Highest Paying Jobs in Canada

by Usama Chaudry on October 11, 2021

Despite having a large population of over 37 million people, there is only a 5.5% unemployment rate in Canada.

Surprising, right?

Many people are getting inclined towards working in Canada because of the large number of English-taught degrees, its well-developed economy, high living standards, medical benefits, safety and security, stunning geographical locations, and numerous employment opportunities.

Students are also showing interest to start their lucrative careers there, as Canada is well-known for being one of the most desirable locations for education in the world. Another reason for this inclination is the availability of multiple highest-paying jobs for international students in Canada.

Here we have listed the 20 highest paying jobs in Canada along with their overall as well as region-wise average annual salaries:

   
JOB NAME   
   
AVERAGE  ANNUAL SALARY   
   
Surgeon   
   
CAD 340,000   
   
Psychiatrist   
   
CAD 293,000   
   
Dentist   
   
CAD 233,000   
   
Petroleum Engineer   
   
CAD 208,000   
   
IT Manager   
   
CAD 203,000   
   
Marketing Manager   
   
CAD 196,000   
   
Pilot   
   
CAD 195,000   
   
Lawyer   
   
CAD 192,000   
   
Sales Manager   
   
CAD 187,000   
   
Business Operations Manager   
   
CAD 164,000   
   
Engineering Manager   
   
CAD 152,984   
   
Public Administer Director   
   
CAD 110,000   
   
Health and Community Service Managers   
   
CAD 110,000.   
   
Scientific Research Manager   
   
CAD 102,000   
   
Financial Managers   
   
CAD 96,000   
   
Human Resource Managers   
   
CAD 94,000   
   
Police Officer   
   
CAD 88,000   
   
Oil and Gas Drilling Supervisor   
   
CAD 85,000   
   
Construction Manager   
   
CAD 83,000   
   
Pipefitting Supervisor   
   
CAD 81,000   

20 Highest Paying Jobs In Different Regions of Canada

   
JOB NAME   
   
REGION-WISE AVERAGE SALARIES (IN CAD)   
   
