Highest paying jobs in Canada have been the focus of many people, especially those who have intentions to immigrate to Canada or study in Canadian universities. Earning potential is one factor as people decide which career to pursue. High paying jobs can guarantee people financial security and improve the overall quality of life, and provide more choices in their careers. Therefore, it is pivotal to know the the best paying jobs in Canada.
Why Find High-Salary Jobs in Canada?
It’s much harder to find a satisfying job with the highest salary in the current weak global economy. However, several employment reports show that Canada is experiencing trends of growth in technical roles, shortages in healthcare positions, and rising demand for financial management personnel. This means there may be more opportunities for job hunters.
① Salary growth is evident, yet the cost of living is rising faster
Particularly in Ontario and British Columbia, property prices and rents have increased significantly, making high-paying occupations essential for maintaining quality of life.
② Persistent talent shortages in the technology and healthcare sectors
Long-term vacancies persist in AI, data science, medical specialisms, and engineering roles, with high-salary positions predominantly concentrated within these fields.
③ Immigration policies favour highly skilled professionals
The Express Entry (EE) system awards higher points for high-paying, high-skilled occupations, making such roles advantageous for immigration purposes.
④ Increasing cross-sector career transitions
For instance, the IT sector attracts numerous career changers without prior experience; healthcare roles such as nursing and dental assisting draw substantial numbers of international talent.
- As one of the biggest economies in the world, Canada has strong economic stability to ensure many companies in various sectors to develop and expand themselves.
- A large labour market in Canada provides many opportunities for people needing well-paid jobs across various industries, such as technology, healthcare, and finance.
- Immigration-friendly policies in Canada make it easier for people in other countries to find available jobs here. The survey shows that 98% of Canada’s growing population has been made up of immigrants in the last year. The new generation is replacing the old and retiring Canadian population.
- Canada’s commitment to work-life balance, inclusive workplace cultures, and extensive social benefits ensures that employees are supported both professionally and personally. Also, students are encouraged to live a balanced life in universities.
- Canada’s lower cost of living and higher quality of life, marked by excellent public services, healthcare, and education systems, make it an attractive option for those looking to build a prosperous and fulfilling career.
- A pleasant and positive work environment is also one of the reasons that people choose to work in Canada. The inclusive culture and legal protections attract many people who come to work for career growth.
List of 10 Highest Paying Jobs in Canada
Here are the top 10 highest paid jobs in Canada and their annual average salary.
| Rank | Job Title | Average Annual Salary (CAD) | Salary Range (CAD) | Industry Trend | High-Demand Provinces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anesthesiologist | $320,000 | $250,000–$450,000 | Extremely high demand | ON, BC, AB |
| 2 | Cardiologist | $300,000 | $220,000–$400,000 | Strong demand | ON, QC, AB |
| 3 | Surgeon | $280,000 | $200,000–$400,000 | Long-term shortage | Nationwide |
| 4 | Psychiatrist | $230,000 | $180,000–$300,000 | Rapidly increasing demand | ON, BC |
| 5 | Orthodontist | $220,000 | $150,000–$300,000 | Stable income | BC, ON |
| 6 | Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | $180,000 | $150,000–$300,000 | Scarcity of senior management talent | Major cities nationwide |
| 7 | Cloud Architect | $150,000 | $120,000–$190,000 | Fastest-growing field | ON, BC |
| 8 | Software Engineering Manager (SEM) | $145,000 | $120,000–$180,000 | Steady growth | ON, BC, AB |
| 9 | Data Scientist | $130,000 | $100,000–$160,000 | Highly in demand | Nationwide |
| 10 | Lawyer | $120,000 | $80,000–$250,000 | Large income variation | ON, BC |
No.10 Lawyer
- Average salary: £120,000
- Income range: £80,000–£250,000+
A lawyer is a high-paying job in almost every country, and a lawyer’s salary in Canada is $109,631. Also, a few outstanding barristers make the talents in this sector highly demanding and well-paid. Lawyers specialize in many types of law, like criminal, marriage, corporate, and financial. They provide legal advice, research and gather evidence, write legal documents, and prosecute or defend in court.
