Highest paying skilled trades in Canada
Ranked by the typical pay shown on each career's own page, so the order here cannot disagree with the pages it links to. Typical means the middle: half earn more, half earn less. Starting pay is lower, and each career page shows the full range and what it takes to get there.
85 careers in Canada
Ranked by typical pay
851BoilermakerBuild and repair the boilers, tanks and pressure vessels inside refineries and power plants. Intense shutdown weeks, big overtime, then time off.Typical pay$102kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGood2Power 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 yrsDemandGood3General 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 yrsDemandModerate4Power 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 yrsDemandModerate5Powerline 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 yrsDemandGood6Elevator MechanicInstall and maintain elevators and escalators. One of the best paid trades, and one of the hardest to get into.Typical pay$94kTo qualify4 to 6 yrsDemandGood7Sprinkler FitterInstall and test the fire sprinklers every new building needs. Paid apprenticeship, about 4 years.Typical pay$91kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood8Steamfitter and PipefitterHigh-pressure pipe in power plants, refineries and hospitals. Union rates around $50 an hour.Typical pay$91kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood9Instrumentation 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 yrsDemandGood10IronworkerBolt 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 yrsDemandGood11Industrial 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 yrsDemandModerate12Underground MinerDrill, blast and haul ore a kilometre below ground. High pay with no degree, in exchange for shift work in the dark.Typical pay$87kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerate13Crane OperatorLift steel, concrete and machinery on construction sites. A licensed trade with high pay and enormous responsibility.Typical pay$85kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGood14Avionics 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 yrsDemandGood15BricklayerLay brick, block and stone on new buildings and restore old ones. A 3-year paid apprenticeship.Typical pay$83kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandModerate16GasfitterConnect and service furnaces, water heaters and gas lines. A short licence ladder that many plumbers and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) techs add on.Typical pay$83kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandGood17Oil Rig WorkerStart as a floorhand with no experience and climb to driller. Big money in 12-hour shifts, and no work when the rigs shut down.Typical pay$83kTo qualifyup to 1 yrDemandModerate18StonemasonCut, 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 yrsDemandModerate19Building 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 yrsDemandModerate20Heavy-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 yrsDemandGood21Home 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 yrsDemandModerate22MillwrightInstall, fix and keep running the machines inside mines, mills and factories. The Red Seal name is Industrial Mechanic (Millwright).Typical pay$80kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood23Construction 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 yrsDemandModerate24Aircraft 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 yrsDemandGood25Driller and BlasterDrill the holes, load the explosives, fire the shot. A licensed job that breaks rock for quarries, mines and highways.Typical pay$78kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerate26InsulatorWrap 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 yrsDemandGood27Agricultural 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 yrsDemandGood28Wind 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 yrsDemandGood29ElectricianWire homes, buildings and industry. Earn a paycheque from your first year of training.Typical pay$76kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood30Non-Destructive TesterUse ultrasound and X-rays to find cracks in pipelines, bridges and aircraft without cutting them open.Typical pay$75kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandGood31Water 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 yrsDemandGood32FarrierTrim hooves and forge horseshoes. Self-employed, physically brutal, and well paid once your book is full.Typical pay$72kTo qualify1 to 4 yrsDemandModerate33HVAC (Heating and Cooling) TechnicianInstall and fix furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps and refrigeration. Busy in every heat wave and cold snap.Typical pay$72kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood34LocksmithLocks, keys, safes and access systems. A hands-on trade that is quietly going electronic.Typical pay$72kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandModerate35PlumberWater, gas and drainage in every building. Paid apprenticeship, licensed in about 5 years.Typical pay$72kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood36Tile 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 yrsDemandModerate37Concrete FinisherPlace, level and finish concrete floors, sidewalks and slabs. Early mornings, because concrete waits for no one.Typical pay$71kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandGood38Security Systems TechnicianInstall and fix alarms, cameras and door access systems. Learn on the job, no degree needed.Typical pay$70kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandGood39Telecommunications 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 yrsDemandLimited40Drywall InstallerHang, tape and finish the walls inside almost every building. Fast to enter, often paid by the sheet.Typical pay$69kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGood41PlastererSmooth walls, ornate ceilings and exterior stucco. A three-year Red Seal apprenticeship with almost no tuition.Typical pay$69kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandModerate42Sheet