BC resident salaries vs projected income for a mortgage
By Asim Ali, Mortgage Broker (BC, AB), Mortgage Agent Level 2 (ON), Dominion Lending Centres A.I.M.I. Collective Mortgage Group
Updated
Short answer: a BC R1 resident earns $69,311 in 2026, but physician mortgage programs can qualify you on projected income of $185,000 or more. In our example that more than doubles the home you can buy.
2026 BC resident doctor salaries, R1 to R7
Annual salaries under the Resident Doctors of BC agreement, from the first pay period after April 1, 2026. Each year's rates include a 3% general wage increase.
What each income lets you buy
Our example uses $150,000 down, a 4.5% rate stress-tested at 6.5%, a 30-year amortization, property tax of 0.3% a year, $100 a month for heating and no other debts.
| Income used by the lender | Approximate maximum price |
|---|---|
| R1 salary, $69,311 | $474,000 |
| R3 salary, $84,131 | $548,000 |
| R7 salary, $110,621 | $680,000 |
| Projected income, $185,000 | $1,025,000 |
| Projected income, $225,000 | $1,219,000 |
These figures leave out your line of credit. Lenders add a monthly payment for it, and the method they use can cut your maximum by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Try your own numbers in the affordability calculator.
Salary rates for 2025 and 2027
- R1: $67,292.34 in 2025 and $71,390.44 in 2027.
- R2: $75,002.94 in 2025 and $79,570.62 in 2027.
Read more
- HEABC, Resident Doctors of BC wage schedules 2025 to 2029 →
- Scotiabank, "Projected income" article (May 25, 2025) →
- Scotiabank, medical residents page →
- OSFI, minimum qualifying rate for uninsured mortgages →
- CMHC, calculating GDS and TDS →
Lender programs change often. Figures on this page are current as of November 2, 2026 and are examples, not offers. Your approval depends on the lender and your full application.
