Today we present you 11 highest paying blue collar jobs in Canada – occupations which refute the stereotype that blue collar industry is reserved for low-skilled workers who are employed in menial jobs for minimum wage. In this ranking, not only that you will find that some blue collars earn as much as $42 per hour but that some occupations are in high demand. Solid earnings, good job prospects and opportunity to advance make many of these jobs appealing to young people who opt for work instead of education.
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Before we present you the ranking, let’s take a quick look at current state of Canadian labor market. According to latest Labor Force Survey, in the last 12 months employment grew by 125,500, which accounted for 0.7 percent increase. The growth was led by the upward trend in health care and social assistance, which recorded employment rise of 4 percent, as well as in professional, scientific and technical services, where there was 2.9 percent gain. On the other side, employment notably declined in agriculture (6.2 percent) and natural resources (3.6 percent), which saw massive layoffs in Alberta after drop down of oil prices. Current oil crisis spills over into other industries, affecting employment in manufacturing and construction, sectors in which greatest percent of listed blue color workers is employed.
Between December 2015 and January 2016 both industries experienced job losses. While there were 11,000 people less working in manufacturing, construction saw a decrease of 5.400 workers. At the same time, employment in manufacturing little changed during last year, although the industry export recorded significant pickups, which was not translated into new job openings. On the other side, construction lost 24,700 employees, or in other words 1.8 percent of its workforce. Thus, while some of the listed blue collar jobs secure comfortable living, the employment outlook is poor.
In creating the ranking of highest paying blue collar jobs in Canada we used Job Bank Canada data on median hourly wage for occupations defined under National Occupational Classification. Jobs that we labeled as “blue collar” are occupations for which educational requirements include secondary and post-secondary degree (less than BA) and which are not performed in an office setting. We did not include managerial positions in this ranking, but if we had, four occupations would have found a place on the list – utility managers ($47), manufacturing managers ($38.41), construction managers (36.06) and transportation managers ($34.62). Finally, if you want to compare how Canadian blue collar workers are doing compared to their neighbors in America, check our previous ranking 11 highest paying blue collar jobs in the US.
11. Elevator constructors and mechanics
Median hourly wage: $33.67
We start this ranking with workers who assemble, maintain and repair elevators, escalators, moving walkways and other related equipment. While the majority is employed in construction sector, around 7 percent found the job in manufacturing. Currently, the highest paying region for the occupation is British Colombia with median hourly wage of $41.5, while easiest provinces to find a job as an elevator constructor are Laurentides, Laval and Montreal, where the number of job openings exceed current labor force.
Educational requirements for the occupation include high school diploma and apprenticeship program, which is not mandatory in cases when candidates have work experience in trade coupled with some formal education in elevator construction and repair. Moreover, in Quebec and Alberta job applicants are expected to have trade certification.
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10. Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
Median hourly wage: $34.79
This is an ideal occupation for people who like being their own boss. Currently, a third of these workers are self-employed, which is well above the national average of 14 percent. Highest paying region for the occupation is Alberta with the median hourly wage of $37 while the lowest paying province is New Brunswick, where workers earn 28.5$ per hour. Furthermore, job prospects for trades contractors and supervisors are excellent as job openings are expected to exceed labor force by 18 percent. Finally, the occupation requires less education than other listed jobs. Besides high school diploma candidates should only possess trade certification.
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.
8. Pulping control operators
Median hourly wage: $35.89
Pulping control operators monitor equipment for processing of wood, scrap pulp, recyclable paper and other cellulose materials in paper manufacturing. Median hourly wage is determined for only two regions – British Columbia ($50.66) and Ontario ($45.61). Also, there are no data about future job growth for the occupation, but statistics for the occupational unit Control and Process Operators in Manufacturing and Processing, under which pulping control operators are classified, predicts that by 2022 number of job seekers will slightly exceed demand for the occupation. Educational requirements are minimal and include high school diploma and several months of on-job and company training.
7. Power system electricians
Median hourly wage: $36
Not only that power system electricians have solid earnings, but the occupation is in high demand in many regions, including Edmonton, British Columbia, and Vancouver Island. However, new entrants should know that job prospects are sensitive to undergoing changes in the utilities sector. More than 90 percent of power system electricians is employed in electric power generation, transmission and distribution companies, which have seen significant changes in the production process. The introduction of technologically advanced equipment, along with companies’ desire to become more efficient, have decreased the need for new employees.