Metal WorkerCut, bend and install the ducts, roofing and metal that make buildings breathe. A licensed trade in Ontario with a 5-year apprenticeship.Typical pay$68kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood43Truck 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 yrsDemandGood44Heavy 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 yrsDemandGood45Tool and Die MakerBuild the moulds and dies that stamp and shape every car part. The most precise trade in the shop.Typical pay$65kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood46RooferShingle houses and seal flat commercial roofs. Quick to enter, in short supply, hot and high.Typical pay$64kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandGood47ArboristClimb, 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 yrsDemandGood48CarpenterFrame houses, form concrete towers or finish trim. The broadest trade on any site, paid from day one.Typical pay$62kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood49CNC MachinistProgram and run CNC (computer numerical control) machines that cut metal to a hundredth of a millimetre.Typical pay$62kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandModerate50GlazierInstall the glass on towers, storefronts and homes, from a shower door to a 40-storey curtain wall.Typical pay$62kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandModerate51Landscape HorticulturistDesign, plant and build outdoor spaces. Seasonal work, easy to start, and many end up owning the company.Typical pay$62kTo qualify2 to 4 yrsDemandGood52Marine MechanicOutboards, sterndrives and boat systems. A short apprenticeship and a summer spent at the marina.Typical pay$62kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandModerate53Motorcycle 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 yrsDemandModerate54Recreation 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 yrsDemandModerate55MachinistCut metal into exact parts on lathes, mills and computer-controlled machines. Indoors, precise, and steady.Typical pay$60kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood56Metal FabricatorCut, shape and fit steel into bridges, tanks and buildings. A Red Seal trade you earn while you work.Typical pay$60kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandModerate57Appliance Repair TechnicianFix fridges, washers, dryers and stoves in people's homes. A Red Seal trade with a van and steady calls.Typical pay$59kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandModerate58Automotive Service TechnicianDiagnose and fix cars and light trucks. Paid from day one, but you buy your own tools.Typical pay$58kTo qualify4 to 5 yrsDemandGood59WelderJoin metal with heat. The fastest trade to start earning in, and the tickets matter more than the diploma.Typical pay$58kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandGood60Auto Glass TechnicianWindshields, side glass and the cameras behind them. Trained in months, in demand every winter.Typical pay$56kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandModerate61Electronics Service TechnicianDiagnose and repair the circuit boards inside machines, medical gear and industrial equipment.Typical pay$55kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandModerate62Floor 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 yrsDemandModerate63Painter 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 yrsDemandModerate64Parts 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 yrsDemandModerate65Pest Control TechnicianBed bugs, mice, wasps and termites. Licensed in months, hired fast, never boring.Typical pay$54kTo qualifyup to 1 yrDemandGood66Solar Panel InstallerPut solar panels on roofs and fields. Fast to start, outdoors, and growing every year.Typical pay$54kTo qualifyup to 2 yrsDemandGood67Auto Body RepairerStraighten, weld and rebuild crashed vehicles. Compulsory trade in Ontario, paid by insurance work.Typical pay$52kTo qualify3 to 4 yrsDemandGood68Bicycle 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 yrsDemandModerate69Printing Press OperatorRun the machines that print packaging, labels, books and flyers. Learn on the floor, no licence needed.Typical pay$52kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandLimited70ScaffolderBuild 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 yrsDemandModerate71CabinetmakerBuild 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 yrsDemandModerate72Small Engine MechanicMowers, chainsaws, generators and snowblowers. A short apprenticeship and a busy spring.Typical pay$50kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandModerate73JewellerMake, 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 yrsDemandModerate74UpholstererRe-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 yrsDemandModerate75ButcherBreak 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 yrsDemandGood76EstheticianFacials, waxing, lashes and skin treatments. A short program, low starting pay, and your regulars decide your income.Typical pay$42kTo qualify1 to 2 yrsDemandLimited77Makeup 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 yrDemandLimited78Nail TechnicianManicures, gel, acrylics and nail art. A short course, cheap to start, and your regulars are your paycheque.Typical pay$42kTo qualifyup to 1 yrDemandLimited79Tattoo 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 yrsDemandModerate80BarberFades, 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 yrsDemandModerate81BakerBread, pastry and cakes before dawn. Start tomorrow with no schooling, or earn a Red Seal in 3 years.Typical pay$40kTo qualify1 to 3 yrsDemandModerate82HairstylistCut, colour and style hair. Licensed in about 2 years, then it takes years more to build a clientele.Typical pay$40kTo qualify2 to 3 yrsDemandGood83TailorAlter, 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 yrsDemandLimited84Pet 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 yrDemandModerate85FloristDesign bouquets, weddings and funeral flowers. Quick to start, low pay unless you own the shop or do events.Typical pay$36kTo qualifyup to 2 yrsDemandLimited