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.$311kTypical pay12 to 14 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandAnesthesiologistThe doctor who puts you to sleep for surgery and keeps you alive through it. Five years of residency, and no clinic to run.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandCardiologistThe heart doctor. Six years of residency after medical school, among the longest paths in medicine.$311kTypical pay12 to 14 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandDermatologistThe skin, hair and nail doctor. Five years of residency, regular hours, and one of the hardest residencies in Canada to get into.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandEmergency PhysicianThe doctor on shift when anything walks, rolls or is carried through the door. Two ways in, and shifts instead of a clinic.$311kTypical pay9 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandEndocrinologistThe hormone doctor. Diabetes, thyroid and bone, mostly clinic hours, five years of residency after medical school.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandFamily DoctorAbout ten years of university and residency, then work that is needed in every province.$232kTypical pay9 to 11 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemandGastroenterologistThe gut doctor. Scopes, liver disease and Crohn's, and five years of residency after medical school.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandGeriatricianThe doctor for older adults. Memory, falls, frailty and too many pills, five years of residency after medical school, and more older patients every year.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandHematologistThe blood doctor. Leukemia, clots, anemia and transfusions, five years of residency after medical school, often a salaried job in a cancer centre.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandInfectious Disease DoctorThe germ detective. Antibiotics, outbreaks and the infections nobody else can name, five years of residency after medical school.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandInternal Medicine DoctorThe hospital doctor for adults with complicated problems, and the gateway to a dozen specialties. Four to five years of residency.$311kTypical pay10 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandNephrologistThe kidney doctor. Dialysis, transplants and blood pressure, five years of residency after medical school, and patients you follow for decades.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandNeurologistThe brain and nerve doctor who does not operate. Strokes, seizures, migraines, multiple sclerosis. Five years of residency and good job prospects.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandObstetrician-GynecologistDelivers babies and treats everything from fertility to cancer of the reproductive organs. Five years of residency, surgery, and babies at 3 a.m.$419kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandOncologistThe cancer doctor. Long training, mostly salaried jobs in cancer centres, and patients who will remember you for the rest of their lives.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPalliative 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.$311kTypical pay9 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPathologistThe 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.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPediatricianA doctor for babies, children and teens. Four years of residency after medical school, then a job that never runs short of patients.$311kTypical pay10 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPsychiatristA medical doctor who diagnoses and treats mental illness, and can prescribe. Five years of residency, and good job prospects across Canada.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandRadiation 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.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandRadiologistThe doctor who reads X-rays, scans and ultrasounds and tells other doctors what is wrong. Five years of residency, and high pay.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandRespirologistThe lung doctor. Asthma, smokers' lungs, sleep apnea and the intensive care unit, five years of residency after medical school.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandRheumatologistThe joint and immune system doctor. Arthritis, lupus and gout, clinic hours, and one of the shortest-staffed specialties in Canada.$311kTypical pay11 to 13 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandSports Medicine DoctorThe team doctor. Injuries, concussions and getting athletes back on the field. Usually a family doctor with one extra year, not a surgeon.$311kTypical pay9 to 11 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemand
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.$419kTypical pay13 to 16 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandEar, Nose and Throat SurgeonTonsils, sinuses, hearing, voice and head and neck cancer. Officially otolaryngology, one of the most varied surgical specialties.$419kTypical pay12 to 15 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandGeneral SurgeonOperate on the abdomen, breast, skin and trauma cases. 11 to 15 years of training for one of the broadest jobs in medicine.$419kTypical pay11 to 15 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandNeurosurgeonOperate on the brain, spine and nerves. The longest surgical training in Canada, and one of the smallest job markets.$419kTypical pay13 to 16 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandOphthalmologistThe eye surgeon. Cataracts, glaucoma, retina, lasers. One of the most competitive specialties in Canada, with better hours than most surgery.$419kTypical pay12 to 15 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandOral 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.$110kTypical pay10 to 14 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemandOrthopedic SurgeonFix bones and joints: fractures, hip and knee replacements, torn ligaments. New grads can struggle to find a hospital job.$419kTypical pay12 to 15 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPediatric 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.$419kTypical pay13 to 15 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPlastic SurgeonRebuild what injury, cancer and birth defects take away, and reshape what patients pay to change. Far more reconstruction than Hollywood.$419kTypical pay12 to 15 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandThoracic 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.$419kTypical pay13 to 16 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandUrologistThe 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.$419kTypical pay11 to 15 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandVascular 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.$419kTypical pay11 to 15 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemand
