The median after-tax income* for all Canadian Couple Families with children under 18 was $79,794 in 2011.

That income was slightly less – $74,032, for couples with children under 6.

However, female-led lone parent families had incomes of approximately one-third that of couple families and male led lone-parent families had incomes that were just over half of couple families with children under 6.

*The concept of income covers income received while a resident of Canada or as relevant for income tax purposes in Canada. Market income is the sum of earnings (from employment and net self-employment), net investment income, private retirement income, and the items under other income. It is also called income before taxes and transfers. Total income refers to income from all sources including government transfers and before deduction of federal and provincial income taxes. It may also be called income before tax (but after transfers). After-tax income is total income less income tax. It may also be called income after tax. The median is the level of income at which half the population has higher income and half has lower.