Canada boasts one of the highest standards of living in the world. While having a university degree or college diploma certainly opens doors to many high-paying career opportunities, it is not always a prerequisite for success in Canada’s job market. There are numerous well-compensated roles that do not require formal post-secondary education.
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Earning a wage between $60-85 per hour translates to an annual salary of approximately $100,000-150,000 based on a 40 hour work week. While some with degrees struggle to reach this income level, certain technical skills and trades can easily surpass it without the burdens of student debt. This guide highlights 10 lucrative careers accessible without a degree that pay within or above this coveted salary bracket.
Let’s examine the options and pathways into six-figure earning professions for motivated individuals ready to learn valuable job skills on the job. Canada warmly welcomes ambition and determination across its diverse industries.
Truck Driver
Average Hourly Wage: $26-41/hour
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Commercial truck drivers play an essential role in transporting goods nationwide. As Canada’s economy relies heavily on shipping via major highways, experienced Class 1 drivers remain in high demand. Earning potential grows substantially with experience, maximized through long-haul operations paid by the mile.
Certification requires passing exams after completing mandatory training programs. Operators of heavy machinery like dump trucks, tankers and specialized rigs command premium wages. Owner-operators running their own vehicles as small business entrepreneurs can gross over $100,000 annually before expenses.
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Roadwork is rarely optional due to tight delivery schedules. However, the traveling lifestyle and abundant overtime available on important freight services generate substantial wage growth potential over a career spent on the open road.
Electrician
Average Hourly Wage: $34-47/hour
Skilled electricians working in residential, commercial, and industrial construction have earned this trade’s status as a consistent path to a six-figure salary. Apprentices start at around $20/hour, progressing to higher pay grades with additional schooling and field experience gained.
Peak earnings top out between $45-65/hour for licensed journeypersons managing complex builds, industrial site maintenance routines or specializing in high-voltage systems. Some electricians choose the flexibility of running their own contracting businesses, magnifying wages substantially through profitable ownership.
Ongoing projects in resource industries, healthcare facility upgrades, renewable energy adoption, and infrastructure renewal create long-term demand. While the work is hands-on, electricians attain a marketable certification opening many doors within a versatile field.
Plumber
Average Hourly Wage: $28-41/hour
Similar to electricians in compensation potential and role importance for society, plumbers play a crucial part in residential, commercial, and industrial water systems installation and repairs. Beyond fixing leaks and unclogging drains, their work impacts public health standards on a large scale through large-scale piping projects.
Experienced journeypersons with proficiency across various plumbing specialties like HVAC, gas-fitting or sprinkler installation gain substantial wages in unionized or government contractor roles. Self-employment further boosts earnings through competitive contracting businesses created to tackle sizable industrial maintenance overhauls or new construction plumbing jobs.
Respected technical skills, steady project opportunities and a growing aging population necessitating plumbing services keep this trade consistently busy and well-remunerated. Starting wages begin at approximately $22/hour during the apprenticeship process.
Elevator Technician
Average Hourly Wage: $39-52/hour
Elevator mechanics perform skilled technical and mechanical work installing, maintaining, and repairing elevators, escalators, and other conveyance systems within residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Apprentices can expect starting pay of around $25/hour while gaining expertise through a combination of classroom learning and on-site experience.
Journey-level technicians maintaining complex equipment earn between $35-45/hour, often with generous benefit plans included. Senior technicians and those attaining specialized Certified Elevator Technician designations command hourly pay in the $45-60 range. Overtime is plentiful in major cities on large service maintenance contracts for high-rises and transportation hubs.
Retirement trends within the aging elevator technician workforce create abundant job openings. Continuing education keeps skills sharp to handle evolving elevator designs with computer-controlled features. Demand stability stems from building code compliance requirements for all structures housing elevators.
Pipefitter
Average Hourly Wage: $32-44/hour
Pipefitters fabricate, maintain and repair pipe systems that transmit liquids, gases and fluids. They work closely with other trades to design, cut, thread, assemble and test piping on sites ranging from refineries to hydroelectric plants. Apprentices start at $20-25/hour gaining on-the-job experience and technical training.
