Education

To Become University Professor (Research and teaching) in Ontario: Salary, Training, and Career Outlook

by Occupations.ca Team
12 min read

Have you ever pictured yourself shaping new knowledge, guiding students, and contributing to society from a university classroom or lab in Ontario? If you enjoy learning, writing, mentorship, and discovery, the path of a University Professor (Research and Teaching) may be a strong fit for you.

Job Description

University professors in Ontario teach undergraduate and graduate students, lead research programs, publish scholarly work, and contribute service to their departments, faculties, and communities. Your week will mix course preparation and teaching with research activities such as data collection, writing, and applying for grants. You will also supervise students, sit on committees, and engage with industry or community partners.

Daily work activities

As a professor, each day is different. You might:

  • Teach lectures or seminars, hold office hours, and mark assignments.
  • Meet with graduate students to review research progress.
  • Write a grant proposal to fund your lab, fieldwork, or archives trip.
  • Analyze data, code, or conduct experiments.
  • Draft or revise a journal article, book chapter, or conference paper.
  • Attend a faculty meeting, peer-review papers, or participate on a hiring committee.
  • Give a talk on your research or attend a conference, sometimes traveling.
  • Coordinate community or industry partnerships for applied projects.
  • Contribute to curriculum renewal or accreditation processes.

Teaching loads and research intensity vary by institution and appointment type. Tenure-stream roles typically balance research, teaching, and service (often roughly 40/40/20, though it varies). Teaching-stream roles emphasize Instruction, curriculum development, and pedagogical Leadership. Contract or sessional appointments usually focus on teaching.

Main tasks

  • Plan and deliver courses; create syllabi, lectures, labs, and assessments.
  • Supervise undergraduate projects, and graduate (Master’s and PhD) students.
  • Conduct original research and publish in peer-reviewed outlets.
  • Apply for grants (for example, Tri-Agency funding) and manage research budgets.
  • Build and maintain a research group or lab; ensure research ethics and Safety.
  • Engage in service: committees, peer review, community outreach, and academic leadership.
  • Mentor students and early-career researchers; Support equity, diversity, and inclusion.
  • Collaborate with other scholars, community partners, or industry.
  • Disseminate results to the public, policymakers, or practitioners.

Required Education

Most university professor positions in Ontario require advanced graduate Training, especially a PhD (or a terminal professional degree) and a record of research and teaching experience. Your exact path depends on your field.

Diplomas and degrees

  • Certificate
    • Not required for hiring, but a university teaching certificate can strengthen your profile. Many Ontario universities offer teaching development programs for graduate students, postdocs, and faculty (see “Where to study?” below).
  • College Diploma
    • A college diploma alone does not qualify you for a university professor position. However, you can start at an Ontario college, transfer into a Bachelor’s program, then pursue graduate studies. College experience can also enrich applied research and teaching, especially in professional fields.
  • Bachelor’s Degree
    • The first step. In many fields, completing an Honours Bachelor’s degree with strong grades and research experience (e.g., a thesis) is ideal if you want to continue to graduate school.
  • Master’s Degree
    • In most disciplines, a Master’s (1–2 years) is required before a PhD. In some fields (notably STEM), students may transfer directly from a Master’s to a PhD after strong performance.
  • Doctoral Degree (PhD or equivalent terminal degree)
    • For most tenure-track positions, a PhD is standard. In professional faculties, a terminal degree and professional experience may be required (for example, JD for Law, MD for Medicine, EdD/PhD for Education, MFA for studio arts, MBA/DBA in Business alongside significant practice, or BArch/MArch with licensure for Architecture).
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship (optional but common in many fields)
    • Postdocs (1–3 years) provide advanced research training, publications, and teaching opportunities, and are common in STEM and increasingly in social sciences and humanities.
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Length of studies (typical)

  • Bachelor’s: 4 years (Honours).
  • Master’s: 1–2 years.
  • PhD: 4–6 years (varies by field).
  • Postdoc: 1–3 years (optional but recommended in many research-intensive areas).

From the start of your Bachelor’s to a first tenure-track application, plan for roughly 9–13+ years of education and early-career research experience. Teaching-stream roles may place relatively more weight on demonstrated excellence in instruction and curriculum development.

