20 Careers in Canada That Can Pay Over $200K
A job that pays over $200K a year might sound too good to be true, but if you have the right skills and experience, there are careers in Canada where you can take home at least $200K every year.
Here are 20 of the best listings on Indeed.com for careers with a big paycheque. Of note is the fact that seven of these career fields are in health care, and that almost all of these professions require a combination of several years of post-secondary education and/or extensive experience.
Airline Pilot – A highly experienced airline pilot can make over $200,000. The job can be stressful but also involves international travel. Required skills include good communication skills, being able to make good judgement calls and, of course, having a pilot’s license.
Medical School Professor – Doctors make good money and so do the people who teach them how to be doctors. To be a professor at a medical school, you need to have a medical degree with specialization in the field you want to teach in, as well as clinical experience and research skills.
Forensic Pathologist – Most forensic pathology jobs are government positions and involve examining corpses to determine the cause of death. To qualify for this career, you need to study medicine and then complete a one-year residency in forensic pathology.
General Practitioner – In Canada, general or family practitioners can work in a hospital or in small private practices. Private practice can bring in more money, but your income isn’t guaranteed. To be a general practitioner, you need to have a medical degree, do two to three years residency and have the licensing required by your province or territory.
Anaesthesiologist/Anaesthetist – Wherever there are hospitals or clinics, anaesthesiologists will have employment. You’ll work alongside surgeons and can specialize in anaesthesiology for specific types of surgery, such as neurosurgery. You need to study medicine, complete a five-year residency and get the required licensing for your province or territory to practise as an anaesthesiologist.
Psychiatrist – Psychiatrists can make well over $200,000 a year as full-time staff members at hospitals or clinics but can make even more in private practice. To become a psychiatrist, you need to qualify as a doctor and then complete a five-year psychiatric residency.
Hospitalist – A hospitalist is a doctor who takes care of patients specifically while they are in hospital. Some hospitalists are general practitioners while others are specialists, such as lung or kidney specialists or have specialized in intensive care or emergency medicine.
Dentist – Like doctors, dentists in Canada can work in clinics or in private practice. In the cities, competition is tough, but you can increase your earning potential by moving to a smaller centre or specializing in a field such as pediatric dentistry or oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Truck Driver – Truck drivers often work on a contract basis and get paid for each load they move. If you have your own truck, you can land lucrative contracts that may even include benefits. The main requirement for the job is a valid driver’s licence for the type of truck you drive but you also need to be willing to work long hours.
Auto Sales Associate – Most auto sales associate jobs come with a base salary and commission, which could push your income to over $200,000 if you have a great sales record. Excellent communication skills and the ability to think like a customer will be your greatest assets.
Parliamentary Commissioner – Parliamentary commissioners, such as the Commissioner of Official Languages, make over $300,000 a year. To qualify for the job, you’ll need a degree in a field like law or public administration, management experience at the executive level and a good understanding of Canada’s parliamentary system.
General Manager – A company’s general manager has to oversee different departments, from sales and marketing to finance. You’ll need to be a good communicator, be able to work under pressure and be able to delegate. The specifics of the job depend on the company you work for.
Financial Advisor – Licensed financial advisors are in demand and well compensated. You can increase your marketability by getting licensed to sell life insurance, mutual funds and securities rather than just one of the three and by also qualifying as a certified financial planner.
Management Consultant – Companies are willing to pay good money to management consultants who can help them streamline their performance and increase their profits. You need a bachelor’s degree in a field like finance, marketing or administration and can then train to become a certified management consultant.
Business Process Analyst – A business process analyst looks at all the different aspects of a business, including IT, quality and service, and finds ways to streamline business processes. You need a degree in business operations, management or IT and excellent communications and analytical skills for this job.
Construction Manager – As a construction manager, you need to know about construction methods and technologies. Your job is to oversee construction projects from start to finish, including working out how much they will cost and how long they will take to complete, selecting and hiring subcontractors and dealing with emergencies.
NDT Technician – An NDT or non-destructive testing technician inspects and tests materials for damage and imperfections. This is an important job in the oil and gas industry, where as an NDT technician you’ll inspect piping and machinery.
Petroleum Engineer – Among the highest-paying jobs in Canada’s oil and gas industry is that of petroleum engineer, the person who figures out the best ways to extract the oil and gas. However, you need to be where the jobs are. Alberta and British Columbia pay higher wages than elsewhere.
Structural Engineer – Structural engineers at the high end of the scale can make over $200,000 a year. The job basically involves calculating and, if necessary, finding ways to improve the stability and strength of buildings. You can work with new constructions or specialize in the restoration of heritage buildings.
Sales Consultant – Sales jobs aren’t known for their high salaries but if you sell the right thing and sell it well, you can make several hundred thousand just in commissions. Among the highest-paying sales jobs are those that involve selling digital media, medical devices, software and outsourced services.
SOURCE: ONLINE ARTICLE: Updated September 2019