Besides high school degree, education requirements for the occupation include apprenticeship program which lasts three to four years and which is not mandatory if candidates have taken courses in electrical technology and had work experience in the trade. Median hourly wage is determined only for four regions among which Alberta pays the most ($43.22) and Manitoba the least ($32.05).
6. Boilermakers
Median hourly wage: $37.74
Boilermakers produce, maintain and repair boilers, vessels, tanks, towers, heat exchangers and other heavy-metal structures. Educational requirements are similar as for power system electricians and include high school diploma, apprenticeship program or work experience in trade accompanied by formal education in boiler making. Best paying area for the occupation is Alberta with median hourly wage of $41.17, while lowest wage is in Newfoundland and Labrador.
According to latest data from Monthly Survey of Manufacturing, fabricated metal product manufacturing, a sector which employs the majority of boilermakers, recorded a decline of 2.4 percent in sales. In general, demand for these workers won’t significantly exceed the number of new job openings in most regions, while in three provinces, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Manitoba, the labor force will be greater than the number of jobs.
5. Fishing masters and officers
Median hourly wage: $40
Fishing masters and officers, workers who operate vessels greater than 100 tons to catch fish and other marine animals, occupy the fifth spot on our list of 11 highest paying blue collar jobs in Canada. High salary and minimal educational requirements, which include high school diploma, might seem attractive, but those who are considering a career in the occupation should know that this profile won’t be in demand in the future. In all areas for which employment potential has been determined the labor supply will exceed the number of available jobs. In addition, latest available data shows that employment in harvesting sector in the fishery has been on a decline for years.
4. Power systems and power station operators
Median hourly wage: $40.48
Power systems and power station operators monitor and operate equipment in electrical control centers and generating stations. According to Canadian Business, in the period between 2008-2014, the salary for the occupation grew by 20 percent. Currently, the group earns the most in Ontario, where almost half of all operators is employed. It is expected that in the next six years the number of job openings will exceed the number of qualified workers since there will be 1.27 jobs per worker.
Besides secondary school diploma, candidates for the job must meet additional educational requirements. Successful applicants either have completed an apprenticeship program or they have work experience in trade coupled with knowledge obtained through college courses in electrical, electronic technology, stationary or power engineering. In addition, some provinces require that power station operators obtain a certificate in power engineering or stationary engineering.
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3. Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
Median hourly wage: $40.51
Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators monitor and regulate railway and marine traffic. The hourly wage for the occupation is determined only for three regions among which Alberta is the highest paying with $43.35. In regards to employment prospects, Transportation Officers and Controllers, the occupational group under which railway and marine traffic controllers are classified, will be in demand in the future as job openings will outnumber labor force by 11 percent.
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2. Supervisors, oil and gas drilling and service
Median hourly wage: $38
Oil and gas drilling supervisors coordinate activities of workers employed on oil drilling rigs. Expectedly, Alberta is the highest paying region for the occupation with the median hourly wage of $40. However, given the recent cuts, and, more importantly, continuing negative trend in the oil industry, job prospects are not so good.
In order to become oil drilling supervisor several years of work experience in the sector is a must. Many people who are employed in supervisory jobs started at lower positions and slowly progressed to the top. Education requirements for the occupation include completion of college or petroleum industry training service (PITS) courses, while some employers might also require two-year college diploma in petroleum engineering technology. Furthermore, since supervisors are responsible for maintaining the safe working environment, they need to obtain certification in a number of safety related courses.
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1. Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
Median hourly wage: $42
With the median hourly wage of $42, contractors and supervisors in pipefitting trade ranks as first among 11 highest paying blue collar jobs in Canada. These workers either run their own business or supervise the work of plumbers, steamfitters, pipefitters, sprinkler system installers, etc. The group earns the most in Alberta, where the median hourly wage is $49, while the lowest paying province for the occupation is Quebec, with the median wage of $37.5 per hour. According to Canadian Business, although the occupation experienced 13 percent employment growth, there won’t be much need for these workers in the future.
While educational requirements for the profession are minimal and include only high-school diploma, several years of experience in the relevant sector is compulsory before one can become pipefitting trade constructor or supervisor.
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