Highest-Paid Researchers in Ontario (2025)

In 2025, 3,006 researcher roles appeared on the Ontario Sunshine List, earning an average of $141,440 and a median of $122,626. The highest-paid was Stephen Scherer (Chief Research Institute at The Hospital For Sick Children) at $534,860. Research associates, scientists, and coordinators at public universities and agencies.

Figures cover disclosed public-sector employees only (those above Ontario’s $100,000 disclosure threshold). Records span 1996–2025.

Researchers disclosed (2025)

3,006

Average

$141,440

Median

$122,626

Highest

$534,860

Top 25 highest-paid researchers (2025)

#	Name	Job title	Employer	Total
1	Stephen Scherer	Chief Research Institute	The Hospital For Sick Children	$534,860
2	Brad Wouters	Executive Vice President Science and Research	University Health Network	$456,667
3	Kullervo H Hynynen	Vice President Research	Sunnybrook Research Institute	$446,490
4	Brenda Cossman	Professor of Law and Associate Dean, Research	University Of Toronto	$443,320
5	Leah Cowen	Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives; Professor, Molecular Genetics	University Of Toronto	$441,500
6	Ori Rotstein	Vice President Research and Innovation	Unity Health Toronto	$428,867
7	Anne-Claude Gingras	Director – Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Vice President of Research	Sinai Health System	$420,000
8	Paul Kubes	Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Immunophysiology and Immunotherapy	Queen's University	$414,920
9	Brenda Jean Andrews	Professor, Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research	University Of Toronto	$405,327
10	Jeffrey Schall	Professor/Director, Organized Research Unit University Based	York University	$382,087
11	Janet Dancey	Professor, Eisenhauer Chair (Clinical Cancer Research), Chair (Canadian Cancer Trials Group)	Queen's University	$381,491
12	Amir Asif	Vice-President, Research and Innovation/Professor/Senior Advisor	York University	$369,915
13	Robert D Klassen	Associate Dean (Research)/Professor	University Of Western Ontario	$365,988
14	Marc Jeschke	Vice President, Research and Innovation	Hamilton Health Sciences	$361,886
15	Dean Fergusson	Senior Research Scientist/Scientifique principal	Ottawa Hospital Research Institute	$359,936
16	Theo Peridis	Professor/Director, Organized Research Unit Faculty Based	York University	$359,745
17	Rashmi Kothary	Senior Research Scientist/Scientifique principal	Ottawa Hospital Research Institute	$358,744
18	Steven Liss	Vice President Research and Innovation	Toronto Metropolitan University	$357,680
19	Charlie Boone	Professor, Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research	University Of Toronto	$351,608
20	Charmaine Dean	Vice-President, Research and International	University Of Waterloo	$350,000
21	Benjamin Blencowe	Professor, Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research	University Of Toronto	$349,507
22	John Douglas Crawford	Professor/Director, Organized Research Unit Faculty Based	York University	$348,412
23	Peter Backx	Professor/Canada Research Chair	York University	$346,503
24	Jack Greenblatt	Professor, Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research	University Of Toronto	$346,107
25	Andrew Knights	Professor / Associate Vice-President Research	McMaster University	$345,545

Employers with the most researchers (2025)

University Of Toronto388 · $144,487 avg University Of Ottawa237 · $156,123 avg McMaster University150 · $134,959 avg Unity Health Toronto133 · $117,775 avg The Hospital For Sick Children125 · $125,231 avg York University115 · $180,151 avg Centre For Addiction And Mental Health105 · $117,936 avg University Of Waterloo98 · $129,045 avg University Of Guelph95 · $158,491 avg Queen's University92 · $176,468 avg Ottawa Hospital Research Institute76 · $165,770 avg City Of Toronto76 · $122,671 avg

Job titles included

Senior Research Associate121Research Associate104Research Coordinator53Research Scientist49Senior Research Analyst47Senior Research Scientist/Scientifique principal30Research Program Manager28Research Methods Specialist / Spécialiste de méthodes de recherche28Senior Planner Policy And Research27Chaire de recherche du Canada – Professeure titulaire, professeur titulaire / Canada Research Chair – Full Professor25

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Highest-Paid Researchers in Ontario (2025)

Top 25 highest-paid researchers (2025)

Employers with the most researchers (2025)

Job titles included

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