Where to study? (Ontario universities and useful links)

Explore undergraduate and graduate programs, plus teaching development resources, at these Ontario universities:

Program search and sector Information:

Research funding (commonly pursued by Ontario faculty and graduate students):

Where to find academic jobs in Ontario:

Salary and Working Conditions

Salary in Ontario

Salaries vary by university, discipline, rank, and whether you are in the tenure stream, teaching stream, or on a limited-term or sessional contract.

  • Entry-level (Assistant Professor, tenure-track): often in the range of about $90,000–$120,000 per year, depending on the institution and field.
  • Mid-career (Associate Professor): commonly around $115,000–$160,000+ per year.
  • Senior (Full Professor): often $150,000–$220,000+, with some research chairs and administrative roles higher.

For a government wage reference, see the Government of Canada Job Bank for “University professors and lecturers” (NOC 41200) in Ontario:

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Sessional/contract lecturer compensation is usually paid per course and varies by institution and collective agreement. Consult your local faculty association or union for current rates. OCUFA lists Ontario faculty associations:

Benefits typically include extended health and dental, pension contributions, and paid leaves (details vary by collective agreement). Teaching-stream and tenure-stream faculty usually have access to sabbaticals after a qualifying period.

Working conditions

  • Workload: Professors often spend 45–60+ hours/week across teaching, research, Supervision, administration, and service. The mix changes through the term and across the year.
  • Academic calendar: Teaching is busiest September–April; spring/summer often focus on research, graduate supervision, fieldwork, and writing.
  • Flexibility: Schedules can be flexible outside of fixed teaching times; remote and hybrid options depend on your university and program.
  • Environment: Labs, studios, clinics, archives, and field sites require safety training and ethics approvals where applicable.
  • Travel: Conferences, field studies, and partner meetings may involve local and international travel.
  • Governance and protections: Most Ontario universities have unionized or association-based collective agreements governing workload, salaries, leaves, and processes such as tenure and promotion.

Job outlook

Demand varies by field and institution. Hiring depends on student enrolment, research funding, retirements, and program priorities. For an up-to-date, official view, consult the Government of Canada Job Bank outlook for Ontario:

You should also check department websites, faculty association postings, and sector job boards (University Affairs and AcademicWork) for current opportunities and trends in your discipline.

Key Skills

Soft skills

  • Communication: Clear lecturing, academic writing, and the ability to explain complex ideas.
  • Mentorship: Support students and early-career researchers; provide constructive feedback.
  • Time Management: Balance teaching, research, writing, grants, and service.
  • Collaboration: Work across teams, disciplines, and partnerships (community or industry).
  • Leadership: Guide research groups, committees, and initiatives; model ethical conduct.
  • Adaptability: Adjust teaching to diverse learners and adopt new methods or technologies.
  • Intercultural competence: Foster equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) in teaching and research environments.
  • Resilience: Navigate peer review, grant outcomes, and competing deadlines.

Hard skills

  • Research design and methods: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, or creative practice.
  • Data and analysis: Statistics, coding, lab techniques, archival research, or design tools.
  • Scholarly publishing: Journal and book publishing processes; peer review.
  • Grant writing and budget management: Proposals for SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR and other funders.
  • Teaching and assessment: Course design, learning outcomes, rubrics, and feedback.
  • Learning technologies: LMS (e.g., Quercus, Avenue, Brightspace), lecture capture, and digital tools.
  • Research ethics and Compliance: Human/animal ethics, safety, data stewardship, and IP.
  • Knowledge mobilization: Public scholarship, policy briefs, industry translation, and media.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

  • Impact: Shape the next generation of professionals and scholars; advance knowledge.
  • Intellectual freedom: Pursue your research agenda and creative ideas within ethical and professional standards.
  • Variety: Teach, research, write, collaborate, and engage beyond campus.
  • Stability and benefits: Tenure-stream positions offer job Security, benefits, pensions, and sabbatical opportunities.
  • Professional growth: Access to research funding, labs, libraries, and training in pedagogy and leadership.
  • Community: Build networks across Ontario, Canada, and internationally.

