Careerhelp

All careers

423 careers in Canada, grouped by field.

Doctors

25
Allergist and ImmunologistThe doctor for allergies, asthma, hives and immune system problems. About 13 years of training, then office hours and very few emergencies.Typical pay$260kTo qualify12 to 14 yrsDemandVery highAnesthesiologistThe doctor who puts you to sleep for surgery and keeps you alive through it. Five years of residency, high pay, no clinic to run.Typical pay$420kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highCardiologistThe heart doctor. Six years of residency after medical school, among the longest paths in medicine, and among the best paid.Typical pay$550kTo qualify12 to 14 yrsDemandVery highDermatologistThe skin, hair and nail doctor. Five years of residency, regular hours, and one of the hardest residencies in Canada to get into.Typical pay$380kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highEmergency PhysicianThe doctor on shift when anything walks, rolls or is carried through the door. Two ways in, and shifts instead of a clinic.Typical pay$350kTo qualify9 to 13 yrsDemandVery highEndocrinologistThe hormone doctor. Diabetes, thyroid and bone, mostly clinic hours, five years of residency after medical school.Typical pay$300kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highFamily DoctorThe longest path on this site, and one of the highest paid. Ten years, then a job for life.Typical pay$240kTo qualify9 to 11 yrsDemandVery highGastroenterologistThe gut doctor. Scopes, liver disease and Crohn's, five years of residency, and one of the best-paid branches of internal medicine.Typical pay$450kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highGeriatricianThe doctor for older adults. Memory, falls, frailty and too many pills, five years of residency after medical school, and Canada has only a few hundred of them.Typical pay$290kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highHematologistThe blood doctor. Leukemia, clots, anemia and transfusions, five years of residency after medical school, often a salaried job in a cancer centre.Typical pay$370kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highInfectious Disease DoctorThe germ detective. Antibiotics, outbreaks and the infections nobody else can name, five years of residency after medical school.Typical pay$300kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highInternal Medicine DoctorThe hospital doctor for adults with complicated problems, and the gateway to a dozen specialties. Four to five years of residency.Typical pay$350kTo qualify10 to 13 yrsDemandVery highNephrologistThe kidney doctor. Dialysis, transplants and blood pressure, five years of residency after medical school, and patients you follow for decades.Typical pay$400kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highNeurologistThe brain and nerve doctor who does not operate. Strokes, seizures, migraines, multiple sclerosis. Five years of residency and a shortage everywhere.Typical pay$290kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highObstetrician-GynecologistDelivers babies and treats everything from fertility to cancer of the reproductive organs. Five years of residency, surgery, and babies at 3 a.m.Typical pay$340kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highOncologistThe cancer doctor. Long training, mostly salaried jobs in cancer centres, and patients who will remember you for the rest of their lives.Typical pay$400kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highPalliative Care DoctorThe doctor for people with serious illness, focused on comfort, pain and time with family. One of the shorter specialist paths, and emotionally the hardest.Typical pay$250kTo qualify9 to 13 yrsDemandVery highPathologistThe doctor who looks at tissue under a microscope and says what the disease is. Every cancer diagnosis passes through one. Five years of residency, regular hours.Typical pay$370kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highPediatricianA doctor for babies, children and teens. Four years of residency after medical school, then a job that never runs short of patients.Typical pay$250kTo qualify10 to 13 yrsDemandVery highPsychiatristA medical doctor who diagnoses and treats mental illness, and can prescribe. Five years of residency, and Canada is badly short of them.Typical pay$300kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highRadiation OncologistThe cancer doctor who treats tumours with radiation beams. Five years of residency after medical school, a salaried job at a cancer centre, and physics every day.Typical pay$380kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandGoodRadiologistThe doctor who reads X-rays, scans and ultrasounds and tells other doctors what is wrong. Five years of residency and one of the highest incomes in medicine.Typical pay$550kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highRespirologistThe lung doctor. Asthma, smokers' lungs, sleep apnea and the intensive care unit, five years of residency after medical school.Typical pay$380kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highRheumatologistThe joint and immune system doctor. Arthritis, lupus and gout, clinic hours, and one of the shortest-staffed specialties in Canada.Typical pay$310kTo qualify11 to 13 yrsDemandVery highSports Medicine DoctorThe team doctor. Injuries, concussions and getting athletes back on the field. Usually a family doctor with one extra year, not a surgeon.Typical pay$260kTo qualify9 to 12 yrsDemandGood

