By Indeed
Skilled trade workers are always in demand in Canada. These highly trained employees complete hands-on work, such as construction workers, mechanics, manufacturers, and cooks. As skilled trades span a variety of industries, any candidate looking for an in-demand, hands-on job is sure to find a career they enjoy. In this article, we look further into what skilled trade jobs are and provide 20 examples of ones that are in demand right now.
What are skilled trade jobs?
A skilled trade job is any role that requires specialized knowledge and hands-on work. Skilled trades workers, such as construction workers, plumbers, and electricians, contribute to the country’s infrastructure and our general well-being. They work in a variety of industries and offer services that most Canadians take advantage of regularly, such as hair styling, dentistry, and food services.People typically learn skilled trades through vocational courses, college programs, or on-the-job training under an apprentice. Many skilled trades require registration or certification from a province or territory’s regulatory body. This ensures every skilled trade worker has the knowledge to complete their work safely and efficiently.Related:
Showcase your skills with help from a resume expert
20 skilled trade jobs in demand
If you’re considering a career as a skilled trades worker, here are some of the top in-demand jobs right now:
1. Electrician
National average salary: $33.45 per hourPrimary duties: Electricians work with electrical fixtures, devices, and wiring. They install, maintain, and repair anything that provides electricity to buildings and facilities. As they often work with live devices and wires, electricians must have in-depth industry knowledge and be able to follow all health and safety regulations.
2. Cook
National average salary: $18.20 per hourPrimary duties: A cook prepares a variety of dishes at any establishment that has a kitchen, such as restaurants and cafeterias. They follow recipes or create their own under a sous chef or executive chef’s supervision. Cooks are also responsible for cleaning up their workspace and adhering to food safety regulations to ensure patrons enjoy excellent meals.
3. Welder
National average salary: $26.82 per hourPrimary duties: A welder joins metal parts together with a welding torch that applies heat to the metal, bonding the pieces. Welders work in a variety of industries, including construction and manufacturing, to create or repair things like bridges, buildings, and cars. They may work in a factory or warehouse, but most welders work outdoors.Related: What Does a Welder Do: Duties and Potential JobsRelated: What Is a Steamfitter? (With Guide, Skills, Duties, and Salary)
4. Plumber
National average salary: $32.76 per hourPrimary duties: Plumbers install and repair pipes. The pipes they work with may supply water or gas or take waste away from toilets. Plumbers also fix and install appliances that require a water supply, such as washing machines, sinks, bathtubs, and dishwashers.
5. Carpenter
National average salary: $28.56 per hourPrimary duties: Carpenters work with wood and wood substitutes to create, install, and repair structures, such as buildings, shelving, and hardware. Carpenters typically work for construction companies or maintenance departments to ensure buildings and their wooden structures are safe and sturdy.Related: How To Become a Carpenter in 6 Steps
6. Construction worker
National average salary: $21.88 per hourPrimary duties: You can find general construction workers on construction sites, working on building or repair projects. They typically prepare the site by removing debris, unloading building materials and tools, assembling temporary safety structures, and regulating traffic. As construction workers usually work outdoors, this is usually a seasonal role in Canada.Related: Highest-Paying Construction Jobs (With Salaries and Duties)
7. Bus driver
National average salary: $20.61 per hourPrimary duties: Bus drivers work for public or private transportation companies. They can drive city buses, school buses, or private buses for companies like hotels and car rental agencies with a special licence. They must adhere to traffic laws to ensure their passengers and other drivers are safe. Companies typically assign bus drivers a regular route to familiarize themselves with the area and locations they need to stop.
8. Custodian
National average salary: $19.51 per hourPrimary duties: Custodians keep buildings and properties clean and free of potential hazards, like spills. They use specialized cleaning supplies and equipment for different tasks and perform routine maintenance. Their primary duties comprise sweeping, mopping, emptying garbage cans, dusting, and sanitizing different facilities, such as office buildings or schools.
9. Garbage collector
National average salary: $20.04 per hourPrimary duties: A garbage collector operates a waste collection vehicle to collect and remove waste, garbage, and refuse along a designated route. As garbage collectors work on specific routes in a city or town, they target different neighbourhoods on a set day of the week. Refuse collectors work with a team, including drivers and loaders.