Surgeon   
   
Alberta- 498,000
   
British Columbia- 507,000
   
Ontario- 520,000
   
Quebec- 512,000   
   
Psychiatrist   
   
Alberta- 256,796
   
British Columbia- 253,800
   
Ontario- 250,088
   
Quebec- 237,132   
   
Dentist   
   
Alberta- 416,000
   
British Columbia-   457,000
   
Ontario- 456,000
   
Quebec- 425,000   
   
Petroleum Engineer   
   
Alberta- 179,462
   
British Columbia-   176,874
   
Ontario- 165,252
   
Quebec- 160,352   
   
IT Manager   
   
Alberta- 86,720
   
British Columbia-   90,650
   
Ontario- 96,100
   
Quebec- 87,462   
   
Marketing Manager   
   
Alberta- 237,000
   
British Columbia-   254,000
   
Ontario- 263,000
   
Quebec- 259,000   
   
Pilot   
   
Alberta- 209,000
   
British Columbia-   217,000
   
Ontario- 225,000
   
Quebec- 212,000   
   
Lawyer   
   
Alberta- 110,809
   
British Columbia-   101,260
   
Ontario- 102,327
   
Quebec- 93,280   
   
Sales Manager   
   
Alberta- 72,255
   
British Columbia-   64,071
   
Ontario- 70,008
   
Quebec- 63,158   
   
Business Operations Manager   
   
Alberta- 90,754
   
British Columbia-   76,054
   
Ontario- 77,852
   
Quebec- 68,489   
   
Engineering Manager   
   
Alberta- 166,272
   
British Columbia-   132,018
   
Ontario- 133,748
   
Quebec- 128,252   
   
Public Administer Director   
   
Alberta- 56,527
   
British Columbia-   49,170
   
Ontario- 59,592
   
Quebec- 67,500   
   
Health and Community Service Managers   
   
Alberta- 65,047
   
British Columbia-   66,218
   
Ontario- 43,000
   
Quebec- 47,767   
   
Scientific Research Manager   
   
Alberta- 58,328
   
British Columbia-   76,350
   
Ontario- 89,320
   
Quebec- 66,055   
   
Financial Managers   
   
Alberta- 82,850
   
British Columbia-   87,821
   
Ontario- 87,219
   
Quebec- 87,899   
   
Human Resource Managers   
   
Alberta- 80,611
   
British Columbia-   78,875
   
Ontario- 74,089
   
Quebec- 67,684   
   
Police Officer   
   
Alberta- 75,000
   
British Columbia-   86,200
   
Ontario- 80,787
   
Quebec- 78,471   
   
Oil and Gas Drilling Supervisor   
   
Alberta- 75,145
   
British Columbia-   180,784
   
Ontario- 166,366
   
Quebec- 40,635   
   
Construction Manager   
   
Alberta- 90,876
   
British Columbia-   80,000
   
Ontario- 85,000
   
Quebec- 74,999   
   
Pipefitting Supervisor   
   
Alberta- 75,094
   
British Columbia-   79,547
   
Ontario- 61,700
   
Quebec- 70,021   

Highest Paying Jobs in Canada – Why does the Healthcare sector make the most money?

We can clearly see from the above-mentioned lists that medical professionals with prolific degrees like doctorates and PhD rule the employment sector in Canada.

The healthcare sector provides numerous jobs that pay over $300k in Canada on average.

One of the most needed jobs in Canada associated with the healthcare sector is that of a surgeon, whose average salary is estimated to be CAD 340,000 per year. It can go from CAD 186,000 per year (minimum salary) to CAD 608,000 per year (maximum salary). 

It’s because:

Medical professionals consistently do lots of work in their practice days in order to pave their way for in-demand and popular positions.

In addition, the Canadian standard of education in medical programs is kept at very high levels.

For these reasons, the healthcare sector makes the most money and produces the highest paying jobs in Canada.

Best Universities and courses that help in getting Highest Paying Jobs in Canada

We’ve compiled tabular data which lists the best universities and courses for getting the respective highest paying jobs in Canada:

1. Surgeon

   
NAME OF UNIVERSITY   
   
SPECIALIZED   COURSES   
   
University of Toronto   
   
Master of Science    
   
McMaster University   
   
PHD in Medical Sciences   
   
University Of Alberta   
   
PHD. in Medical Sciences (Medical Genetics)   
   
University of British Columbia   
   
PHD. in Medical Sciences (Medical Genetics)   
   
Western University (Ontario)   
   
Bachelor of Health Science   

2. Dentist

   
NAME OF UNIVERSITY   
   
SPECIALIZED   COURSES   
   
University of Toronto   
   
Doctor of Dental Surgery   
   
McGill University   
   
DMD, MSC. Dental Science   
   
University Of Alberta   
   
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)   
   
University of British Columbia   
   
MSC. in Pediatric Dentistry, DMD   
   
University de Montreal   
   
DMD   

3. Petroleum Engineer

   
NAME OF UNIVERSITY   
   
SPECIALIZED   COURSES   
   
University of Calgary   
   
Bachelor’s in Oil and Gas Engineering   
   
University Of Alberta   
   
M.E Petroleum, PHD. in Petroleum   
   
University of Dalhousie   
   
Reservoir Engineering, Petroleum Geosciences (Masters in Engineering)   
   
Memorial University of Newfoundland   
   
Masters of Engineering, PHD (Natural Gas Engineering, Offshore oil and   gas operations)   
   
University de Montreal   
   
DMD   

4. IT Manager

   
NAME OF UNIVERSITY   
   
SPECIALIZED   COURSES   
   
Simon Fraser University   
   
Masters in Management of Technology   
   
McMaster University   
   
Technology Entrepreneurship and Management   
   
Wilfrid Laurier University   
   
M.Sc. Technology Management   
   
Queen’s University   
   
Management in Artificial Intelligence   
   
University of Windsor   
   
Masters of Engineering Management    

5.  Marketing Manager

   
NAME OF UNIVERSITY   
   
SPECIALIZED   COURSES   
   
Simon Fraser University   
   
Masters in Management of Technology   
   
McMaster University   
   
Technology Entrepreneurship and Management   
   
Wilfrid Laurier University   
   
M.Sc. Technology Management   
   
Queen’s University   
   
Management in Artificial Intelligence   
   
University of Windsor   
   
Masters of Engineering Management    

6. Pilot

   
NAME OF UNIVERSITY   
   
SPECIALIZED   COURSES   
   
University of Fraser Valley   
   
Bachelor of Business Administration (Aviation)   
   
University of Waterloo   
   
Bachelor of Science in Honors Science and Aviation   
   
Douglas College   
   
Associate of Arts in Future Professional Pilots   
   
Mount Royal University   
   
Aviation Diploma   

7. Lawyer

   
NAME OF UNIVERSITY   
   
SPECIALIZED   COURSES   
   
University of Toronto (Faculty of Law)   
   
LLM    
   
McGill University (Faculty of Law)   
   
LLM. in General Law   
   
Queen’s University (Faculty of Law)   
   
LLM    
   
University Of Alberta (Faculty of Law)   
   
LLM    

8. Sales Manager

   
NAME OF UNIVERSITY   
   
SPECIALIZED   COURSES   
   
Centennial College   
   
Graduate Certificate in Marketing- Sales and Account Management   
   
Sheridan College   
   
Graduate Certificate in Advertising – Account Management   
   
Humber College   
   
Graduate Certificate in Advertising- Account Management   

Highest Paying Jobs In Different Sectors of Canada

Here is a list of highest-paying jobs in Canada per hour in different sectors:

1. Business and Finance

i) Financial managers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $71.43 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $46.15

ii)  Human resources managers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $69.23 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $45.06

iii)  Marketing or advertising managers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $62.50 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $39.56

2. Technology

i)  Computer and information systems managers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $72.12 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $50

ii) Software engineer or designers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $66.83 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $43.27

iii)  Computer programmers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $55.29 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $36.06

3. Healthcare

i) Healthcare managers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $64.10 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $45.67

ii) Registered nurses:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $46.70 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $37.60

Nurses in the oil and construction industries are often paid more than those in hospitals and clinics.

iii) Medical lab technologists:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $44.75 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $34.83

4. Human Services

i) Social workers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $46.15 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $33.33

ii) Community and social service workers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $33 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $21.54

5. Travel and Tourism

i) Accommodation Service Managers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $60.17 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $27.50

ii) Restaurant or Food Service Managers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $43.27 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $20.67

6. Education

i) Teachers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $52.88 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $41.21

ii) College or Other Vocational Instructors:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $56.09 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $37.93

i) Lawyers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $141.51 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $56.22

ii) Police Officers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $55 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $42.24

8. Skilled Trades

i) Civil Engineers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $61.54 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $39.42

ii) Longshore Workers:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $45 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $35.38

iii) Welders:

  • Top-end hourly wage: $39 or more
  • Median hourly wage: $25

Highest Paying Jobs in Big Cities

Here is a list of the highest paying jobs in Canada within three of its biggest cities namely Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver.

Toronto:

  • Computer and information systems managers: $157,872 annually
  • Managers in health care: $150,010 annually
  • Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers): $112,008 annually
  • Financial and investment analysts: $109,720 annually
  • Restaurant and food service managers: $97,302 annually

Edmonton:

  • Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians: $150,010 annually
  • Nursing coordinators and supervisors: $126,464 annually
  • Human resources professionals: $110,864 annually
  • Information systems analysts and consultants: $110,240 annually
  • Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses: $106,080 annually

Vancouver:

  • Engineering managers: $172,994 annually
  • Managers in social, community, and correctional services: $125,008 annually
  • Construction managers: $124,800 annually
  • Financial auditors and accountants: $94,994 annually
  • Court officers and justices of the peace: $83,428 annually

Usama ChaudryUsama is a professional engineer and graduated from the University of Alberta. Computations of electrical and thermal characteristics are among his research interests. Usama's hobbies outside of professional work include reading, playing tennis, and trekking.

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