Surgeons

12
Cardiac SurgeonOperate on the heart: bypasses, valves, transplants. Six years of residency, very high pay, and one of the tightest job markets in Canadian medicine.Typical pay$620kTo qualify13 to 16 yrsDemandModerateEar, Nose and Throat SurgeonTonsils, sinuses, hearing, voice and head and neck cancer. Officially otolaryngology, one of the most varied surgical specialties.Typical pay$430kTo qualify12 to 15 yrsDemandGoodGeneral SurgeonOperate on the abdomen, breast, skin and trauma cases. About 13 years of training for one of the broadest jobs in medicine.Typical pay$420kTo qualify12 to 15 yrsDemandGoodNeurosurgeonOperate on the brain, spine and nerves. The longest surgical training in Canada, one of the highest paid, and one of the smallest job markets.Typical pay$540kTo qualify13 to 16 yrsDemandModerateOphthalmologistThe eye surgeon. Cataracts, glaucoma, retina, lasers. One of the highest paid and most competitive specialties in Canada, with better hours than most surgery.Typical pay$600kTo qualify12 to 15 yrsDemandGoodOral and Maxillofacial SurgeonThe dentist who became a surgeon: wisdom teeth, jaw surgery, facial fractures and implants. Dental school, then a 4 to 6 year hospital residency.Typical pay$400kTo qualify10 to 14 yrsDemandGoodOrthopedic SurgeonFix bones and joints: fractures, hip and knee replacements, torn ligaments. Very well paid, but new grads can struggle to find a hospital job.Typical pay$450kTo qualify12 to 15 yrsDemandModeratePediatric SurgeonThe surgeon for babies, children and teens, from newborns born with organs outside the body to appendicitis. General surgery first, then two more years. One of the smallest specialties in Canada.Typical pay$400kTo qualify13 to 15 yrsDemandModeratePlastic SurgeonRebuild what injury, cancer and birth defects take away, and reshape what patients pay to change. Far more reconstruction than Hollywood.Typical pay$450kTo qualify12 to 15 yrsDemandGoodThoracic SurgeonThe surgeon for the lungs, esophagus and chest wall, mostly cancer. General surgery first, then two or three more years. About 14 years of training.Typical pay$430kTo qualify13 to 16 yrsDemandGoodUrologistThe surgeon for kidneys, bladder, prostate and the male reproductive system. Five years of residency, a mix of clinic and operating room, and a lot of prostate cancer.Typical pay$450kTo qualify11 to 14 yrsDemandGoodVascular SurgeonThe surgeon for arteries and veins outside the heart and brain: aneurysms, blocked leg arteries, stroke-prevention neck surgery. Five years of direct-entry residency and some of the longest hours in medicine.Typical pay$460kTo qualify11 to 15 yrsDemandGood

Nursing and patient care

8
Medical Office AssistantThe person who runs the front desk of a clinic. Six months to a year of college, a job in every town, modest pay.Typical pay$52kTo qualify1 yrDemandModerateMidwifeDeliver babies and care for families through pregnancy and the weeks after. On call around the clock, and paid well for it.Typical pay$105kTo qualify4 yrsDemandGoodNurse PractitionerA nurse with a master's degree who can diagnose, order tests and prescribe. Two degrees, six figures, huge demand.Typical pay$125kTo qualify8 to 9 yrsDemandVery highPersonal Support WorkerUnder a year of training to a job every province is desperate to fill. Hard, human work, and the pay is modest.Typical pay$46kTo qualifyup to 1 yrDemandVery highPhysician AssistantA medically trained professional who works under a doctor: takes histories, examines, orders tests, prescribes and assists in surgery. A 2-year program after university, and one of the newest regulated jobs in Canada.Typical pay$97kTo qualify4 to 6 yrsDemandVery highPractical NurseTwo years of college to a nursing licence and a job in any town in Canada. Hands-on, in demand, cheaper than a degree.Typical pay$64kTo qualify2 yrsDemandVery highRegistered NurseCare for patients in hospitals, clinics and homes. In demand everywhere in Canada.Typical pay$90kTo qualify4 yrsDemandVery highRegistered Psychiatric NurseA nurse trained from day one in mental health and addictions. Same pay as a registered nurse, but only licensed in Western Canada.Typical pay$90kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandVery high

Emergency

1

Pharmacy

2

Dental and eye care

11
Dental AssistantThe dentist's second pair of hands. One year of college, a national exam, and a job in any town with a dental clinic.Typical pay$56kTo qualify1 yrDemandGoodDental HygienistClean teeth, catch gum disease, coach patients. Good hourly pay after 2 to 3 years of college.Typical pay$94kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandGoodDental TechnologistMake the crowns, bridges, dentures and aligners a dentist prescribes, in a lab, never with a patient. Craft work that is going digital fast.Typical pay$60kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandModerateDentistFix teeth, run a clinic, earn well. Eight years of school and a lot of debt first.Typical pay$160kTo qualify6 to 8 yrsDemandGoodDenturistMake and fit dentures, and run your own clinic. Three years of college, a licence in every province, and most of the income comes from ownership.Typical pay$54kTo qualify3 yrsDemandModerateEndodontistThe root canal specialist. A dentist who did 2 to 3 more years of residency to save teeth other dentists would pull. High pay, long road, no braces or cleanings.Typical pay$250kTo qualify10 to 11 yrsDemandGoodOpticianFit and sell glasses and contact lenses from a prescription. Two years of college, a licence in every province, and a job that is half health care, half retail.Typical pay$59kTo qualify2 yrsDemandModerateOptometristEye exams, glasses, contacts and eye disease. Six figures with regular hours, but only one English-language school in Canada.Typical pay$110kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandGoodOrthodontistA dentist who went back to school to straighten teeth. One of the best-paid jobs in Canada, and one of the longest roads.Typical pay$350kTo qualify9 to 11 yrsDemandGoodPediatric DentistA dentist for kids only, from first tooth to the teen years. Dental school plus 2 to 3 more years of residency, and a lot of patience.Typical pay$220kTo qualify10 to 11 yrsDemandGoodPeriodontistThe gum and implant specialist. A dentist who did 3 more years of residency to treat gum disease and place implants. High pay, very long road.Typical pay$250kTo qualify10 to 11 yrsDemandGood

