May 29, 2026

If you’re already working in Child Care in Alberta or thinking about making the move, one number changes everything about your earning potential: the difference between Level 1 and Level 3 certification. Alberta’s wage top-up for Level 1 ELCC is $2.64/hour, while the Level 3 top-up is $8.62/hour for eligible certified educators working in participating licensed programs. (Government of Alberta) 

For anyone interesting with ELCC level 3 salary in Alberta, the most useful question is not only “What do early child educators make?” It is “How much more could Level 3 certification help me earn?” 

What Does ELCC Level 3 Mean in Alberta? 

In Alberta, Early Childhood Educator certification is divided into Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. The Government of Alberta states that Level 3 requires a two-year early learning and child care diploma program from an approved Alberta public college, private career college, or university, or an approved educational equivalency. 

Certification is also required for many child care roles in Alberta. The province says people who want to work in a licensed daycare, preschool program, family day home under a licensed agency, or out-of-school care program must be certified as Early Childhood Educators. Child care staff must be certified within six months of employment and cannot have unsupervised access to children until they meet certification requirements. 

For current Level 1 or Level 2 ELCC, upgrading to Level 3 can support stronger wage top-up eligibility and broader career options. 

Average Early Childhood Educator Pay in Alberta 

Alberta’s alis occupational profile lists the broader Early Childhood Educators and Assistants occupation group at an average wage of $19.05/hour and an average salary of $35,671/year, based on the 2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey. (alis) 

The same wage table lists the overall hourly wage range from $15.50 at the low end to $24.51 at the high end, with an overall median of $18.07/hour. For top-paid workers in the occupation group, alis lists an average of $23.81/hour, a median of $24.00/hour, and a high-end value of $30.96/hour. (alis) 

These numbers are useful context, but they are not Level 3-specific. alis notes that labour market data is shown for the full NOC group, not one specific occupation; in this case, the group is Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202). (alis) 

What Alberta’s Child Care Wage Grid Means for Level 3 ELCC

Alberta’s child care wage grid is best understood as a wage top-up system. It is not a fixed salary that every employer must pay. The province says wage top-up funding provides additional pay above the employer-paid base wage, and eligible early childhood educators receive hourly top-ups based on certification level. (Government of Alberta)

Alberta lists the Level 3 wage top-up at $8.62/hour, compared with $5.05/hour for Level 2 and $2.64/hour for Level 1. Funding is paid monthly up to a maximum of 181 hours. (Government of Alberta) 

For Level 3 educators specifically, Alberta reported an average employer-paid wage of $21.08/hour and an average wage of $29.70/hour with the wage top-up included as of December 2025. (Government of Alberta) 

At a simple full-time estimate of 40 hours per week for 52 weeks, $29.70/hour equals about $61,776/year before taxes. This is an estimate based on Alberta’s reported Level 3 average with top-up, not a guaranteed annual salary. (Government of Alberta) 

Alberta also notes that wage top-ups are taxable, paid through the employer’s payroll, and should appear as a separate line item on the employee’s paystub. (Government of Alberta) 

Level 1 vs. Level 3 Wage Top-Up Comparison 

For current Level 1 ELCC, the wage top-up difference is one of the clearest reasons to consider upgrading. Alberta’s Level 1 top-up is $2.64/hour, while the Level 3 top-up is $8.62/hour, creating a difference of $5.98/hour for eligible hours. (Government of Alberta) 

Because Alberta pays wage top-up funding up to 181 hours per month, that $5.98/hour difference could equal about $1,082.38/month in additional government-funded top-up income before tax, assuming the educator qualifies for the full monthly maximum and all program conditions are met. (Government of Alberta) 

Actual results depend on your employer-paid wage, eligible hours, taxes, funding rules, completion timeline, certification approval, and whether your workplace participates in the wage top-up program. Alberta states that early childhood educators must work for a participating licensed child care program or licensed family day home agency to receive this funding. (Government of Alberta) 

