Health
Doctors, surgeons, nurses, therapists, and everyone else who keeps people well.
101 careers
Doctors
25Allergist 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
12Cardiac 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
8Medical 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
1Pharmacy
2PharmacistSix-figure pay after six years. Retail, hospital or industry, and no residency required.Typical pay$108kTo qualify6 to 7 yrsDemandGoodPharmacy TechnicianFill and check prescriptions under a pharmacist. One to two years of college, a national exam, and a job in every town.Typical pay$55kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandGood
Dental and eye care
11Dental 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
8Addictions 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
15AcupuncturistA 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
13Cardiology 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
2VeterinarianDoctor for animals. Eight years of school at one of five colleges, heavy debt, real emotional strain, and strong demand.Typical pay$125kTo qualify6 to 8 yrsDemandVery highVeterinary TechnicianThe nurse, anesthetist and lab tech of the animal clinic. Two years of college, hands-on every day, and honestly low pay.Typical pay$50kTo qualify2 yrsDemandGood
Sport and fitness
4Athletic TherapistThe person who runs onto the field when a player goes down, and rehabs them after. A 4-year degree and a national exam.Typical pay$67kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandModerateLifeguardWatch the water, prevent emergencies, and pull people out when prevention fails. Certified at 15, and one of the best-paid teen jobs in Canada.Typical pay$40kTo qualifyup to 1 yrDemandGoodPersonal TrainerCoach people one on one to get stronger and healthier. Quick to start, low pay at first, and you are really running a small business.Typical pay$40kTo qualifyup to 2 yrsDemandModerateSports CoachTeach and lead athletes, from a kids' soccer team to a national squad. Most coaches are part time; the few full-time jobs are hard to get.Typical pay$52kTo qualifyup to 4 yrsDemandModerate