be clear: those positions are competitive. You’re not walking into that pay rate on day one.

What Actually Affects Your Pay (Beyond Just Location)

Here’s where it gets interesting, because your hourly rate is only part of the story.

Experience and Performance Matter—A Lot

Entry-level telemarketers typically start near the median or slightly below it. If you’ve never done this kind of work before, expect offers around $15 to $17 per hour.

But if you’ve got experience, especially if you can demonstrate that you’ve consistently met or exceeded sales targets in previous roles, you’ve got leverage. Employers know that a good telemarketer who can close deals is worth more than someone they have to train from scratch. Experienced telemarketers who can show results might negotiate $20 to $25 per hour base pay, and then add commissions on top of that.

Performance-based pay is huge in this field. Some positions offer a lower base wage but generous commission structures. You might see job postings offering $15 per hour plus $X for every sale or Y% commission on revenue generated. If you’re good at sales, this can push your effective hourly rate way above the base. If you’re not, well, you’re stuck at that lower base rate.

Type of Employer

Not all telemarketing jobs are created equal. Working for a large, established company (like a major telecom provider, bank, or insurance company) often means better base pay, more structured training, and actual benefits. These employers tend to pay in the $18 to $22 per hour range and include things like health insurance, dental coverage, and pension contributions.

Call centers or third-party agencies that do outsourced telemarketing for multiple clients? They usually pay less—closer to minimum wage or just above—and benefits are less common. The trade-off is that these jobs are easier to get because they’re constantly hiring due to high turnover.

Commission Structures: The Double-Edged Sword

Let’s talk about commissions, because this is where things can get confusing—and where employers can sometimes be misleading.

A job posting might say “earn up to $30 per hour!” but when you dig into the details, that’s only if you’re absolutely crushing your sales targets. The reality for most people, especially when starting, is that you’ll earn your base rate and maybe a small commission on top if you’re lucky.

Commission-heavy roles can be great if you’re naturally persuasive, comfortable with rejection, and able to stay motivated even when you’re not closing deals. But they can also be incredibly stressful. You might have a great week where you earn $25 per hour effectively, then a terrible week where you barely hit $16 because nobody’s buying.

If financial stability matters to you—and it should—look for positions with a solid base hourly rate rather than ones that are heavily commission-dependent. You can still make extra through commissions, but your baseline income is secure.

Full-Time vs. Part-Time

This might seem obvious, but it’s worth stating: full-time positions (typically 35 to 40 hours per week) give you a much higher annual income than part-time roles. A lot of telemarketing positions, especially with call centers, are part-time or casual, meaning you might only get 15 to 25 hours per week.

At $17 per hour working 20 hours per week, you’re grossing about $1,360 per month before taxes. That’s not enough to live independently in most Canadian cities. You’d need a second job or another source of income.

The Benefits Question (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)

Here’s something a lot of people overlook when comparing job offers: benefits.

According to Job Bank data, about 62.7% of telemarketers across Canada receive at least one type of non-wage benefit. That could be health insurance, dental coverage, paid sick days, vacation pay, pension contributions, or employee assistance programs.

Why does this matter? Because if you’re earning $17 per hour with benefits versus $19 per hour with zero benefits, the first job might actually be better financially. Health insurance alone can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year if you need prescriptions, dental work, or vision care.

When you’re evaluating job offers, ask specifically about:

Health and dental coverage – Does the employer pay for it, or do you? When does coverage start?
Paid time off – How many vacation days? Sick days? Are they paid or unpaid?
Pension or retirement contributions – Some employers match your contributions to an RRSP or pension plan
Training pay – Do they pay you during training, or is it unpaid?

A job that pays slightly less per hour but offers solid benefits can be a much better deal than a higher hourly rate with nothing else.

What You’ll Actually Take Home (The Reality Check)

Let’s run some realistic scenarios, so you know what to expect.

Scenario 1: Entry-Level, Full-Time in Toronto

Hourly wage: $17.00
Hours per week: 40
Gross monthly income: ~$2,720
After taxes/deductions: ~$2,200 to $2,300

Monthly expenses (rough estimate):

Rent (shared apartment): $900 to $1,200
Groceries: $300 to $400
Transit pass: $150
Phone: $50 to $70
Utilities (if not included): $50 to $100
Miscellaneous: $200

What’s left: Not much. Maybe $300 to $500 if you’re careful. You’re not saving aggressively on this income in Toronto, but you can survive if you’re frugal and share housing.

Scenario 2: Experienced, Commission-Based in Vancouver

Base hourly wage: $18.00
Average commissions: $200 to $400 per month (varies)
Hours per week: 37.5
Gross monthly income: ~$2,925 + commissions = $3,125 to $3,325
After taxes/deductions: ~$2,500 to $2,700

Monthly expenses:

Rent (shared): $1,000 to $1,500
Groceries: $350
Transit: $140
Other: $300 to $400

What’s left: Maybe $500 to $800, depending on how well you perform that month. More cushion than Scenario 1, but still tight in Vancouver’s expensive market.

Scenario 3: Senior Telemarketer, Winnipeg

Hourly wage: $24.00 (experienced, proven track record)
Hours per week: 40
Gross monthly income: ~$3,840
After taxes/deductions: ~$3,000 to $3,100

Monthly expenses:

Rent (one-bedroom): $1,200
Groceries: $300
Car payment + insurance (needed in Winnipeg): $400
Other: $400

What’s left: Around $700 to $800 per month. This is where telemarketing actually starts to feel livable. You can save, you can handle unexpected expenses, and you’re not constantly stressed about money.