Mental health

8
Addictions CounsellorHelp people get out from under drugs, alcohol and gambling. A 2-year diploma gets you in; the work is heavy and the pay is middling.Typical pay$71kTo qualify2 to 5 yrsDemandGoodBehaviour AnalystDesign and run behaviour programs, most often for autistic kids. A master's degree, supervised hours and an exam, then you lead a team of therapists.Typical pay$71kTo qualify6 to 8 yrsDemandGoodChild and Youth WorkerWork alongside kids and teens in group homes, schools and hospitals who have been through trauma. A college diploma, and the job starts on day one of placement.Typical pay$54kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGoodDevelopmental Services WorkerSupport adults and kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work and belong. A 2-year diploma, and nearly every grad is hired.Typical pay$54kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandGoodMusic TherapistUse music to reach people who talk therapy cannot: dementia wards, autism programs, palliative care. A music degree, a 1,000-hour internship, and a lot of contract work.Typical pay$71kTo qualify4 to 6 yrsDemandModeratePsychologistAssess, diagnose and treat mental health problems. A long road to a doctorate, then good pay and real independence.Typical pay$100kTo qualify6 to 11 yrsDemandGoodPsychotherapistTalk therapy as a career. A master's degree, supervised hours, then a caseload that is often mostly your own private clients.Typical pay$71kTo qualify6 to 8 yrsDemandGoodSocial WorkerHelp people through crisis, illness, poverty and family breakdown. Meaningful, in demand, and emotionally heavy.Typical pay$75kTo qualify4 to 6 yrsDemandGood

Therapy and rehab

15
AcupuncturistA 3-year diploma, a national exam, and a practice you build one patient at a time. Most acupuncturists are self-employed and many work part time.Typical pay$33kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandModerateAudiologistTest hearing and balance, fit hearing aids, and help people hear again. A master's degree and only six schools in Canada.Typical pay$96kTo qualify6 to 7 yrsDemandGoodChiropractorTreat backs, necks and joints with your hands. A doctor's title and a private-practice income that starts slow and builds.Typical pay$90kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandModerateDietitianThe regulated food and nutrition expert. A 4-year degree, a hard-to-get internship, then hospitals, clinics or your own practice.Typical pay$87kTo qualify5 to 6 yrsDemandGoodKinesiologistMovement, exercise and rehab science. A popular 4-year degree that opens doors, but the degree alone pays modestly.Typical pay$67kTo qualify4 yrsDemandModerateMassage TherapistHands-on treatment of muscles and pain. Two years of college, mostly self-employed, and your body sets the limit.Typical pay$62kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandGoodNaturopathic DoctorEight years of school for a private-pay practice you build yourself. Regulated in most provinces, but not covered by medicare.Typical pay$57kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandModerateOccupational TherapistHelp people do the everyday things illness or injury took away: dressing, driving, working, living at home.Typical pay$96kTo qualify6 yrsDemandGoodOrthotist and ProsthetistDesign, build and fit artificial limbs and braces. A degree, a rare 2-year diploma, then a 2-year paid residency. Tiny profession, steady work.Typical pay$58kTo qualify8 to 9 yrsDemandModeratePhysiotherapistGet people moving again after injury, surgery and illness. A tough master's to get into, then steady work everywhere.Typical pay$96kTo qualify6 yrsDemandVery highPodiatrist and ChiropodistFoot doctors. In Ontario most are chiropodists trained at one Toronto school; in the West and Quebec, podiatrists train for as long as physicians.Typical pay$57kTo qualify7 to 11 yrsDemandModerateRecreation TherapistUse games, sport, art and outings as treatment for people recovering from illness, injury or living with disability. A diploma or degree, mostly in hospitals and care homes.Typical pay$62kTo qualify2 to 5 yrsDemandModerateRehabilitation AssistantRun the exercises and daily-living practice that physiotherapists and occupational therapists prescribe. A 2-year diploma, hands-on from day one.Typical pay$56kTo qualify2 yrsDemandGoodRespiratory TherapistRun ventilators, manage airways and keep people breathing in intensive care. Three years of college, then shift work.Typical pay$82kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGoodSpeech-Language PathologistHelp people speak, understand and swallow safely. A master's degree, then schools, hospitals or your own clinic.Typical pay$96kTo qualify6 to 7 yrsDemandVery high

