Highest Paying Jobs if You Love the Water

A popular choice for people who love the water and want to go into a STEM field is marine biologist. Even Cobie Smulders, one of the wealthiest Canadian actors, had initially wanted to study marine biology.

To apply for marine biologist jobs, you need to study for a B.Sc. in marine biology, which is normally offered at one of Canada’s coastal universities. Your job will then entail studying marine organisms and according to PayScale, you can expect to earn between $40,000 and $98,000 per year in Canada.

Simply put, a naval architect designs ships and submarines. In this job, you are responsible for the shape, size and weight of the craft, taking into account its stability and speed. You also design the layout of the interior. You can study for a degree in naval architecture at the University of British Columbia or the Memorial University of Newfoundland.

According to Talent, naval architects typically make between $85,776 to $119,800 per year.

Marine engineers work closely with naval architects. They’re not so much responsible for how a vessel looks but how it works, designing the internal systems like propulsion, steering and the electrical system.

A handful of coastal universities in Canada offer degrees in marine engineering and according to Talent, you can expect to earn between $49,400 to $110,250 per year.

Commercial divers do underwater work like inspecting, repairing, installing or removing structures. They can also take photographs or videos underwater.

Many commercial divers work for gas and oil companies and according to PayScale, they can make between $49,000 to $97,000 per year.

The first step in becoming a commercial diver is to take a basic diving course, which you can do at many beautiful island destinations. Then you need to take more advanced and specialized diving courses.

Oceanography is one of the great environmental jobs for people who love nature. An oceanographer studies the ocean. Normally, you’d specialize in a field like marine ecology, marine geology, physical oceanography or chemical oceanography. Several universities in Canada offer degree courses in oceanography and SalaryExpert says you can expect to make between $78,130 to $138,659 a year.

A transportation engineer is responsible for the design and construction of parts of transport systems, and if you love the water, you can focus on harbours and ports or projects like the Confederation Bridge.

Not many universities offer degrees in transportation engineering, but you can obtain a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and get hands-on experience with a transportation company instead. PayScale says that transportation engineers in Canada earn between $51,000 and $93,000 per year.

A ship captain is in charge of everything on the ship, making sure the vessel operates safely and legally. If you’re Johnny Depp, you can fake being a ship captain and get one of the biggest movie star paydays of all time. If you’re a mere mortal, however, you need to gain experience working on vessels. Then you need to complete a Transport Canada-approved training course and get your captain’s licence.

PayScale says that ship captains in Canada can earn between $51,000 and $167,000 per year.

A marine manager, also known as a maritime manager, works for a shipping company and manages the company’s fleet.

In this job, you will be overseeing the fleet’s operations and make sure that they comply with international regulations. Several universities in Canada offer bachelor’s degrees in logistics or business management and you can obtain a master’s in marine management at Dalhousie University or the Memorial University of Newfoundland.

According to Indeed, marine managers in Canada can earn wages starting at around $78,902 per year.

A geoscientist studies Earth’s physical aspects. There are different kinds of geoscientists. If you love the ocean and want a high paying job, you can focus on helping oil and gas companies use the ocean’s natural energy resources without damaging the ocean floor.

It is one of the highest paying jobs for newcomers and Talent says that geoscientists in Canada make between $71,000 to $91,287 per year. Various Canadian universities offer degrees in geosciences.

An aquatic veterinarian is a vet who specializes in the health of aquatic animals, such as otters, fish, dolphins and whales, seals and turtles.

To become an aquatic veterinarian, you first need to become a veterinarian, which requires a degree from one of Canada’s vet schools. You can then continue your studies in an aquatic field or gain practical experience and intern at an institution like an aquarium.

Veterinarians have one of the highest paying in-demand jobs in Canada, with the vet salaries in Canada ranging from $60,000 to $121,000, according to Payscale.

If you’ve qualified as a physician but don’t want to settle down just yet, why not become a ship’s doctor? All you need is to be a licensed to practice as a doctor, resistance to seasickness and a willingness to travel to the best cruise destinations.

Because the large cruise lines tend to be based out of the United States or Europe, you probably won’t get paid in Canadian dollars — which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Royal Caribbean Group based out of Fort Lauderdale pays their ship’s doctors between US$179,024 and US$247,844, according to Glassdoor.

An optical engineer designs and builds devices that make use of light and optics. It’s not one of the traditional ocean jobs, but you can always make it one by specializing in equipment that would be useful for ships and submarines, such as telescopes and periscopes.

Several universities in Canada offer courses in optical science. Indeed says that in Canada, optical engineers earn an average of $90,806.

An ecologist studies ecosystems and the way that human activities can impact these. If you specialize in aquatic ecosystems, you can work for government agencies or private companies to ensure the water environment that you love doesn’t get destroyed.

Various universities in Canada offer courses in ecology and Talent says you can earn between $69,504 to $86,391 per year.

Aquarists work in aquariums, taking care of the animals and managing the displays while engaging with the public. Generally, you don’t need any tertiary qualification to be an aquarist but a background in a field like marine biology will be helpful.

With a salary of between $30,076 to $43,217 per year, this isn’t the highest paying job but even the best perks Canadian companies offer can’t beat being able to interact with dolphins, seals and turtles every day.

An underwater archaeologist – also called a marine or maritime archaeologist – is a discipline in archaeology that specifically deals with historical remains found underwater, such as shipwrecks and submerged structures.

To become an underwater archaeologist, you first need to obtain your archaeology degree. Then you need to study for a master’s degree in underwater archaeology but because no university in Canada offers a course like this, you’ll have to be prepared to study abroad. According to Talent, archaeologists in Canada earn between $44,363 to $100,980 per year. One of the best things about this job is that it doesn’t involve sitting at a desk.

Among the great jobs for women in trades is welding. If you want adventure, a bit of danger and a higher salary, you can train to become an underwater welder.

There are several diving schools in Canada that offer not only dive training but also certification courses in underwater welding.

According to SalaryExpert, underwater welders in Canada can earn between $72,251 to $126,336 per year.

If you’re looking for jobs that don’t need a degree but still pay well, you can’t go wrong with becoming a mechanic. You can combine this with your love of the water by becoming a marine mechanic, who works with boats and ships rather than with cars and trucks.

Several trade schools in Canada offer certificate courses for marine mechanics. According to Talent, you can earn between $45,825 to $111,953 per year.

Marine pilots have one of the most important jobs on the water, since without them, vessels can’t safely enter and exit harbours.

To become a marine pilot in Canada, you can start working on vessels as a deckhand. As you gain experience and work your way up, you can apply with the pilotage authority in your area, since requirements vary.

SalaryExpert says that marine pilots in Canada make between $80,738 to $142,961 per year.

If you’re truly body positive and love being in the water, you can become a swimsuit model. Be aware though that the job isn’t always as glamorous as it seems: you may have to spend hours in the freezing cold dressed in nothing more than a bikini in order to get the perfect shot.

According to Talent, models in Canada earn between $39,000 to $100,000. Swimsuit models typically earn towards the higher end of the scale.

If you’re that most dedicated of water lovers, there’s a job you may not have known existed that may be right up your alley. A water sommelier is an expert in the taste of water and there are only a handful of them in the world. According to Christina Li, Canada’s first certified water sommelier, you can train at the Doemens Academy in Germany. It’s not known exactly how much a water sommelier in Canada can make but according to Talent, sommeliers make about $30,713 to $56,500 per .