Disadvantages

  • Long training period: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, and often postdoctoral work.
  • Competition: Tenure-track roles are competitive in many fields; strong records are essential.
  • Pressure to publish and win grants: Sustained output and funding are often required for tenure and promotion.
  • Workload and time demands: Teaching, supervision, administration, and research can extend beyond a typical workweek.
  • Contract precarity (for some): Sessional and limited-term roles may offer lower pay and less stability.
  • Grant cycles and uncertainty: Research timelines depend on funding results and review processes.
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Expert Opinion

If you want to become a University Professor in Ontario, plan early and build a balanced profile. Here is a practical roadmap you can follow:

  • Undergrad (Years 1–4): Choose an Honours program with research opportunities. Seek undergraduate research assistantships, complete a thesis or capstone, and present at student conferences. Aim for strong grades and build relationships for reference letters.
  • Master’s (Years 5–6): Deepen your methods and writing skills. Target programs with strong supervision matches. Publish from your thesis where possible and gain teaching assistant experience. Earn a teaching certificate through your university’s teaching centre.
  • PhD (Years 7–10+): Choose supervisors with active research programs and strong placement records. Build a publication pipeline (articles, chapters, or creative work), present at major conferences, and apply for Tri‑Agency scholarships. Pursue collaborations and begin mentoring junior students.
  • Postdoc (optional but valuable): Use this time to expand your research portfolio and publications. Apply for grants as PI or co‑applicant and develop your teaching dossier with guest lectures or course design.
  • Job market preparation: Craft a research statement, teaching dossier (philosophy, syllabi, evaluations), EDI statement, and CV targeted to Ontario universities. Tailor each application to the department’s needs and speak to student success, community engagement, and your future research trajectory.
  • Funding Strategy: Get comfortable with SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR programs and internal grants. Early success with seed grants or partnership projects can position you well for larger awards.
  • Network in Ontario: Attend seminars across universities (Toronto, McMaster, Waterloo, Western, Queen’s, Ottawa, etc.). Collaborate across institutions to build visibility and co‑authorships. Consider cross‑appointments and research clusters.
  • Know your appointment stream: If you love teaching and curriculum, the teaching-stream can be an excellent, secure career path, with promotion opportunities based on teaching leadership and innovation.
  • Protect your time: Reserve writing and analysis time during the term. Use summer strategically for publications and grant submissions.
  • Learn the system: Review your target universities’ collective agreements, workload policies, tenure and promotion criteria, and sabbatical provisions. OCUFA’s members page can help you locate association information across Ontario: https://ocufa.on.ca/members/

Above all, keep your focus on students’ learning, high-quality scholarship, and meaningful service. That combination is what Ontario universities value.

FAQ

Do I need a teaching licence to be a university professor in Ontario?

No. A teaching licence (OCT) is required for K–12 teachers in Ontario schools, not for universities. Universities look for a strong academic record (usually a PhD or terminal degree), research productivity, and evidence of effective university‑level teaching. Teaching certificates offered by university teaching centres are helpful but not mandatory.

How important is French–English bilingualism for university professors in Ontario?

Most Ontario universities are primarily English. However, University of Ottawa is bilingual and some roles require French and English; other institutions may have French‑language programs or partnerships. Bilingualism is an asset for student support, collaboration, and grant opportunities, but it is not required for most positions outside of bilingual or francophone programs.

What counts as “enough” publications for a tenure‑track job?

It depends on your field, the journal/book norms, and the university. Research‑intensive postings expect a clear publication trajectory (e.g., peer‑reviewed articles or a book project underway) and a strong pipeline. In many areas, quality, fit, and promise matter as much as raw count. Review ads on University Affairs (https://www.universityaffairs.ca/jobs/) and recent hires in your target departments to calibrate your expectations.

Can industry professionals become professors in Ontario?

Yes. In professional schools (Business, Engineering, Law, Health, Education, Design, and others), relevant industry or clinical experience plus a terminal degree can be competitive. You may be hired into a teaching‑stream or professor of practice role, or move into tenure stream if your research aligns with the department’s goals. Building an applied research record, patents, creative work, or policy outputs strengthens your case.

Where can I find official information about the Ontario job market for professors?

For government labour market data in Ontario, consult the Job Bank for NOC 41200:

You can also monitor openings and trends via University Affairs (https://www.universityaffairs.ca/jobs/) and CAUT’s AcademicWork (https://www.academicwork.ca).

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