However, becoming a lawyer requires a lot of time and dedication. In Canada, lawyers, like doctors, need to be admitted to law school after four years of undergraduate study and acquire a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant area of study. It takes at least eight years to become a trainee lawyer.
No.9 Data scientist
- Average salary: £130,000
- Income range: £100,000–£160,000
With the development of information technology, data scientists have gradually become one of the top careers in Canada. The main responsibilities are extracting valuable insights from massive datasets, making data-informed decisions, and predicting future outcomes. Data Scientists need to have the ability to spot hidden patterns and solve complex product problems.
If you want to be a data scientist, getting a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, or information technology is necessary. Many Data Scientists also go on to earn a Master’s or Doctorate in statistics, data science, or analytics to make them more competitive after starting their career.
No.8 Software engineering manager
- Average salary: £145,000
- Income range: £120,000–£180,000
Software engineering managers are team leaders in the development and creation of software programs and applications. They are responsible for leading teams of software developers, defining project requirements, delegating tasks, and ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.
If you want to get the best occupations in Canada, besides having a technical understanding of the application, you also need to be able to explain it in simple language to other company executives. People in this profession can find very good prospects in cities like Toronto and Montreal.
No.7 Cloud architect
- Average salary: £150,000
- Income range: £120,000–£190,000
Cloud architects are IT professionals whose primary job is to oversee a company’s cloud strategy, including cloud adoption planning, cloud application design, and cloud management and monitoring. At the same time, they need to oversee application architecture and deployment in cloud environments, including public, private, and hybrid clouds. It may also involve certain legal aspects of cloud computing, such as negotiating contracts or working with a company’s legal and procurement departments.
No.6 Chief financial officer
- Average salary: £180,000
- Range: £150,000–£300,000+
As the leader of the accounting team, the CFO is at the forefront of the company’s financial health. Primarily responsible for maintaining, managing, and analyzing financial statements, payroll, budget, tax compliance issues, etc.
According to LinkedIn, CFO compensation varies depending on the size of the company. In large companies, they typically manage a team of accountants and report to the chief financial officer, while in small companies, they may be the sole accountant, working alongside staff and reporting to the boss or CEO.
No.5 Orthodontist
- Average salary: £220,000
Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial malformations. However, orthodontists are different from dentists in that they are diagnostic specialists and are the first decision-makers to decide if a treatment is needed that affects the appearance of the face as it grows older. For example, the decision whether a child needs braces or replacement dental treatment is made by the orthodontist.
They first undergo 4 years of dental school training at a Canadian Dental Association (CDA) accredited school or institution, and then must complete a CDA-accredited 2 – to 3-year master’s program specialized in orthodontic therapy for post-secondary education before they can practice.
No.4 Psychiatrist
- Average salary: £230,000
According to the Canadian Medical Association, psychiatry is the medical specialty of mental illness. The illnesses and problems of people with mental illness require a comprehensive biological, psychological, and social assessment to understand their mental conditions and develop a treatment plan for their care and recovery.
The role of psychiatrists may vary according to their work settings. For example, a psychiatrist in a general hospital will be responsible for the care and treatment of psychiatric inpatients, as well as providing advice and liaison to medical/surgical units and patients. Those who work in community clinics will emphasize the individual treatment of patients using multiple management, rehabilitation, and psychotherapy techniques.
No.3 Surgeon
- Average salary: £280,000
No wonder a surgeon is one of the top-paying jobs in Canada because of its complexity and the difficulty of getting a degree. It is more difficult to study medicine in Canada than in the United States and the United Kingdom. Not only do you have the chance to enter medical school with a full score of GPA in the four years of undergraduate study, but you also have to do about four years of residency after four years of medical school study.
