The 20 Highest Paying In-Demand Jobs in Canada for 2019

Are you entering the job market in 2019? Or maybe you just need a career change? You’re probably looking for a job that pays a decent salary. After all, money isn’t everything but it helps – a lot. However, when choosing a career you need to consider more than just money. You need to consider whether there will actually be jobs in your chosen field. To help you decide, here are some of the highest paying in-demand jobs in Canada for 2019. Salary information is based on averages from PayScale, Indeed, Neuvoo and Glassdoor.

Last year’s list of the best paying jobs in 2018 were ripe with jobs in IT, tech, business and healthcare. While some of these jobs required degrees, there were quite a few that didn’t, including in-demand trades. And for comparison sake, don’t miss the 2017 version of this list.

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Registered Nurse ($19 to $60.70 per hour)

One of the Government of Canada's most in-demand jobs for 2019 is that of registered nurse. The average salary for a registered nurse is $37.47 per hour and the demand is strong in all provinces and territories. To become a registered nurse, you need a bachelor’s degree and registration with the provincial or territorial regulatory authority. Nursing has been on our in-demand job list in 2017 and again in 2018.

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Veterinarian ($28,000 to $175,000 per year)

Every pet owner thinks that they own Canada’s most adorable animals. However, there is a shortage of veterinarians in Canada, especially in Ontario. The average pay for a veterinarian in Canada is $85,804 per year. To become a vet in Canada, you need to get a doctor of veterinary medicine, or DVM, degree from an approved veterinary college. Then you need a licence from the regulatory body in your province or territory.

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Software Engineer ($48,000 to $153,000 per year)

It’s not only tech companies that have a need for software engineers. Pretty much every industry relies on computer programs and apps to do business these days and someone has to design the software. On average, software engineers in Canada make $90,000 a year. To get the right qualifications for the job, you can learn coding and app design with easy courses that will look amazing on your résumé.

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Account Manager ($57,000 to $101,000 per year)

An account manager handles a company’s business with specific customers. The average salary for an account manager in Canada is $83,000 a year and you can increase your earnings considerably through commission, making account management one of the highest paying jobs for newcomers. It’s recommended that you have a bachelor’s degree in business administration or something similar. Sales experience helps too.

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University Professor ($29,000 to $215,000 per year)

Even though a career in academia doesn’t always pay well, the average university professor in Canada earns $100,327 per year. It comes with an unexpected perk too: many universities let the children of employees study for free. Becoming a university professor requires years of dedication, though: you typically need a PhD in your chosen field.

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Anesthesiologist ($109,000 to $580,000 per year)

Medical professionals will remain in demand in Canada for several years to come. They’re also very well remunerated in Canada. Anesthesiologists have one of the highest paying jobs in the world and in Canada they earn $298,801 per year on average. To become an anesthesiologist in Canada, you need to study for an undergraduate degree, then you need to complete a medical degree and do at least five years of residency training. Finally, you need to pass the special exams of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

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Chartered Professional Accountant ($42,000 to $103,000 per year)

As long as there are businesses and people who need to pay taxes, there will be a demand for chartered professional accountants, or CPAs. The median pay for chartered accountants in Canada is $64,039 a year but bonuses and profit sharing can add a tidy sum to your total earnings. To become a CPA in Canada, you need a bachelor’s degree, preferably with an accounting major, and then complete the CPA PEP, or CPA Prerequisite Education Program.

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Business Analyst ($27,000 to $134,000 per year)

The average pay for a business analyst in Canada is $70,378 per year. Companies need business analysts to find the best ways for them to operate efficiently. The job requires both business and tech know-how. You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in a field like business administration for entry-level positions.

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Engineering Project Manager ($58,000 to $122,000 per year)

Engineering project managers had one of the highest paying in-demand jobs in Canada in 2018 and demand will still be strong in 2019. The average salary of an engineering project manager in Canada is $81,797 per year but you can increase it through bonuses, profit sharing and commission. To become an engineering project manager, you need a bachelor’s degree in engineering and practical experience in the field. Then you can also complete a master’s degree in engineering management.

