Originally Posted by
pete2800
This is largely a myth. If you take into account how much money comes out of your paycheck in the States for services that are provided in Canada, the actual amounts are much closer. In fact, at some income levels, your take-home pay would be higher in Canada.
We just have more line-items in the 'deductions' part of our pay stubs, so we spread the dollar amount around more. Largely, it's down to healthcare. If you didn't have to pay for healthcare, your check would be bigger. If your employer didn't have to pay for your healthcare, how much more would be in your check?
As a Canadian now working in the US, I can assure you this is not entirely true. Tax brackets are similar, but the total deductions in Canada to FAR higher due to health care, public pension that you will never see until age 67, and employment insurance you won't see either unless you lose your job. All of which you won't get back nearly what you put in.
The reason jazz pays higher is because you need minimum 3000 hours to get in. Though that has changed lately.
As it would be, aviation in Canada is taking a HUGE dump right now. The aforementioned jazz pay scale has caused air Canada to start farming their flying to much cheaper places, like sky regional and air Georgian. An Westjet is outsourcing all their flying to their in house regional, encore. It is literally the Genesis of the regional program we have here in the US going on right now.
As well, I'd rather live off us regional wage in Msp or Iah then Canadian regional wage in yyz or yyc. Cost of living is comparable to NYC in most major Canadian cities