10. HVAC technician
National average salary: $32.46 per hourPrimary duties: HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. This means that HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair the systems that we use to control the air quality and temperature in our homes and commercial buildings. Many HVAC technicians specialize in a specific type of equipment but receive training to work with all heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.Read more: Why To Pursue a Career in HVAC (With Jobs and Salaries)
11. Registered nurse
National average salary: $38.53 per hourPrimary duties: Registered nurses typically work in hospitals, clinics, or care homes to assist with treating patients. Their primary duties comprise administering medication, applying or changing dressings, monitoring patients’ vitals, and assisting with personal care. Because of the nature of their work, registered nurses work long shifts, sometimes overnight and on the weekends as well.
12. Hairstylist
National average salary: $17.28 per hourPrimary duties: A hairstylist washes, cuts, trims, and styles customers’ hair according to their requests. They may offer suggestions of hairstyles that suit customers. They may also trim and maintain beards, mustaches, and eyebrows. Hairstylists train to work with a variety of hair types but may specialize in a specific one.
13. Mechanic
National average salary: $32.72 per hourPrimary duties: Mechanics repair and maintain motorized vehicles. Typically, mechanics work on cars. They also work with buses, trucks, and heavy equipment. They usually work in a garage or auto shop but may work for specific car dealerships, car rental agencies, or transportation companies.
14. Pipefitter
National average salary: $35.05 per hourPrimary duties: A pipefitter, sometimes referred to as a steamfitter, creates, installs, and maintains mechanical piping systems. These systems include ones for heating, cooling, ventilation, and hydraulics. Their duties are similar to plumbers, but they work with high-pressure piping systems while plumbers work with low-pressure ones.Related: What Does a Hydrovac Operator Do? (With Skills and Salary)
15. Brick and stonemason
National average salary: $33.43 per hourPrimary duties: Brick and stonemasons build and replace structures made with bricks or stone, such as walls, flooring, fireplaces, or chimneys. They typically work for construction companies but may do residential work as well to repair structures like patios or fireplaces in your home. They can also work independently as contractors.
16. Child and youth worker
National average salary: $22.20 per hourPrimary duties: Child and youth workers assist and counsel children and adolescents who are struggling with emotional and developmental issues like bullying, discrimination, family issues, or substance abuse. They may take legal actions when necessary to ensure children and adolescents are in a safe environment. Child and youth workers provide psychological support and organize additional services to assist their clients.
17. Arborist
National average salary: $26.64 per hourPrimary duties: An arborist is an expert in the structure and function of different types of trees, allowing them to provide the best tree care possible for clients. Arborists care for these trees through pruning, planting, removing dead branches, and providing emergency tree care. As they work outside, they work in a variety of weather conditions. As a result, the role is usually seasonal in Canada.
18. Cabinetmaker
National average salary: $23.87 per hourPrimary duties: Cabinetmakers build, install, and repair wooden cabinets or other fixtures. They use hand tools to cut and shape wood. They use glue, screws, and nails to form the cabinets. Cabinetmakers usually work for construction companies, furniture manufacturers, or on their own to provide service as needed.
19. Crane operator
National average salary: $30.29 per hourPrimary duties: Crane operators control cranes on construction sites to move and place large machinery, equipment, and objects. They are responsible for inspecting the crane and construction site to ensure a safe work environment for themselves and their colleagues. The three main types of crane operators control are boom trucks, tower cranes, and mobile cranes.
20. Heavy equipment operator
National average salary: $30.93 per hourPrimary duties: Heavy equipment operators have a special licence and work on construction sites operating heavy machinery. The most common types of heavy equipment they operate are backhoes, front-end loaders, graders, and bulldozers. Heavy equipment operators must have strong attention to detail to look out for their colleagues and potential hazards in their path.Now that you are aware of these 20 skilled trade jobs, you can search for relevant job listings across Canada.Salary figures reflect data listed on the quoted websites at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organization and a candidate’s experience, academic background and location.