Canadian book publishing: Insights from the latest salary survey - Tech Forum 2025

Join us for a presentation in partnership with the Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP) as they share results from the recently conducted Canadian Book Publishing Industry Salary Survey. This comprehensive survey provides key insights into average salaries across departments, roles, and demographic metrics. Members of ACP’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee will join us to unpack what the findings mean in the context of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the industry.

Results of the 2024 Canadian Book Publishing Industry Salary Survey: https://publishers.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ACP_Salary_Survey_FINAL-2.pdf

Link to presentation recording and transcript: https://bnctechforum.ca/sessions/canadian-book-publishing-insights-from-the-latest-salary-survey/

Presented by BookNet Canada and the Association of Canadian Publishers on May 1, 2025 with support from the Department of Canadian Heritage.

1. Results of the 2024
Canadian Book Publishing
Industry Salary Survey
Association of Canadian Publishers
Dani MacDonald, Research & Communications Manager, ACP

2. •Last salary survey conducted in 2018 by Quill & Quire
•Context has changed: pandemic, hybrid work, inflation
•Initiative of ACP’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee
•Salary data and transparency a key step in industry DEI
efforts
Why This Survey Now?

3. •Survey was open from September 9–November 25, 2024
•779 responses, 591 of which provided salary data—double the
number of responses compared to the 2018
Q&Q survey
•Responses reflect 9–16% of total Canadian publishing industry
•Open to all full-time, part-time, and contract staff, as well as
interns and freelancers
•More demographic questions in 2024 survey
How the Survey Was Conducted

4. •Gender: 79% women, 15% men, 4% non-binary
•Race: 79% white (vs. 87% in 2018, 75% in 2022)
•Sexual orientation: 61% heterosexual (vs. 87% in 2018)
•Disability: 19% (vs. 3% in 2018, 26% in 2022)
•Age: 20% under 30 (vs. 38% in 2018), 23% over 50
A Snapshot of the Workforce

5. •Average salary in 2024: $64,580 (30% increase from 2018)
•Role examples:
oPublisher:$88,000 (up from $60,000)
oAcquisitions Editor: $64,600 (up from $55,900)
oSales Director: $77,000 (down from $89,000)
•Fewer low-paying jobs, but still below national average: $72,800
Salaries Are Up—But Not Evenly

6. •2018: Women $45,100, Men $60,600 (25% gap)
•2024: Women $64,738, Men $63,868 (parity
reached)
•Likely due to more women in senior roles and
higher survey participation rate
The Gender Pay Gap—Closed?

7. •White respondents: $66,045, BIPOC respondents: $61,650
•$4,400 gap (~7%)
•Sample size small, but highlights systemic barriers:
oFewer BIPOC in senior roles
oUnder-resourced small firms
oAdvancement challenges
Racial Pay Disparities Remain

8. •61% based in Ontario; ~40% in GTA
•Cost of living in GTA: $61,654–$83,680 (after taxes)
•Average publishing salary ($64k pre-tax) not enough to
live comfortably
•Geographic concentration limits workforce diversity
Where We Work —and What That Means

9. •82% of respondents work at Canadian-owned firms
•Low participation from respondents working at
multinational firms
•58% of firms have ≤25 employees
•40% have revenue < $1M
•Larger companies underrepresented in results
Employment Trends & Firm Types

10. •51% have worked in publishing ≥10 years
•Only 20% are under 30 (down from 38% in 2018)
•23% are 50+
•Low turnover, but aging workforce
•Raises questions about succession and the future of the
Canadian publishing workforce
The Industry Is Aging—and Staying Put

11. •Salaries rising, but still low for major urban living
•Gender pay parity achieved (on average)
•Racial pay gap remains
•Aging, stable workforce with few new entrants
•Ontario-centric, limiting regional diversity
Key Takeaways

12. •Conduct another survey in ~5 years
•Use data to address equity gaps and encourage wage
transparency
•Support early-career professionals through fair pay,
mentorships, and regional diversity
•Use data for advocacy with funders
Next Steps

13. Thank you!
Thank you to the Access Copyright Foundation for providing funding for this project.