You don’t necessarily need a Master’s or PhD to get a high-paying job. In fact, there are plenty of occupations that pay a handsome salary, without the need for you to go through years of university. While the median income varies by education level, there are jobs you can apply for to make a decent living. So, what are the highest paying jobs in Canada without a degree? Read on to find out.
Highest Paying Jobs In Canada Without A Degree
The following occupations promise healthy wages without the need for post-secondary education:
Miner
Average annual salary: $84,290
Miners work in underground environments and mine for minerals, such as iron, ore, and coal. They’re also involved in designing and building pathways to transport minerals in and out of the mines. The job is relatively dangerous, as they’re exposed to hazardous conditions underground and are at risk of harm due to their exposure to explosives.
No degree is required to become a miner, though a high school diploma is typically required. There are also some college programs available to help Canadians interested in this career path.
Car Salesman
Average annual salary: $49,500
As the name suggests, car salesmen sell automobiles. But the job begins when a prospective buyer enters the dealership. Car salesmen greet customers when they walk in the door and help them navigate all their options. They’ll show customers various models, educate them on the features of each vehicle, and answer any questions.
Car salesmen also take customers out for a test drive, negotiate prices, draft up financing forms, and help with trade-ins.
While the average salary for a car salesman is $49,500, many salesmen in the industry make much more than this. There’s virtually no limit to how much you can earn as a car salesman, especially if you’re savvy in the world of sales.
Translator
Average annual salary: $57,602
Translators convert information from one language to another, whether audio or written form. The goal is to ensure that the translation is conveyed in the same tone and meaning as the original. Translators may be asked to translate material, act as a mediator between two people speaking different languages, proofread, and prepare subtitles for video.
No university degree is required to become a translator, though having a degree in a specific language may be beneficial.
Truck Driver
Average annual salary: $47,053
A career as a trucker is a popular one, given the short amount of time it takes to get into the field. There are plenty of trucking jobs available, which makes it even easier to become a driver.
There are different requirements for truckers based on the specific niche. For instance, some drivers operate heavy trucks across the country and internationally, while others drive smaller trucks within city limits. Regardless, anyone looking to become a truck driver will need a specific driver’s license to legally and safely operate the class of truck they’re driving.
Receptionist
Average annual salary: $33,150
A receptionist is the first person people see when they enter an office. They usually perform administrative tasks, such as answering phone calls, directing visitors to the appropriate department or person, supporting telecommunications and security systems, maintaining calendars for appointments, and making travel arrangements for superiors.
A high school diploma or equivalent is usually all that’s needed to become a receptionist.
Construction Manager
Average annual salary: $83,620
A construction manager is responsible for supervising all aspects of construction projects from start to finish. Their duties are vast and include scheduling workers, allocating tasks, meeting with clients, conducting site visits, keeping tabs on project progress, and ensuring a safe work environment.
A degree is not always necessary to become a construction manager, though some companies may require it. Others may require relevant work experience.
Construction Worker
Average annual salary: $40,950
Construction workers perform a variety of tasks on construction sites, including handling building materials, removing debris, building scaffolding structures, and operating heavy equipment.
No degree or qualification is required, though a high school diploma is often requested. Some companies may accept those without a high school diploma if they have related work experience.
Conductor
Average annual salary: $68,874
Conductors perform several important duties. For starters, they’re tasked with joining or separating train cars and telling engineers when to leave a station, slow down, or stop. They also sell train tickets, enforce ticketing among all passengers before boarding the train, and ensure that order is maintained in the coaches.
Conductors must have in-depth knowledge of railway systems, though they are not required to have a university degree.
Firefighter
Average annual salary: $61,828
Firefighters play a critical role in the safety and wellness of a community. They perform a wide variety of important duties, including putting out fires, rescuing people from fires and other hazardous situations, investigating the source of a fire, and helping to prevent future fires.
Firefighters must have a high school diploma and certification in First Aid and CPR. They must also undergo and pass a criminal background check and be physically fit to lift heavy weights and endure difficult work environments.
Government Of Canada Jobs
The Canadian government offers many different jobs that only require a highschool diploma, and in some cases, a short college degree. Here are a few examples of such jobs:
Administrative Assistant
Average annual salary: Up to $55,027
An administrative assistant performs a variety of administrative tasks, such as data entry, filing, making copies, sending emails, and so forth. They also greet and direct visitors, answer phone calls, and schedule meetings. Many sectors of the Government of Canada have administrative assistant roles to fill, which typically only require a high school diploma or equivalent, or relevant work experience.
