9. Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
Median hourly wage: $35
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics install, repair, maintain and adjust instruments which are used for measuring and controlling industrial processes in manufacturing. They earn the most in Saskatchewan, where the median hourly wage is $41 while British Columbia is the lowest paying region. Since the majority of these workers is employed in manufacturing, job prospects depend on future investments in the sector. According to Canadian Bussiness, employment for the occupation climbed by 28.9 percent in the recent years, but by 2022, the number of job openings won’t exceed the number of workers, or in other words, one position will be available per worker.
Compared to other listed occupations, these workers have to go through more schooling. Besides high school diploma, those who apply for the job must have finished apprenticeship program which lasts four to five years. Two-year college program in industrial instrumentation technology, accompanied by work experience, can serve as a substitute for the apprenticeship program.
