Average & Median Income in Nova Scotia by Age
In 2020, the median total income in Nova Scotia was $38,000 and the average was $47,480, among people aged 15 and over with income (Statistics Canada, 2021 Census). That compares with a national median of $41,200. The median was $42,800 for men and $34,000 for women. After adjusting for inflation, the median was $34,400 in 2015, so it rose 10% over five years.
The average sits above the median because a smaller number of high incomes pull it up — the guide to average income in Canada explains which figure to use.
Income in Nova Scotia by age
| Age group | Median income | Average income |
|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | $40,400 | $45,600 |
| 35-44 | $50,800 | $59,000 |
| 45-54 | $50,800 | $61,800 |
| 55-64 | $42,400 | $53,400 |
| 65+ | $31,000 | $40,880 |
Net worth in Nova Scotia by age
| Age group | Median net worth | Average net worth |
|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | $108,600 | $314,700 |
| 35-44 | $279,300 | $515,800 |
| 45-54 | $461,100 | $787,700 |
| 55-64 | $595,900 | $922,200 |
| 65+ | $504,200 | $824,500 |
How Nova Scotia compares
Nova Scotia has a higher median income than Prince Edward Island through the middle of working life and a lower one at both ends. Among those 25-34, Nova Scotia's $40,400 trails Prince Edward Island's $40,800 and ties Manitoba's for the lowest of the ten provinces. At 35-44 and 45-54, Nova Scotia's median income is $50,800 in both bands, ahead of Prince Edward Island's $49,600 and $50,400. Prince Edward Island moves back ahead at 55-64, $44,000 against $42,400, and among those 65 and older, $32,000 against $31,000. Median net worth does not swing this way: Nova Scotia ranks eighth of ten in every age band, from $108,600 among those 25-34 to $595,900 among those 55-64, while Prince Edward Island ranks fourth throughout. Average net worth tells a different story. Nova Scotia's average edges just above Prince Edward Island's in every band, for example $922,200 against $921,400 among those 55-64, so the two provinces' averages are nearly identical even though Prince Edward Island's typical family has more. Against New Brunswick, Nova Scotia has the higher net worth at every age.
Income above is individual total income for all genders and education levels, from the 2021 Census. The comparison tool breaks it down by gender and education. Net worth is family-level, from the Survey of Financial Security, and is compared by province and age only — it is not broken down by gender or education.
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This page is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or investment advice. Figures are estimates derived from public Statistics Canada data and may not reflect your circumstances. Contains information licensed under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this is not an endorsement by Statistics Canada.