Common Misconceptions About Telemarketing Pay

“You Can Make $30 per Hour Easily.”

Not really. Those “up to $30/hour!” job ads are almost always talking about top performers in commission-heavy roles. The reality for most people is closer to $15 to $20 per hour, especially when starting.

“All Telemarketing Jobs Are the Same”

Nope. There’s a huge difference between working as an inbound customer service rep for a bank (often better pay, less stressful) versus doing cold-call sales for a third-party agency (usually lower pay, high pressure, high turnover). The job title might be similar, but the experience and compensation are very different.

“Experience Doesn’t Matter”

It absolutely does. A proven sales track record can bump your starting wage by $3 to $5 per hour compared to someone with no experience. If you’ve worked in telemarketing before, make sure that’s prominent on your resume and mentioned in interviews.

“Benefits Don’t Matter Because the Pay Is Low Anyway”

Wrong mindset. Benefits can be worth $3,000 to $6,000 per year in real financial value. That’s a significant portion of your total compensation, especially at lower wage levels.

How to Increase Your Earnings in Telemarketing

If you’re going to do this work, you might as well maximize what you earn.

Get Good at Closing

This sounds obvious, but it’s the single biggest factor in telemarketing pay. The better you are at converting calls into sales, the more valuable you become. Study sales techniques. Listen to top performers. Practice your pitch. Track what works and what doesn’t.

Negotiate Your Base Rate

Most people accept the first offer. Don’t. If you have experience or relevant skills (like bilingualism, which is huge in Canada), mention that and ask for $1 to $2 more per hour. Worst case, they say no. Best case, you just gave yourself a $2,000+ annual raise.

Move to Better Employers

Not all telemarketing employers are equal. After you’ve got six months to a year of experience, start applying to larger companies or industries that pay better. Financial services, telecommunications, and insurance companies tend to pay more than generic call centers.

Consider Bilingualism

If you speak French and English, you’re immediately more valuable in Canada’s job market. Bilingual telemarketers can earn $2 to $4 more per hour because they can handle both English and French-speaking customers. If you’re not bilingual but you’re planning to stay in Canada long-term, investing time in learning French can literally pay off.

If You’re Applying from Outside Canada

Let’s be direct about this because there’s a lot of confusion and misinformation out there.

You Need Legal Work Authorization—No Exceptions

You cannot work in Canada, including telemarketing roles, without legal authorization. That means you need one of the following:

A valid work permit
Permanent residency
Canadian citizenship
A study permit that explicitly allows off-campus work

Most telemarketing employers won’t even look at applications from people outside Canada unless you already have work authorization. They’re not going to sponsor a work permit for an entry-level telemarketing position—the cost and paperwork aren’t worth it to them.

The Reality of Remote Work from Abroad

Some people think, “Well, telemarketing is phone-based, so can’t I just do it remotely from Britain?” No. Canadian employers hiring for these roles expect you to be physically in Canada for several reasons:

Shift scheduling (they need you available during Canadian business hours)
Legal and tax compliance (they can’t legally employ someone outside Canada for a Canadian-based role without complex international arrangements)
Training and supervision (most telemarketing jobs require in-person or on-site training initially)

If You’re Serious About Working in Canada

Your realistic path is:

Apply for and get accepted to a Canadian educational institution
Obtain a study permit
Ensure your study permit allows off-campus work (most do, but confirm)
Once in Canada, apply for telemarketing jobs like any other student or resident

This takes time—often 6 to 12 months from start to finish—and money (tuition, living expenses, permit fees). But it’s the legitimate route.

Alternatives If Telemarketer Jobs Do Not Work Out

Telemarketer jobs are not for everyone. High rejection rates, repetitive work, and sometimes aggressive sales quotas burn people out quickly. If you try it and hate it, here are other entry-level jobs in Canada with similar or better pay:

Customer service representative (inbound): Less stressful than outbound telemarketing, similar pay
Retail sales: Around $15 to $18 per hour, with more face-to-face interaction
Administrative assistant: $17 to $22 per hour, office environment
Data entry clerk: $16 to $20 per hour, with less customer interaction
Warehouse worker: $17 to $22 per hour, physical work, but often better pay

The skills you develop in telemarketing—communication, handling rejection, sales techniques—transfer well to these other roles.

Conclusion on What Telemarketer Jobs in Canada Actually Pay

Here’s the honest summary on telemarketer jobs:

Most telemarketer jobs in Canada pay between $15 and $20 per hour, with the median sitting around $16.50 to $17.50. If you’re experienced or in a high-performing role with commissions, you can push that to $25 to $33 per hour, but that’s not the norm.

On a full-time basis, expect $30,000 to $36,000 per year before taxes. After taxes and deductions, you’re taking home around $2,200 to $2,800 per month in most cases.

Is it enough to live on? In smaller cities or with shared accommodation, yes. In Toronto or Vancouver, living alone? You’ll struggle. It’s entry-level income, which means it covers basics but doesn’t leave much room for savings or unexpected expenses.

Telemarketer jobs can be a stepping stone—build sales skills, gain Canadian work experience, and then move into higher-paying sales or customer service roles. But go in with realistic expectations about the pay, the work environment, and what it’ll actually feel like to live on that income in Canada.