Data sourced from the Ontario Public Sector Salary Disclosure. This site is independent and not affiliated with the Government of Ontario. Always verify against the official source.
The Universities sector had 30,975 employees on the 2025 Ontario Sunshine List, with an average salary of $165,197 and a total disclosed payroll of $5.1B — up 6.2% from 2024. The highest-paid employee on record in this sector was William Moriarty (University of Toronto), earning $1,475,281 in 2015.
30,975
Employees
In 2025
$165,197
Avg Salary
2025
$5.1B
Total Payroll
2025 disclosed
10
Employers
Top employers in 2025
Employees earning $100k+ per year · bars = headcount, lines = salary
$1,475,281
2015
$1,046,194
2016
$1,056,814
2010
$989,711
2018
$939,335
2014
$936,538
2017
$967,245
2014
$801,110
2019
$775,665
2012
$774,382
2013
| Name | Employer | Year | Total Comp. |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Moriarty | University of Toronto | 2015 | $1,475,281 |
| William Moriarty | University of Toronto | 2016 | $1,046,194 |
| DAVID L. JOHNSTON | University of Waterloo | 2010 | $1,056,814 |
| Daren Smith | University of Toronto | 2018 | $989,711 |
| William Moriarty | University of Toronto | 2014 | $939,335 |
| Daren Smith | University of Toronto | 2017 | $936,538 |
| Amit Chakma | University of Western Ontario | 2014 | $967,245 |
| Daren Smith | University Of Toronto | 2019 | $801,110 |
| WILLIAM MORIARTY | University of Toronto | 2012 | $775,665 |
| WILLIAM MORIARTY | University of Toronto | 2013 | $774,382 |
Employees
30,975
Avg Salary
$165,197
Median
$151,306
Total Payroll
$5.1B
Employees
29,163
Avg Salary
$162,647
Median
$150,348
Total Payroll
$4.7B
Employees
26,231
Avg Salary
$160,883
Median
$150,298
Total Payroll
$4.2B
Employees
24,067
Avg Salary
$158,439
Median
$149,232
Total Payroll
$3.8B
Employees
23,096
Avg Salary
$157,027
Median
$148,518
Total Payroll
$3.6B
Employees
22,020
Avg Salary
$156,238
Median
$148,298
Total Payroll
$3.4B
Employees
20,673
Avg Salary
$155,469
Median
$147,577
Total Payroll
$3.2B
Employees
19,601
Avg Salary
$153,502
Median
$145,839
Total Payroll
$3.0B
Employees
18,616
Avg Salary
$151,336
Median
$143,747
Total Payroll
$2.8B
Employees
17,948
Avg Salary
$150,236
Median
$142,584
Total Payroll
$2.7B
Employees
17,065
Avg Salary
$147,334
Median
$139,891
Total Payroll
$2.5B
Employees
16,375
Avg Salary
$145,493
Median
$138,080
Total Payroll
$2.4B
Employees
15,581
Avg Salary
$143,642
Median
$136,156
Total Payroll
$2.2B
Employees
14,706
Avg Salary
$141,390
Median
$133,522
Total Payroll
$2.1B
Employees
13,820
Avg Salary
$139,473
Median
$131,515
Total Payroll
$1.9B
Employees
12,853
Avg Salary
$137,233
Median
$129,433
Total Payroll
$1.8B
Employees
11,908
Avg Salary
$135,172
Median
$127,208
Total Payroll
$1.6B
Employees
10,472
Avg Salary
$132,906
Median
$124,609
Total Payroll
$1.4B
Employees
9,417
Avg Salary
$130,568
Median
$122,607
Total Payroll
$1.2B
Employees
7,867
Avg Salary
$128,251
Median
$120,453
Total Payroll
$1.0B
Employees
6,753
Avg Salary
$125,368
Median
$117,962
Total Payroll
$846.6M
Employees
5,819
Avg Salary
$123,415
Median
$115,687
Total Payroll
$718.2M
Employees
5,145
Avg Salary
$121,809
Median
$114,024
Total Payroll
$626.7M
Employees
3,843
Avg Salary
$119,356
Median
$111,514
Total Payroll
$458.7M
Employees
3,129
Avg Salary
$118,367
Median
$110,754
Total Payroll
$370.4M
Employees
2,643
Avg Salary
$116,750
Median
$109,707
Total Payroll
$308.6M
Employees
2,069
Avg Salary
$116,022
Median
$109,052
Total Payroll
$240.1M
Employees
1,643
Avg Salary
$116,168
Median
$108,602
Total Payroll
$190.9M
Employees
1,439
Avg Salary
$116,295
Median
$108,402
Total Payroll
$167.3M
Employees
1,190
Avg Salary
$116,517
Median
$108,939
Total Payroll
$138.7M
| Year | Employees | Avg Salary | Median Salary | Total Payroll | Headcount Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30,975 | $165,197 | $151,306 | $5.1B | +6.2% |
| 2024 | 29,163 | $162,647 | $150,348 | $4.7B | +11.2% |
| 2023 | 26,231 | $160,883 | $150,298 | $4.2B | +9.0% |
| 2022 | 24,067 | $158,439 | $149,232 | $3.8B | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 23,096 | $157,027 | $148,518 | $3.6B | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 22,020 | $156,238 | $148,298 | $3.4B | +6.5% |
| 2019 | 20,673 | $155,469 | $147,577 | $3.2B | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 19,601 | $153,502 | $145,839 | $3.0B | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 18,616 | $151,336 | $143,747 | $2.8B | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 17,948 | $150,236 | $142,584 | $2.7B | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 17,065 | $147,334 | $139,891 | $2.5B | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 16,375 | $145,493 | $138,080 | $2.4B | +5.1% |
| 2013 | 15,581 | $143,642 | $136,156 | $2.2B | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 14,706 | $141,390 | $133,522 | $2.1B | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 13,820 | $139,473 | $131,515 | $1.9B | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 12,853 | $137,233 | $129,433 | $1.8B | +7.9% |
| 2009 | 11,908 | $135,172 | $127,208 | $1.6B | +13.7% |
| 2008 | 10,472 | $132,906 | $124,609 | $1.4B | +11.2% |
| 2007 | 9,417 | $130,568 | $122,607 | $1.2B | +19.7% |
| 2006 | 7,867 | $128,251 | $120,453 | $1.0B | +16.5% |
| 2005 | 6,753 | $125,368 | $117,962 | $846.6M | +16.1% |
| 2004 | 5,819 | $123,415 | $115,687 | $718.2M | +13.1% |
| 2003 | 5,145 | $121,809 | $114,024 | $626.7M | +33.9% |
| 2002 | 3,843 | $119,356 | $111,514 | $458.7M | +22.8% |
| 2001 | 3,129 | $118,367 | $110,754 | $370.4M | +18.4% |
| 2000 | 2,643 | $116,750 | $109,707 | $308.6M | +27.7% |
| 1999 | 2,069 | $116,022 | $109,052 | $240.1M | +25.9% |
| 1998 | 1,643 | $116,168 | $108,602 | $190.9M | +14.2% |
| 1997 | 1,439 | $116,295 | $108,402 | $167.3M | +20.9% |
| 1996 | 1,190 | $116,517 | $108,939 | $138.7M | — |