Nursing and patient care
9Medical 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.$52kTypical pay1 yearTo qualifyGoodDemandMidwifeDeliver babies and care for families through pregnancy and the weeks after. On call around the clock, and paid well for it.$97kTypical pay4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandNurse PractitionerA nurse with a master's degree who can diagnose, order tests and prescribe. Two degrees, six figures, huge demand.$128kTypical pay8 to 9 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemandParamedicTwo years of college, then the front line of emergency medicine.$79kTypical pay2 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPersonal Support WorkerUnder a year of training to a job with good prospects across Canada. Hard, human work, and the pay is modest.$50kTypical payup to 1 yearTo qualifyGoodDemandPhysician 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.$97kTypical pay4 to 6 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandPractical NurseTwo years of college to a nursing licence and a job in any town in Canada. Hands-on, in demand, cheaper than a degree.$65kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandRegistered NurseCare for patients in hospitals, clinics and homes. In demand everywhere in Canada.$90kTypical pay4 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemandRegistered Psychiatric NurseA nurse trained from day one in mental health and addictions. Same pay as a registered nurse, but only licensed in Western Canada.$90kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemand
Pharmacy
2PharmacistSix-figure pay after six years. Retail, hospital or industry, and no residency required.$115kTypical pay6 to 7 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPharmacy TechnicianFill and check prescriptions under a pharmacist. One to two years of college, a national exam, and a job in every town.$52kTypical pay1 to 2 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemand
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.$56kTypical pay1 yearTo qualifyGoodDemandDental HygienistClean teeth, catch gum disease, coach patients. Good hourly pay after 2 to 3 years of college.$94kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandDental TechnologistMake the crowns, bridges, dentures and aligners a dentist prescribes, in a lab, never with a patient. Craft work that is going digital fast.$60kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandDentistFix teeth, run a clinic, earn well. Eight years of school and a lot of debt first.$110kTypical pay6 to 8 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemandDenturistMake and fit dentures, often in a clinic of your own. Three years of college and a licence in every province.$54kTypical pay3 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandEndodontistThe root canal specialist. A dentist who did 2 to 3 more years of residency to save teeth other dentists would pull. A long road, and no braces or cleanings.$110kTypical pay10 to 11 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemandOpticianFit and sell glasses and contact lenses from a prescription. Two years of college (three in Quebec), a licence in every province, and a job that is half health care, half retail.$59kTypical pay2 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandOptometristEye exams, glasses, contacts and eye disease. Regular hours, but only one English-language school in Canada.$81kTypical pay7 to 8 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemandOrthodontistA dentist who went back to school to straighten teeth. One of the longest roads in dentistry.$110kTypical pay9 to 11 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemandPediatric 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.$110kTypical pay10 to 11 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemandPeriodontistThe 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.$110kTypical pay10 to 11 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemand
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.$71kTypical pay2 to 5 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandBehaviour 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.$71kTypical pay6 to 8 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandChild 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.$54kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandDevelopmental Services WorkerSupport adults and kids with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work and belong. A 2-year diploma, and Fanshawe College says most of its grads find work within 6 months.$54kTypical pay1 to 2 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandMusic 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.$71kTypical pay4 to 6 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPsychologistAssess, diagnose and treat mental health problems. A long road to a doctorate, then good pay and real independence.$110kTypical pay6 to 11 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPsychotherapistTalk therapy as a career. A master's degree, supervised hours, then a caseload that is often mostly your own private clients.$71kTypical pay6 to 8 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandSocial WorkerHelp people through crisis, illness, poverty and family breakdown. Meaningful and emotionally heavy.$80kTypical pay4 to 6 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
