AI Research Scientist Salary in Ottawa — 2026 Guide
Data & AI · +22% YoY growth
Market benchmark — insufficient local posting data
Median Salary · Ottawa
$168,000
per year · CAD
↑ +22% vs 2025
Range: $121,000 — $232,000
Monthly
$14,000
Hourly
$80.77
Entry Level
$121,000
Salary by Experience Level
AI Research Scientist in Ottawa, 2026
Entry Level0–2 years
$121,000 — $145,000Mid-Level2–5 years
$145,000 — $168,000Senior5–10 years
$168,000 — $197,000Lead / Staff10+ years
$197,000 — $232,000Skills That Increase Pay
AI Research Scientists with expertise in these areas typically earn 15–30% above the median.
Deep LearningTransformersReinforcement LearningPyTorchCUDAResearch PublicationDiffusion Models
About the Role
AI Research Scientists push the frontier of ML capabilities. Primarily hired by AI labs, universities, and large tech companies. PhD or strong publication record typically expected.
Key Facts: AI Research Scientist in Ottawa
- Median ai research scientist salary in Ottawa is $168,000/year in 2026 (market benchmark).
- Entry-level positions typically start around $121,000/year.
- Senior and lead roles can reach $232,000/year and above.
- The market is growing at approximately +22% year-over-year.
- Ottawa's market is shaped by federal government contracts — strong demand for cleared professionals and enterprise tech roles.
- All salary data on LANDTHATROLE is sourced from employer ATS job postings — not self-reported surveys.
AI Research Scientist Salaries Across Canada
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