11 November 2022
School support staff in Quebec see themselves in the salary demands of school support staff in Ontario because there are many similarities.
School Support Staff Salaries
An analysis of the 2019-2020 Treasury Board data and salary projections for 2022 reveal that 66 of the 81 job classes we represent include workers who earn less than $39,000/year. These people represent nearly 80% of all school support staff in Quebec.
The large number of part-time positions partially explains this average salary, but even if these people were to obtain full-time positions, they would still represent little more than half of the people with incomes of less than $39,000.
A Viable Income
Treasure Board data shows that the average annual salary for school support staff in 2022 is $24,522.
According to the 8th edition of the study on viable income published on May 5, 2022, by the Institute for Socioeconomic Research and Information (IRIS), the estimated viable income for a single person ranges between $25,128 (Saguenay) and $34,814 (Sept-Îles). The study was carried out in 7 municipalities: Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Trois-Rivières and Sept-Îles.
Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire (FPSS-CSQ) President Éric Pronovost has this to say: “The Premier has often repeated that he wants to see more salaries above $56,000, to raise the average salary in Quebec and catch up with Ontario. He will certainly have his work cut out to achieve this objective.”
Government Assistance Check
The president of the Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire (FPSS-CSQ) explains that “in these circumstances, all support staff will receive a check from the government and 96% of our members will receive the $600 check for those who earn less than $50,000 per year. This shows how much the rise in the cost of living is affecting these people.”
Summary Table
- Average salary, all job classes combined: $24,522/year
- Average percentage of people with incomes of less than $39,000: 79.8%
- Average percentage of people unable to earn more than $39,000: 52.7%
- Average percentage of people who will receive the $400 to $600 check: 96.3%
Improve the Quality of Support Staff Jobs
Éric Pronovost specifies that “the attraction and retention of school support staff will require quality jobs with full-time positions, the end of split shifts, the promotion of all school support staff jobs, family-work balance and decent wages.”