Cultural Heritage Manager
Average annual salary: Up to $92,694
A Cultural Heritage Manager typically works in Parks Canada, an agency of the federal government that manages all the national parks, conservation areas, and historical sites across the country. This position involves aspects of cultural conservation, restoration, history, archaeology, and architecture.
No additional education aside from high school is required for this position, though some level of experience is usually needed, including knowledge of cultural resource management and cultural heritage.
District Records Clerk
Average annual salary: Up to $54,857
This job involves maintaining accurate records, gathering data, and drafting reports to ensure all information and documents are up-to-date and accurate.
A high school diploma is preferred, but it’s possible to get a job as a district records clerk even with partial high school education or relevant training or work experience. Applicants should also have some experience in clerical duties and computer literacy.
Where Can You Get A High Paying Jobs In Canada Without A Degree
There are many places you can look for a high paying job in Canada. Using a job board may be the best way to do so as you can filter jobs by location, requirements, education, pay and more.
| Indeed | Learn more |
| Monster | Learn more |
| Canadian Job Bank | Learn more |
| Jooble | Learn more |
| Learn more |
Tips On How To Qualify For The Highest Paying Jobs In Canada Without A Degree
If you don’t have post-secondary education, you’ll need to rely on other traits to get the job you want. Having previous work experience is definitely a perk, and many employers look for this in prospective candidates.
Another thing to consider when maximizing your chances of landing one of the highest paying jobs in Canada without a degree is to look at your credit score.
Why Should You Check Your Credit Score?
Lenders aren’t the only ones who check your credit score. Employers sometimes do, too. If you’re looking to apply for a job without a university degree, you might want to check your credit score to make sure it’s strong. Your score could be the deciding factor between getting the job and being turned down.
Not all employers insist on a credit check. The ones that do usually do so if the job they’re hiring for involves dealing with sensitive data or financial information. They may also use a credit check as part of a security clearance. If you’re applying for a job within these parameters, having a good credit score helps you get your foot in the door.
Employers might also want to use a credit check as a way to uncover any potential red flags about a job applicant, like financial stress that could increase the risk of theft.
How To Check Your Credit Score For A Job?
Before you apply for a job, find out what your credit score is. You can check your score for free by using Loans Canada’s CompareHub.
When you pull a copy of your credit report, make sure to scan for any errors. Not only could these point to potential identity theft, but they can also unfairly pull your score down. If you spot errors — including account reporting mistakes or inaccurate personal information — have them investigated and rectified by the credit bureau right away.
If your credit score is a little low, take some time to improve it by doing the following:
- Pay all bills and debts on time and in full, including credit cards, personal loans, and more.
- It’s recommended to keep your revolving debt at 30% or lower
- Leave old credit accounts open if there’s no fees involved.
- Don’t apply for too many loans or credit accounts in a short period of time
Best Side Gigs To Increase Your Income Without A Degree
You may have a full-time job taking up most of your time, but there are all sorts of gigs you can do on the side that can top up your income. Some of them may even turn into well-paying full-time businesses and investments. Here are a few gigs worth looking into:
Rent Your Room
If you own a home and have a little extra space that you can part with, consider renting it out for some extra monthly cash. You don’t need to give up your entire home or vacate the whole basement to rent out, either. Even one single room may be enough to attract those looking for affordable accommodations.
Rent Your Car
Do you have a car? If so, there may be times when you don’t use it. During those down times, consider renting your vehicle out to those who are looking for an alternative to traditional car rental companies. You can use car rental services like Turo that help people looking to borrow a car connect with vehicle owners like you.
Offer Care Services
There are many people looking for help to care for their loved ones when they’re unable to do so themselves. Here are just a few niches under the care services umbrella:
Babysitting
This is hardly a novel idea, but babysitting services continue to be sought after by parents looking for some help caring for their kids. Whether you babysit for a few hours a week or are looking for more full-time hours as a nanny, there’s definitely still a market for people interested in caring for children.
Pet Sitting
Do you love dogs? Cats? Even birds or hamsters? Pet owners are always on the lookout for responsible people to watch their beloved fur babies while they’re at work or on vacation.
Elderly Care
Seniors with mobility and cognitive issues also need care, often around the clock. If you have a soft spot for the elderly, you may consider working as a caregiver in this niche.
Offer Delivery Or Ride Services
You can use your vehicle to make deliveries, including groceries, take-out, packages, and even furniture. Online shopping has long been popular among consumers, but it has exploded since the recent health crisis. You can capitalize on this trend by working with delivery services looking for drivers to help out.
Final Thoughts
A university education can definitely help open the doors of opportunity in the workforce, but it’s definitely possible to snag some of the highest paying jobs in Canada without a degree. This gives the average Canadian with a high school diploma the ability to get into the workforce and earn a decent living while building a solid career.