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.$33kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandAudiologistTest hearing and balance, fit hearing aids, and help people hear again. A master's degree and only six schools in Canada.$96kTypical pay6 to 7 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandChiropractorTreat backs, necks and joints with your hands. A doctor's title and a private-practice income that starts slow and builds.$62kTypical pay7 to 8 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandDietitianThe regulated food and nutrition expert. A 4-year degree, a hard-to-get internship, then hospitals, clinics or your own practice.$87kTypical pay5 to 6 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandKinesiologistMovement, exercise and rehab science. A popular 4-year degree that opens doors, often to more school.$67kTypical pay4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandMassage TherapistHands-on treatment of muscles and pain. Two years of college, mostly self-employed, and your body sets the limit.$33kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandNaturopathic DoctorEight years of school for a private-pay practice you build yourself. Regulated in most provinces, but not covered by medicare.$57kTypical pay7 to 8 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandOccupational TherapistHelp people do the everyday things illness or injury took away: dressing, driving, working, living at home.$96kTypical pay6 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandOrthotist and ProsthetistDesign, build and fit artificial limbs and braces. A degree, a rare 2-year diploma, then a 2-year paid residency. A tiny profession.$58kTypical pay8 to 9 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandPhysiotherapistGet people moving again after injury, surgery and illness. A tough master's to get into, then steady work everywhere.$96kTypical pay6 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandPodiatrist 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.$57kTypical pay7 to 11 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandRecreation 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.$67kTypical pay2 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandRehabilitation AssistantRun the exercises and daily-living practice that physiotherapists and occupational therapists prescribe. A 2-year diploma, hands-on from day one.$56kTypical pay2 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandRespiratory TherapistRun ventilators, manage airways and keep people breathing in intensive care. Three years of college, then shift work.$85kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandSpeech-Language PathologistHelp people speak, understand and swallow safely. A master's degree, then schools, hospitals or your own clinic.$96kTypical pay6 to 7 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
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.$71kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandClinical 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.$85kTypical pay6 to 7 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandEpidemiologistTrack where disease comes from and how it spreads, using data instead of a stethoscope. A master's degree, then government or research work.$94kTypical pay6 to 7 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandGenetic CounsellorHelp families understand inherited disease, genetic tests and what the results mean. A science degree, a hard-to-get 2-year master's, and good or moderate job prospects.$97kTypical pay6 to 7 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandHealth Information ManagerTurn every hospital visit into accurate, private, usable data. A 2-year diploma (3 years in Quebec), a national exam, and a desk job in health care.$63kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandMedical Laboratory AssistantDraw blood, label and prepare samples, keep the lab moving. About a year of college and you are working in a hospital.$56kTypical pay1 yearTo qualifyModerateDemandMedical Laboratory TechnologistRun the tests behind most diagnoses: blood, tissue, bacteria, DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid, the genetic code). Two to three years of school and good job prospects.$81kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandMedical 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.$117kTypical pay8 to 12 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandMedical Radiation TechnologistTake the X-rays and scans, or deliver radiation treatment for cancer. Two to three years of school and a national exam (Quebec has its own).$83kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandNuclear 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 (Quebec has its own).$83kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPublic Health InspectorInspect restaurants, pools, daycares and water systems so people do not get sick. A 4-year degree, a government job and a pension.$94kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandRadiation 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.$83kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandSonographerUltrasound scanning, from pregnancies to hearts. Good job prospects and good pay, but hard to get into and hard on the body.$87kTypical pay2 to 5 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemand
Animal health
2VeterinarianDoctor for animals. Eight years of school at one of five colleges, heavy debt, real emotional strain, and strong demand.$125kTypical pay6 to 8 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandVeterinary TechnicianThe nurse, anesthetist and lab tech of the animal clinic. Two years of college (three in Quebec), hands-on every day, and a Job Bank median of about $48,000 a year.$48kTypical pay2 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
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.$67kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandLifeguardWatch the water, prevent emergencies, and pull people out when prevention fails. Certified at 15, and paid by the hour from your first shift.$40kTypical payup to 1 yearTo qualifyLimitedDemandPersonal 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.$40kTypical payup to 2 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandSports 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.$52kTypical payup to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand