The 10 highest and lowest paying jobs in Canada
We recently updated our salary report on what the average Canadian earns. Now we’re taking a look at what the top ten high-paying jobs are right now and which occupations pay the least. How does yours compare?
According to Statistics Canada, the average wage for Canadian employees is currently $952 per week – or just under $50,000 a year. Most of the jobs on our high-paying list earn at least three times that much (And the lowest paying occupations pay less than half the average).
The highest paying jobs in Canada:
- Specialist physicians – $117,00-$375,000
- Dentist – $53,805 – $213,671
- Family physicians – $58,015 – $310,054
- Lawyers – $48,630 – $146,431
- Federal judges -$308,600- $396,700
- Senior managers of Goods Production, Utilities, Transportation, and Construction – $75,159 – $141,569
- Senior managers in Finance and Communications – $77,805 – $129,629
- Actuaries – $45,820 – $129,740
- Engineering managers – $68,100-$172,000
- Airline pilots – $35,233 – $146,274
Most of the lowest paying jobs will simply pay the minimum wage of whatever region the job happens to be located in. Towards the low end of the scale that is roughly $9.95 an hour earning someone just over $20,000; assuming they worked full time and were paid for 40 hours a week.
The lowest paying jobs in Canada:
- Sewing machine operator – $22,514 – $41,546
- Cook, fast food – $20,994 – $26,026
- Cashier – $21,183 – $29,156
- Dishwasher – $21,286 – $28,540
- Bartender -$20,091 – $42,837
- Restaurant host/hostess – $21,113 – $29,120
- Service station attendant – $21,052 – $32,357
- Food and beverage server – $22,360 – $30,369
- Food counter attendant / kitchen help – $21,184 – $32,888
- Babysitters, nannies, and parent’s helpers – $20,880 – $37,354
Please keep in mind that this list does not take tipping into account. Bartenders and wait staff, particularly at higher end establishments, can make very comfortable incomes with low hourly wages but the bulk of their income coming from tips.
The federal government’s Working in Canada website breaks down the salaries for different occupation by province and even by city. It’s a useful tool for seeing how your paycheque measures up – and preparing for your next salary negotiation.
*Salary ranges posted in CAD, courtesy of Payscale.
See also:
So, how much are we earning? The average Canadian salaries by industry and region
How to tailor your resume to any job posting
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