Journey-level unionized pipefitters attain high rates between $35-45/hour, topping the pay scale with hazardous working condition premiums. Leading complicated industrial or commercial projects as foremen lifts pay even higher. Owning a contracting company managing numerous pipefitting crews realizes maximum earning potential from this trade.
Demand remains intense in oil/gas infrastructure, manufacturing plants, mining facilities and other process piping dependent industries. Additional certifications for welding or pipe specialty fields enhance career opportunities in Canada and abroad. Job security arises from continuous operation needs at production sites requiring expert maintenance services.
Welder
Average Hourly Wage: $23-36/hour
The welding trade’s wide applicability unites and cuts metals through thermal joining techniques sought after everywhere from shipyards to auto plants. Experience lifting wages, union pipe-welders sit at the top end of pay scales between $32-45/hour. Specialized roles like nuclear sector work fetch premiums beyond $45/hour due to hazards.
Entry-level welders learning various processes start around $18-22/hour depending on additional certifications held. Advanced welders certified for aerospace standards command higher government contractor rates of $28-38/hour. Running fabricator workshops as owner-operators sustains six-figure incomes from welding production services.
Canada’s manufacturing base exhibits ongoing welder demand strengthened by infrastructure investment in transportation networks, energy transition and construction sector activity. Transportation industry welding inspectors attain senior hourly wages in the $35-45 range with time. Diverse specialization paths exist to develop niche expertise.
Machinist
Average Hourly Wage: $20-33/hour
Machinists operate an array of machine tools and computer-controlled equipment to fabricate precision metal components through various processes like lathing, milling, planning, boring and grinding. Technical college programs provide fundamental training supplemented by on-the-job mentoring to master complex manufacturing support functions.
Established machinists earn $25-35/hour depending on the industry and level of responsibility taken for operating advanced computer numerical control (CNC) systems producing close-tolerance parts for aerospace, energy, and other exacting production environments. Senior machinist positions with programming oversight reach $28-40/hour at major manufacturing plants.
Master machinists with decades of experience ensuring equipment calibration can earn close to $40/hour or start their own contract machining operations. Future machinist demand hinges on reshoring trends bringing outsourced production back to Canada alongside electrification supporting manufacturing growth.
Surveyor
Average Hourly Wage: $26-38/hour
Surveyors use high-precision equipment like laser instruments, levels, and GPS devices to accurately establish property boundaries, ensure building foundations conform to grades, and measure terrain contours during construction and infrastructure projects. Technical colleges provide two-year diploma survey technician programs.
Technicians start at $20/hour assisting licensed surveyors in the field. Surveyors gain $25-35/hour upon obtaining professional designation and specialist certifications. Senior licensed surveyors commanding large mapping, construction layout and hydrographic survey contracts realize wages averaging $35-45/hour. Self-employed business ownership multiplies earnings substantially.
Favorable survey market demands connected to population-driven land development, mining exploration techniques, linear corridor planning, and asset management programs retain surveyors in high demand across engineering consulting firms and government agencies. Work location flexibility and variety add lifestyle appeal.
Airplane Mechanic
Average Hourly Wage: $24-36/hour
Aircraft mechanics maintain and repair commercial, private, and military aircraft by troubleshooting engine malfunctions, replacing defective components, and performing scheduled maintenance procedures like inspections. College aviation maintenance programs equip students with theory and hands-on skills.
Junior licensed aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs) gain employment at airlines, charters, private jet operations, and military bases between $20-28/hour while advancing under senior oversight. Journey-level AMEs assume full responsibility for repairs and earn $25-35/hour or join independent contractor teams. Transport Canada licensure awards maximum authorization for critical maintenance roles.
Canada’s aerospace sector and northern commercial flying commitments keep AMEs engaged with modern jetliners and turboprops. Certified specialty mechanics on executive aircraft or helicopter fleets command premiums. Room for business ownership exists serving general aviation clientele demanding personalized service.
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