Diagnostics and lab

13
Cardiology TechnologistRun the heart tests: ECGs (electrocardiograms), stress tests, Holter monitors and pacemaker checks. A 2-year diploma and a national exam.Typical pay$71kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandGoodClinical PerfusionistRun the heart-lung machine that keeps a patient alive during open-heart surgery. A science degree, a 2-year master's, and one of the smallest health professions in Canada.Typical pay$85kTo qualify6 to 7 yrsDemandGoodEpidemiologistTrack where disease comes from and how it spreads, using data instead of a stethoscope. A master's degree, then government or research work.Typical pay$94kTo qualify6 to 7 yrsDemandGoodGenetic CounsellorHelp families understand inherited disease, genetic tests and what the results mean. A science degree, a hard-to-get 2-year master's, and a fast-growing field.Typical pay$97kTo qualify6 to 7 yrsDemandGoodHealth Information ManagerTurn every hospital visit into accurate, private, usable data. A 2-year diploma, a national exam, and a desk job in health care.Typical pay$63kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandModerateMedical Laboratory AssistantDraw blood, label and prepare samples, keep the lab moving. About a year of college and you are working in a hospital.Typical pay$56kTo qualify1 yrDemandGoodMedical Laboratory TechnologistRun the tests behind most diagnoses: blood, tissue, bacteria, DNA. Two to three years of school and a serious shortage of workers.Typical pay$78kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandVery highMedical PhysicistThe physicist who makes sure the radiation machines in a cancer centre are safe and accurate. A PhD, a residency and a national exam. Long road, rare job, high pay.Typical pay$117kTo qualify8 to 12 yrsDemandModerateMedical Radiation TechnologistTake the X-rays and scans, or deliver radiation treatment for cancer. Two to three years of school and a national exam.Typical pay$82kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandGoodNuclear Medicine TechnologistInject a tiny radioactive tracer, then image how the body works, not just how it looks. A 2 to 4 year program and one national exam.Typical pay$83kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandGoodPublic Health InspectorInspect restaurants, pools, daycares and water systems so people do not get sick. A 4-year degree, a government job and a pension.Typical pay$94kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGoodRadiation TherapistDeliver the daily radiation treatments that cure or control cancer. Three to four years of school, weekday hours, and the same patients for weeks at a time.Typical pay$83kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGoodSonographerUltrasound scanning, from pregnancies to hearts. High demand and good pay, but hard to get into and hard on the body.Typical pay$88kTo qualify3 to 5 yrsDemandVery high

Animal health

2

Sport and fitness

4

Construction

21
BricklayerLay brick, block and stone on new buildings and restore old ones. A 3-year paid apprenticeship.Typical pay$83kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandModerateBuilding InspectorCheck that new buildings follow the code before people move in. A trade or diploma, then a municipal job with a pension.Typical pay$80kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandModerateCabinetmakerBuild custom kitchens, cabinets and furniture in a shop. A 4-year paid apprenticeship, quieter and steadier than site work, with lower pay.Typical pay$50kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandModerateCarpenterFrame houses, form concrete towers or finish trim. The broadest trade on any site, paid from day one.Typical pay$62kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGoodConcrete FinisherPlace, level and finish concrete floors, sidewalks and slabs. Early mornings, because concrete waits for no one.Typical pay$71kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandGoodConstruction EstimatorWork out what a building will cost before anyone pours concrete. A two-year diploma or a trade ticket, then an office job with site visits.Typical pay$79kTo qualify2 to 5 yrsDemandModerateCrane OperatorLift steel, concrete and machinery on construction sites. A licensed trade with high pay and enormous responsibility.Typical pay$85kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGoodDrywall InstallerHang, tape and finish the walls inside almost every building. Fast to enter, often paid by the sheet.Typical pay$69kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGoodFloor Covering InstallerInstall hardwood, laminate, vinyl and carpet in homes and offices. A 3 to 4 year paid apprenticeship and a fast route to your own business.Typical pay$55kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandModerateGeneral ContractorRun the whole build: hire the trades, keep the schedule, carry the risk. Usually a trade first, then your own company.Typical pay$101kTo qualify4 to 10 yrsDemandModerateGlazierInstall the glass on towers, storefronts and homes, from a shower door to a 40-storey curtain wall.Typical pay$62kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandModerateHeavy Equipment OperatorRun excavators, dozers and graders that move earth for roads, pipelines and buildings. A short training path and good pay, but seasonal.Typical pay$65kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandGoodHome InspectorCheck a house from roof to basement before someone buys it. Short training, mostly self-employed, licensed only in BC and Alberta.Typical pay$80kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerateInsulatorWrap pipes, ducts, tanks and boilers so heat stays where it belongs. A 3 to 4 year paid apprenticeship with strong union pay in industrial plants.Typical pay$78kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGoodIronworkerBolt up the steel skeleton of towers and bridges, or tie the rebar inside concrete. High pay, high risk, 3 to 4 years to certify.Typical pay$89kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGoodPainter and DecoratorPaint, stain and coat the inside and outside of buildings. A 3-year paid apprenticeship, and no licence is needed to start.Typical pay$54kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandModeratePlastererSmooth walls, ornate ceilings and exterior stucco. A three-year Red Seal apprenticeship with almost no tuition.Typical pay$69kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandModerateRooferShingle houses and seal flat commercial roofs. Quick to enter, in short supply, hot and high.Typical pay$64kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandGoodScaffolderBuild the temporary steel structures every other trade stands on. Start as a labourer, learn on the job, no licence needed.Typical pay$52kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerateStonemasonCut, shape and set natural stone on walls, monuments and century-old buildings. A craft trade with a paid apprenticeship.Typical pay$83kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandModerateTile SetterLay ceramic, porcelain and stone tile on floors, walls and showers. A 3 to 4 year paid apprenticeship with real money for fast, precise hands.Typical pay$72kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandModerate

Electrical and energy

12
ElectricianWire homes, buildings and industry. Earn a paycheque from your first year of training.Typical pay$76kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGoodElectronics Service TechnicianDiagnose and repair the circuit boards inside machines, medical gear and industrial equipment.Typical pay$55kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandModerateIndustrial ElectricianKeep the motors, robots and control systems of factories, mines and mills running. A Red Seal apprenticeship with indoor, year-round work.Typical pay$87kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandModerateInstrumentation TechnicianCalibrate and fix the sensors and controls that run refineries, plants and water treatment. The brains side of the trades.Typical pay$90kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGoodPower EngineerRun the boilers, turbines and refrigeration plants that keep hospitals, refineries and cities working. Six figures with a two-year diploma.Typical pay$102kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandGoodPower System ElectricianMaintain the generators, substations and protection systems behind the grid. A four-year utility apprenticeship with some of the best pay in the electrical trades.Typical pay$97kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandModeratePowerline TechnicianBuild and repair the high-voltage lines that carry electricity across Canada. Well paid, dangerous, outdoors in every storm.Typical pay$95kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGoodSecurity Systems TechnicianInstall and fix alarms, cameras and door access systems. Learn on the job, no degree needed.Typical pay$70kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandGoodSolar Panel InstallerPut solar panels on roofs and fields. Fast to start, outdoors, and growing every year.Typical pay$54kTo qualifyup to 2 yrsDemandGoodTelecommunications TechnicianInstall and fix the fibre, cable and cell equipment that keeps Canada online. A college diploma or on-the-job training, then a company van.Typical pay$70kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandLimitedWater Treatment OperatorMake a town's tap water safe and clean its wastewater. A municipal job with a pension, entered with a high school diploma.Typical pay$75kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandGoodWind Turbine TechnicianClimb 100 metres to service wind turbines. One year of college, strong pay, and a lot of stairs.Typical pay$77kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandGood

Plumbing, pipes and HVAC

5

Metal and machining

8

Industrial and mechanical

7

Vehicles and equipment

13
Agricultural Equipment TechnicianFix the combines, tractors and sprayers that feed the country. A Red Seal trade with some of the best pay in the mechanic world.Typical pay$77kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGoodAircraft Maintenance EngineerInspect and repair aircraft, then sign them safe to fly. A Transport Canada licence, not a university degree.Typical pay$78kTo qualify4 to 6 yrsDemandGoodAuto Body RepairerStraighten, weld and rebuild crashed vehicles. Compulsory trade in Ontario, paid by insurance work.Typical pay$52kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGoodAuto Glass TechnicianWindshields, side glass and the cameras behind them. Trained in months, in demand every winter.Typical pay$56kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandModerateAutomotive Service TechnicianDiagnose and fix cars and light trucks. Paid from day one, but you buy your own tools.Typical pay$58kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGoodAvionics TechnicianThe electronics that fly the plane: radios, navigation, autopilot, wiring. A 2-year diploma and one of the best-paid technician jobs in Canada.Typical pay$84kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGoodBicycle MechanicFix, build and tune bikes and e-bikes. No licence, a short course or shop training, and busy summers.Typical pay$52kTo qualifyup to 2 yrsDemandModerateHeavy-Duty Equipment TechnicianKeep excavators, haul trucks and loaders running at mines and job sites. One of the best-paid trades.Typical pay$80kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGoodMarine MechanicOutboards, sterndrives and boat systems. A short apprenticeship and a summer spent at the marina.Typical pay$62kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandModerateMotorcycle MechanicService and repair motorcycles, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. A Red Seal trade with long summers and quiet winters.Typical pay$62kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandModerateParts TechnicianFind, order, stock and sell the parts that keep vehicles and machines running. A Red Seal trade you can do without getting greasy.Typical pay$54kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandModerateRecreation Vehicle TechnicianMotorhomes and trailers are houses on wheels. You fix the plumbing, propane, electrical and chassis, all in one trade.Typical pay$62kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandModerateTruck and Coach TechnicianFix diesel trucks and buses for fleets and transit agencies. Better pay than cars, with pension jobs.Typical pay$68kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood

