Please review our latest salary report for the Built Environment, providing insights from 830 Real Estate Development and Property Management Professionals.
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With three years of Built Environment Salary Survey data, a clearer trend is emerging across real estate development roles in Canada. Looking at 2024 to 2026 shows how compensation is shifting alongside real market pressure.
The past two years have not been easy. Higher financing costs, rising construction expenses, and economic uncertainty have slowed new project activity. Many developers have delayed or reworked projects as feasibility becomes harder to achieve.
That slowdown has impacted hiring. When projects stall, hiring follows. Most firms have focused on keeping their current teams in place rather than adding headcount. This is typical in development. Hiring expands and contracts with project pipelines.
Why Salaries Are Holding Up
Even with slower hiring, salaries have held up in key roles.
Developers still rely on experienced professionals to move projects forward. Roles tied to approvals, budgets, consultants, and delivery remain critical. These positions are harder to replace and continue to command strong pay.
The data reflects this clearly.
Project Manager salaries increased across all three years
Female: $90,500 in 2024 → $109,000 in 2026
Male: $118,000 in 2024 → $126,000 in 2026
Development Manager salaries followed a similar trend
Female: $102,250 → $116,000
Male: $115,500 → $120,000
These roles sit at the center of execution. As long as projects move forward, demand for this talent remains steady.
Where the Gender Gap Shows Up
The gender pay gap is not consistent across all levels.
The gap is most visible at the Project Manager level, where male respondents reported higher average salaries
At Senior Development Manager, compensation nearly aligns
Female: $149,500
Male: $148,500
At the Vice President level, the gap widens again
Male: $238,000
Female: $212,000
The early career gap matters. Project Manager roles often lead into senior leadership. Differences here can compound over time.
At the top level, representation plays a role. Fewer women in senior leadership positions can skew averages, especially with smaller sample sizes.
What This Means
For employers:
Retention risk is highest in delivery-focused roles
Project Managers and Development Managers remain highly competitive hires
Compensation pressure will stay strongest in roles tied to execution
For professionals:
Operational experience drives long term earnings
Project leadership remains the clearest path to higher compensation
Early career positioning has a lasting impact
Explore the Full Data
To see full compensation benchmarks across roles, regions, and experience levels, download the 2026 Built Environment Salary Report.
If you want to understand how this impacts your hiring or retention strategy, connect with our team for a confidential discussion.