Calgary vs. Edmonton ELCC Salary Differences 

Calgary and Edmonton are two major Alberta child care labour markets, and many early childhood educators compare them when thinking about pay. Indeed lists the average base salary for Early Childhood Teachers in Calgary at $19.18/hour, based on 908 reported salaries and updated May 10, 2026. (Indeed Calgary) 

Indeed lists the average base salary for Early Childhood Teachers in Edmonton at $18.79/hour, based on 496 reported salaries and updated May 8, 2026. (Indeed Edmonton) 

Based on those averages, Calgary is about $0.39/hour higher than Edmonton. The key point is that the Calgary-versus-Edmonton gap is much smaller than Alberta’s Level 3 wage top-up. The Level 3 top-up is $8.62/hour, so certification level, employer participation, and eligible hours can matter more than city alone. (Government of Alberta) 

Why Level 3 ELCC May Earn More 

Two Level 3 early childhood teachers in Alberta may still earn different incomes. alis notes that income and benefits can vary based on program size, employer type, location, and level of training. (alis) 

Workplace setting also matters. alis lists common workplaces for early childhood educators, including early learning and child care centres, family day homes, out-of-school care programs, preschools, recreation centres, early intervention programs, family support programs, and domestic violence shelters. (alis) 

How to Get to Level 3 in Alberta

For current Level 1 or Level 2 ELCC, the path to Level 3 usually means completing an approved early learning and child care diploma or meeting an approved educational equivalency. Alberta states that Level 3 certification requires a two-year early learning and child care diploma program from an approved Alberta public college, private career college, or university, or an approved educational equivalency. (Government of Alberta) 

CDI College’s Early Learning and Child Care Diploma in Alberta is designed for this pathway. Graduates meet the program requirements to obtain Level 3 Early Childhood Educator certification through Alberta Children’s Services. The diploma at 77 weeks, including 760 field placement hours, and reports a 98% employment rate for CDI College Alberta from January to December 2023. (CDI College) 

For students who need flexible access, program offers In Person (On Campus) and the benefits section includes Hybrid study options. CDI’s Alberta campus includes Calgary City Centre, Calgary North, Calgary South, Edmonton City Centre, Edmonton North, Edmonton South, Edmonton West, and Red Deer. 

For readers who want to better understand the training topics behind Level 3 certification, CDI also explains what students can expect from ELCC Level 3 Courses. 

Job Outlook for ELCC in Alberta 

Alberta’s alis profile lists the three-year job market forecast for Early Childhood Educators and Assistants as balanced, with 19,725 people employed in Alberta in this occupation group. (alis) 

That does not mean there is no hiring demand. alis reports that 75% of employers recruited for this occupation group in the last two years, while 64% of recruiting employers experienced hiring difficulties. It also lists 18% of employers with vacancies unfilled for more than four months and a 4% vacancy rate. (alis) 

For Level 1 and Level 2 ELCC thinking about upgrading, this matters because employers are not only looking for people who enjoy working with children. They also need certified educators who can support programming, documentation, inclusion, classroom routines, and family communication. 

Final Thoughts

What Can a Level 3 Early Childhood Educator Earn in Alberta? A strong benchmark for ELCC Level 3 salary in Alberta is Alberta’s reported Level 3 average of $21.08/hour before top-up and $29.70/hour with the government wage top-up as of December 2025. (Government of Alberta) 

Calgary’s average base hourly pay is slightly higher than Edmonton’s in Indeed’s city-level salary data, but the difference is small: $19.18/hour in Calgary compared with $18.79/hour in Edmonton. (Indeed Calgary; Indeed Edmonton) 

For Level 3 certified educators, total earning potential is shaped less by Calgary versus Edmonton alone and more by certification level, employer-paid wage, eligible hours, wage top-up participation, and growth into higher-responsibility roles. (Government of Alberta; alis) 

If you want to understand whether CDI College ELCC Diploma in Alberta fits where you are right now, their admissions team can walk you through your next steps.