Personal, food and outdoor trades

16
ArboristClimb, prune and remove trees, often with a chainsaw at height. Well paid near power lines, and one of the more dangerous trades.Typical pay$62kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandGoodBakerBread, pastry and cakes before dawn. Start tomorrow with no schooling, or earn a Red Seal in 3 years.Typical pay$40kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerateBarberFades, beards and straight-razor shaves. Licensed under the hairstylist trade in some provinces, then it is all about your chair and your regulars.Typical pay$41kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerateButcherBreak down carcasses and cut meat for grocery stores and butcher shops. Learn on the job, unionized at big chains, and Canada is short of you.Typical pay$42kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandGoodEstheticianFacials, waxing, lashes and skin treatments. A short program, low starting pay, and your regulars decide your income.Typical pay$42kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandLimitedFarrierTrim hooves and forge horseshoes. Self-employed, physically brutal, and well paid once your book is full.Typical pay$72kTo qualify1 to 4 yrsDemandModerateFloristDesign bouquets, weddings and funeral flowers. Quick to start, low pay unless you own the shop or do events.Typical pay$36kTo qualifyup to 2 yrsDemandLimitedHairstylistCut, colour and style hair. Licensed in about 2 years, then it takes years more to build a clientele.Typical pay$40kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandGoodJewellerMake, repair and set fine jewellery. A bench trade learned in college or under a goldsmith, with a slow climb to your own shop.Typical pay$47kTo qualify2 to 5 yrsDemandModerateLandscape HorticulturistDesign, plant and build outdoor spaces. Seasonal work, easy to start, and many end up owning the company.Typical pay$62kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandGoodMakeup ArtistBridal, editorial, film and special effects. A short diploma, a portfolio, and freelance income that swings with the season.Typical pay$42kTo qualifyup to 1 yrDemandLimitedNail TechnicianManicures, gel, acrylics and nail art. A short course, cheap to start, and your regulars are your paycheque.Typical pay$42kTo qualifyup to 1 yrDemandLimitedPet GroomerBathe, clip and style dogs and cats. No licence needed, learn in months, and mobile groomers set their own prices.Typical pay$37kTo qualifyup to 1 yrDemandModerateTailorAlter, fit and make clothing by hand and machine. No licence, learn in a shop or at college, and the pay is modest until you own the shop.Typical pay$40kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandLimitedTattoo ArtistDraw on skin for a living. No licence, a long unpaid apprenticeship, and income that depends on your art and your following.Typical pay$42kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerateUpholstererRe-cover furniture, car seats and boat interiors. No licence, learned in a shop, and a craft with more work than people to do it.Typical pay$47kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandModerate

Mining, oil and gas

3

Software

5

Data and AI

4

Security and networks

5

Design and product

4

Support and testing

2

Money and finance

10
Accountant (CPA)The money behind every business. A degree, a national exam, and a designation that travels.Typical pay$80kTo qualify6 to 7 yrsDemandGoodActuaryPut a price on risk for insurers and pension plans. Years of exams, but you are paid well while you write them.Typical pay$106kTo qualify4 to 9 yrsDemandModerateBookkeeperKeep a business's money records straight. Fast to learn, steady demand, and you can work for yourself.Typical pay$58kTo qualifyup to 2 yrsDemandGoodEconomistStudy how money, prices and jobs move, then advise governments, banks and companies. Usually a master's degree.Typical pay$100kTo qualify5 to 7 yrsDemandLimitedFinancial AnalystRead the numbers behind a company or a deal and tell people what they mean. A degree, then years of exams.Typical pay$90kTo qualify4 to 7 yrsDemandModerateFinancial PlannerHelp people plan retirement, taxes, insurance and savings. Licences to sell, a credential to advise.Typical pay$75kTo qualify4 to 7 yrsDemandModerateInsurance AdjusterInvestigate claims after a crash, a flood or a fire and decide what the insurer pays. Hired and trained on the job.Typical pay$73kTo qualifyup to 3 yrsDemandModerateInsurance BrokerHelp people and businesses buy home, car and business insurance from many companies. Licensed in months, no degree needed.Typical pay$62kTo qualifyup to 1 yrDemandGoodInvestment AdvisorBuy and sell stocks, bonds and funds for clients at a brokerage. Licensed, commission-heavy, and hard to start.Typical pay$89kTo qualify4 to 6 yrsDemandModerateMortgage BrokerFind people the right mortgage from dozens of lenders. A short course to get licensed, then your pay is commission.Typical pay$66kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerate

Marketing and sales

7

People and operations

10
Customs BrokerGet goods across the border legally. Classify them, calculate the duty, file with the government, keep trucks moving.Typical pay$56kTo qualify2 to 5 yrsDemandModerateExecutive AssistantRun the calendar, inbox and travel of a senior leader. You are the person who makes their week work.Typical pay$72kTo qualify2 to 5 yrsDemandModerateHuman Resources SpecialistHiring, pay, policies and the hard conversations. A degree, an exam, and a designation that carries weight.Typical pay$85kTo qualify3 to 5 yrsDemandModerateManagement ConsultantCompanies pay you to solve their hardest problems. Long hours, fast learning, and big pay at the top.Typical pay$92kTo qualify4 to 6 yrsDemandModerateOffice AdministratorKeep an office running: supplies, schedules, records, people and the hundred small problems a day.Typical pay$60kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModeratePayroll AdministratorMake sure everyone gets paid the right amount on the right day, with the right taxes taken off.Typical pay$62kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerateProcurement SpecialistBuy what a company or government needs, at the best price, without breaking the rules.Typical pay$75kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandModerateProject ManagerGet a building, a product or a system finished on time and on budget. A job you grow into, not start in.Typical pay$101kTo qualify5 to 8 yrsDemandGoodRecruiterFind the right person for the job and convince them to take it. Part sales, part matchmaking.Typical pay$69kTo qualify1 to 4 yrsDemandLimitedSupply Chain AnalystFigure out how products get from a factory to a shelf, and how to do it cheaper and faster.Typical pay$61kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandLimited

Property

2

Lawyers

12
Corporate LawyerDeals, contracts and company law at big firms. The best-paid lawyer path, and the one with the longest hours.Typical pay$150kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandGoodCriminal Defence LawyerDefending people charged with crimes. Mostly solo or in tiny firms, often paid by legal aid, and in court almost every day.Typical pay$95kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandModerateCrown ProsecutorThe lawyer who prosecutes crimes for the public. A salary grid, a pension, and a courtroom nearly every day.Typical pay$140kTo qualify7 to 10 yrsDemandGoodEmployment LawyerFirings, severance, harassment and human rights at work. You pick a side: employers or employees.Typical pay$110kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandGoodEnvironmental LawyerPipelines, mines, water and climate rules. A lawyer path that leads to government, big firms, charities or First Nations.Typical pay$110kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandGoodFamily LawyerDivorce, parenting and support disputes. Small firms, hard conversations, and clients on the worst year of their lives.Typical pay$95kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandGoodImmigration LawyerHelping people and employers move to Canada. Federal rules, mountains of paperwork, and a non-lawyer route into the same field.Typical pay$90kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandGoodIntellectual Property LawyerPatents, trademarks and copyright. The one legal specialty where a science degree matters.Typical pay$140kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandGoodLawyerSeven years of school, a licensing year, then anything from legal aid to Bay Street.Typical pay$115kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandGoodPersonal Injury LawyerSuing for people hurt in crashes, falls and by negligence. Paid a share of the win, and only if there is a win.Typical pay$110kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandGoodReal Estate LawyerThe lawyer who closes house sales. Steady, high-volume work at a flat fee per file, and almost no courtroom.Typical pay$110kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandGoodTax LawyerLaw meets accounting. A long training, a small field, and some of the highest pay in law.Typical pay$160kTo qualify7 to 8 yrsDemandGood

Courts and legal support

10
Court ClerkRun the courtroom's paperwork: swear in witnesses, track exhibits, keep the record. Hired with high school and trained on the job.Typical pay$62kTo qualifyup to 2 yrsDemandModerateCourt ReporterCapture every word said in court, live on a steno machine or from the recording. Short training, home-based work.Typical pay$54kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerateJudgeNot a job you apply for out of school. Lawyers with 10 or more years of practice apply, and a committee decides.Typical pay$387kTo qualify17 to 25 yrsDemandLimitedLaw ClerkThe person who actually runs the file. A 1 or 2 year diploma, no licence, and lawyers who cannot function without you.Typical pay$55kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandGoodLegal AssistantThe organized person every lawyer depends on. A year of college, then steady office work in any city.Typical pay$57kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandGoodMediatorHelp two sides settle without a trial. Usually a second career built on law, social work or business.Typical pay$85kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodParalegalIn Ontario, a licensed legal professional who argues in small claims court, traffic court and tribunals. Elsewhere, a support role.Typical pay$69kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandGoodPrivate InvestigatorSurveillance, background checks and insurance fraud, not car chases. Licensed in every province after a short course.Typical pay$44kTo qualifyup to 1 yrDemandModerateProbation OfficerSupervise people serving sentences in the community. A social science degree, then a government job with a pension.Typical pay$84kTo qualify4 to 6 yrsDemandGoodSheriffKeep courthouses safe, move prisoners, and in some provinces patrol the highways. A peace officer job with paid training.Typical pay$70kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerate

Police and fire

9
911 DispatcherYou are the first first responder. You answer the call, keep the caller alive, and send the right help.Typical pay$58kTo qualifyup to 2 yrsDemandGoodBorder Services OfficerArmed federal officers at airports and land crossings. High school or college, about 18 weeks of training on an allowance, and a federal pension.Typical pay$85kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandGoodCorrectional OfficerGuarding jails and prisons. High school, a few weeks to a few months of training, shift work, a strong pension, and real stress.Typical pay$75kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandGoodFire InspectorThe fire service job with no burning building. You inspect, investigate and enforce the fire code.Typical pay$95kTo qualify2 to 8 yrsDemandModerateFirefighterVery hard to get hired, very good once you are. Pension, 24-hour shifts, six figures.Typical pay$100kTo qualify1 to 4 yrsDemandModeratePolice DetectiveInvestigate serious crimes instead of answering calls. Not an entry job: you become a police officer first, then earn your way in.Typical pay$116kTo qualify6 to 10 yrsDemandGoodPolice OfficerNo degree required. Paid training, a pension, and six figures within a few years of hire.Typical pay$104kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandGoodRCMP OfficerJoin the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police): 26 paid weeks at Depot in Regina, then a posting anywhere in Canada.Typical pay$104kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandGoodWildland FirefighterSeasonal crew work cutting fireline in the bush. No tuition, hard days, and you can start the spring after high school.Typical pay$55kTo qualifyup to 1 yrDemandGood

Military and security

6

Teaching

6

Early years and support

2

Colleges and universities

2

Guidance and libraries

3

Engineers

23
Aerospace EngineerAircraft, engines, satellites and flight simulators. Montreal is the hub, and only a handful of schools teach it.Typical pay$104kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandModerateAgricultural EngineerEngineering for food: machinery, barns, irrigation, grain storage and the systems that move a harvest.Typical pay$104kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandModerateBiomedical EngineerMedical devices, implants and hospital equipment. A small job market, and often a stepping stone to medicine or grad school.Typical pay$104kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandModerateChemical EngineerTurn raw materials into fuel, medicine, food and plastics at industrial scale. Best paid in Alberta, and tied to the oil price.Typical pay$108kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandModerateCivil EngineerRoads, bridges, water and buildings. A four-year degree, then a licence that lets you sign the drawings.Typical pay$101kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodComputer EngineerWhere hardware meets software: chips, embedded systems and the code that runs on them. Many never bother with the licence.Typical pay$100kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodElectrical EngineerPower grids, electronics and telecom. Where the electricity comes from and where the signals go.Typical pay$105kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodEnvironmental EngineerClean water, contaminated sites and climate projects. Mostly consulting firms, with a real share of the year outdoors.Typical pay$101kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodFire Protection EngineerWork out how a building would burn, then design it so people get out. An engineering degree plus a fire specialty.Typical pay$104kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodGeological EngineerEngineering built on rock, soil and groundwater: tunnels, mine slopes, dams and contaminated ground.Typical pay$104kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodGeotechnical EngineerSoil and rock. Figure out what the ground will hold before anyone builds a foundation, a dam or a mine on it.Typical pay$101kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodIndustrial EngineerMake factories, warehouses and hospitals run faster and waste less. The engineering degree most likely to end in a management job.Typical pay$88kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodMaterials EngineerWork out what things are made of, why they break, and what to build them from next.Typical pay$100kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandModerateMechanical EngineerMachines, engines, heating systems and factories. The biggest engineering discipline, with the widest choice of employers.Typical pay$90kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodMining EngineerPlan and run the mines that dig up Canada's metals and minerals. High pay, remote sites, and an industry that rises and falls with metal prices.Typical pay$125kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodNaval ArchitectDesign ships and everything else that floats: hull shape, stability, structure and the systems inside.Typical pay$104kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandModerateNuclear EngineerKeep reactors running safely, and design the next ones. A small field with long, stable careers.Typical pay$95kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodPetroleum EngineerGet oil and gas out of the ground. The best starting pay in engineering, tied to an industry that booms and busts.Typical pay$135kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandModeratePower Systems EngineerKeep the lights on. Design and protect the grid that carries electricity from dams and reactors to your house.Typical pay$105kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodRobotics EngineerBuild machines that sense, move and decide. Mostly code, some hardware, and no separate licence box for it.Typical pay$95kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodStructural EngineerMake sure buildings and bridges stand up. A civil engineering specialty with a master's, a stamp, and the liability that comes with it.Typical pay$95kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodTransportation EngineerDesign the roads, intersections, transit lines and signals that decide how a city moves.Typical pay$101kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGoodWater Resources EngineerDesign the pipes, dams and flood defences that move water safely. A four-year engineering degree, then a licence.Typical pay$101kTo qualify4 to 8 yrsDemandGood

Technologists

6

Architecture and planning

7

Design

2

Design

4

Art and craft

2

Writing and media

7

Film, TV and music

9

Performing

3

Museums and heritage

2

Air

6

Road

5

Rail

3

Sea

5

Logistics

2

Kitchen

3

Front of house

5

Hotels and travel

5

Events

2

Life and lab

9

Physics, space and numbers

4

Earth and weather

4

Environment and conservation

4

Farming, forestry and fishing

7