While their primary duty is to perform surgery on patients, they also have other duties, including examining patients to diagnose whether they need surgery, developing surgical and treatment plans based on a patient’s medical history, and researching new surgical techniques.
No.2 Cardiologist
- Average salary: £300,000
Cardiologists are physicians focusing specifically on the cardiovascular system. They are responsible for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and atrial fibrillation.
A medical degree is the prerequisite for becoming a cardiologist. After graduation, you need to complete residency training for four to five years that specializes in issues of the cardiovascular system. You can work in independent clinics or medical institutions.
No.1 Anesthesiologist
- Average salary: £320,000
As you can see, occupations in the healthcare industry take the top three spots on the list of highest-paid jobs in Canada. Medical anesthesiologists are responsible for the health of their patients before, during, and after surgery. Before surgery, they meet with patients, assess their medical history, perform necessary tests, and decide on the use of anaesthesia.
Additionally, they are also responsible for monitoring and observing patients during surgery to make sure they are responding to emergencies. After that, they are responsible for safely waking the patient from anesthesia and, if needed, administering pain medication.
Highest paying Jobs in Canada without a Degree
In Canada, just because people earn high salaries doesn’t mean they have excellent degrees. In reality, its mature occupational framework and labour market have cultivated a substantial number of ‘high-paying skilled trades’. With a robust market demand, people who have irreplaceable practical skills can still earn more money. Below are some high-paying technical jobs that do not require a degree.
| Job Title | Average Salary (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Electrician | $85,000 |
| Plumber | $80,000 |
| Welder | $75,000 |
| Commercial Pilot | $85,000–$150,000 |
| Real Estate Agent (Commission-based) | $100,000+ |
How to Choose the Highest Paying Jobs in Canada?
To choose the highest-paying jobs in Canada, you can consider the following factors.
- Interest and skills: take a career aptitude test and combine it with your skills.
- Industry structure within the province: Examine labour market outlooks published by Statistics Canada and provincial governments.
- Educational requirements and training duration: Compare the pathways of a university degree versus a college diploma/apprenticeship. Calculate whether the investment of cost (money, time) is worthwhile for you.
- Whether it supports immigration points: Consult the latest National Occupational Classification (NOC) to verify the immigration eligibility of occupational codes and prioritise occupations classified under TEER 0/1/2 or those featured on provincial in-demand lists.
- Remote work feasibility: Ask yourself whether you prefer the possibility of remote work.
Conclusion
After reading the blog, are you excited about the highest paying jobs in Canada? This big country has strong economic stability, progressive policies, and high standard of living, which attracts more and more immigrants to live here. If you have the object job among them, learn about their requirements in advance and strive for it now. With the skills and experience the job requires, you can achieve your career goals alongside your personal aspirations in Canada.
FAQ
What is the highest paying job in the world
Neurosurgeon.
This occupation needs people in related majors to accept rigorous education and training to master the complexities of the human brain and nervous system.
Which job has the highest salary in Canada?
Below are the 10 highest paying jobs in Canada.
Anesthesiologist
Cardiologist
Surgeon
Psychiatrist
Orthodontist
Chief financial officer
Cloud architect
Software engineering manager
Data scientist
Lawyer
Which career is booming in Canada?
Careers in the technology field are booming in Canada, offering diverse job opportunities and luxurious salaries. Cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal have become bustling tech hubs, drawing in talent from around the globe.
Which Canadian province has the highest salaries?
| Province | Average Salary (CAD) | High-Paying Industries |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $68,000 | Oil & Gas, Engineering, Skilled Trades |
| Ontario | $65,000 | Finance, Technology, Healthcare |
| British Columbia | $63,000 | Technology, Healthcare, Services |
| Saskatchewan | $61,000 | Agriculture, Mining |
| Quebec | $58,000 | Aerospace, Healthcare |
