Maple News reports that healthcare, technology, engineering, and finance remain among the top-paying sectors in Canada in 2024, offering high salaries and in-demand roles for both domestic professionals and skilled immigrants. With Canada’s strong economy, supportive immigration policies, and growing demand for expertise across industries, understanding which jobs pay the most can help newcomers align their skills and credentials for success.
Topping the list is the role of a medical anesthesiologist (NOC 31100), with an average annual salary of $400,000. Anesthesiologists play a critical role during surgeries by managing pain control and monitoring patients’ vital signs. Close behind are cardiologists and surgeons earning around $392,000, followed by psychiatrists at approximately $334,000. These roles demand extensive training and licensure but reward specialists with some of the country’s highest incomes.
In the healthcare domain, orthodontists ($275,000), specialist physicians ($330,000), and dentists ($130,000) also command high salaries. These positions not only require years of advanced education and training but also benefit from a rising demand for medical services, particularly given Canada’s aging population and heightened awareness of mental health.
Outside healthcare, corporate lawyers (NOC 41101) see average earnings of $195,000. In engineering and energy, petroleum engineers (NOC 21341) make about $185,000 annually, reflecting the importance of natural resource sectors, particularly in provinces like Alberta. Airline pilots (NOC 72600), another high-paying occupation, earn close to $180,000, thanks to rigorous training standards and the critical responsibility of flight safety.
Canada’s booming tech industry also offers attractive compensation. Cloud architects (NOC 21231) earn an average of $160,000, while software engineering managers ($150,000) and data scientists ($140,000) remain in high demand as digital transformation accelerates. These roles are particularly concentrated in urban centres like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.
Rounding out the list are high-earning professionals in finance and operations, such as financial managers ($125,000), IT managers ($120,000), and marketing managers ($115,000). Human resources managers, electrical engineers, pharmacists, and geoscientists all fall within the $105,000–$120,000 salary range, showing broad opportunities for skilled workers across industries.
Maple News highlights that immigrants looking to pursue these high-paying roles should first assess how their foreign qualifications align with Canadian professional standards. Targeted immigration programs like Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs are key pathways for skilled workers. Gaining Canadian licences, improving language proficiency, and networking with employers in key sectors can also significantly boost job prospects.
Sectors like healthcare, technology, law, and resource extraction consistently offer the highest salaries due to specialised training requirements and the complexity of work involved. These jobs not only provide financial reward but also career stability and societal impact—especially in a country actively seeking to attract global talent.
As Canada continues to recover from the effects of the global pandemic and economic shifts, its job market remains favourable for professionals with the right credentials and ambitions. Skilled immigrants prepared to navigate licensing and certification processes will find high-paying, fulfilling careers across the country.