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IT Project Manager ($53,500 to $170,000 per year)

In Canada, the average IT Project Manager makes $100,000 a year. It’s one of the best careers for women in tech, combining tech savvy with organizational and people skills. To become an IT project manager, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in an IT related field and several years’ experience.

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Aerospace Engineer ($49,000 to $110,000 per year)

An aerospace engineer in Canada makes $75,347 per year on average. As older aerospace engineers retire and the industry keeps growing, qualified candidates will remain in demand in Canada for several years to come. It’s one of the highest paying jobs for Generation Z. There are several institutions in Canada that offer degrees in aerospace engineering.

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Sales Representative ($31,700 to $74,000 per year)

The average pay for an outside sales representative in Canada is $49,652 a year, but with commissions and profit sharing you can take home several thousand a year more. Sales representatives had one of the most in-demand jobs in Canada in 2018 and especially B2B sales representatives will continue to be in demand in 2019. It generally doesn’t require any specific qualifications and is one of the highest paying jobs that don’t involve sitting at a desk.

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Industrial Electrician ($48,750 to $81,500 per year)

There is still a huge demand for industrial electricians in Canada and the average person in this job makes $76,050 a year. Salaries tend to be higher in British Columbia, Ontario and Manitoba. You don’t need a degree to become an industrial electrician. However, you need a combination of vocational training and an apprenticeship.

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Welder ($10.15 to $46.60 per hour)

The average hourly pay for a welder in Canada is $22.90. It’s one of those jobs that don’t need a degree but still pay well. To become a welder, you need an apprenticeship and/or vocational training. You can also increase your earning potential by specializing in a field such as underwater welding.

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Aircraft Pilot ($10.15 to $81.30 per hour)

On average, an aircraft pilot in Canada makes $33.37 per hour. The country still sees a shortage of pilots and as more and more people fly, demand for pilots will continue to grow. Due to the nature of the work, it’s one of those jobs that let you retire early but in the process you can also build up a nice retirement nest egg. To become an aircraft pilot in Canada, you first need a private pilot licence. You can then follow this up with a commercial pilot licence and an airline transport pilot licence.

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Optician ($10.20 to $38.00 per hour)

More than half of all Canadians wear eyeglasses and as the population ages and more people experience eye strain from using electronic screens, this number will grow. This means an increasing demand for dispensing opticians. The average salary for an optician in Canada is $21.94 per hour. To become an optician, you need to complete an approved training program, pass the National Optical Sciences Examinations and then register with the regulatory body in your province or territory.

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Pharmacist ($22.90 to $74.20 per hour)

Canada is still experiencing a shortage of qualified pharmacists and the average pay for a pharmacist in the country is $45.04 per hour. You can find work in a hospital or a drugstore or, like Jean Coutu who heads one of Canada’s richest families, you can start your own chain of pharmacies. To become a pharmacist in Canada, you need a pharmacy degree, pass the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada’s national board exam and register in your province or territory.

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Recruiter ($20,000 to $214,000 per year)

In Canada, recruiters make on average $83,054 a year. As businesses expand, they need the best candidates to fill the available positions and recruiters are highly in demand, especially in fields like technology and engineering. To become a recruiter, you first need to get a bachelor’s degree in a field such as human relations. You can increase your earning potential by becoming a registered professional recruiter and a member of the Association of Professional Recruiters of Canada.

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Clinical Psychologist ($64,500 to $160,000 per year)

The average pay for a clinical psychologist in Canada is $93,893 per year. With mood disorders among the most common health concerns in Canada in 2019, psychologists are in great demand. To become a clinical psychologist in Canada, you need to start with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and then continue on to obtain either a master’s or doctorate degree, depending on your province or territory. You also need to meet the licensing requirements for clinical psychologists in your province or territory.

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Construction Estimator ($21,000 to $152,000 per year)

There is still great demand in Canada for construction estimators, who work out the cost of labour, materials and other resources needed for construction projects. The average salary for a construction estimator in Canada is $71,668 per year. To become a construction estimator, you need to complete a training course in construction estimating. A good place to look for training courses is the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.