Top 10 Highest-Paying Skilled Worker Jobs in Canada in 2025

 Canada offers robust opportunities for skilled workers, especially in trades and professions combining technical expertise with practical know-how. In 2025, both traditional skilled trades and specialized high-demand roles offer exceptional earning potential, particularly when combined with certifications like Red Seal or professional accreditation.

This overview highlights the top 10 highest-paying skilled worker jobs—excluding medical doctor roles—to reflect skilled, technical, and trade pathways accessible via training, certification, or immigration.

1. Senior Electrician

• Average Base Salary (2025): CAD $106,861 Course Compare
  Senior Electricians oversee complex electrical projects in industrial, commercial, or large residential settings. Mastery of codes, design, and systems earns them top-tier compensation.

2. Plumber / Steamfitter (including Master Plumber)

• Average Base Salary (2025): CAD $101,400 Course Compare
  Commercial and industrial settings, especially in infrastructure and large-scale construction, demand these skilled professionals highly.

3. Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)

• Average Base Salary (2025): CAD $93,361 Course Compare
  Millwrights install, maintain, and repair industrial machinery—a critical role in manufacturing, mining, and energy.

Also: Statistics Canada reports that four years post-certification, many millwrights earn over CAD $99,320 Explore CareerBeacon. Reddit users attest to earning over CAD $120K in lower-cost areas, thanks to overtime and union roles Reddit.

4. Refrigeration Technician / HVAC Technician

• Refrigeration Technician: CAD $94,569 Course Compare

• Senior HVAC Technician: CAD $86,310 Course Compare
  Climates and rising construction fuel demand for HVAC and refrigeration specialists. With specialization, earnings can climb rapidly.

5. Powerline Technician

• Salaries often exceed CAD $100,000 for journeymen across Canada Reddit.
  These technicians work with infrastructure critical for electrical utilities—high-risk roles with generous pay, especially union-supported.

6. Elevator Mechanic

• Highly lucrative roles in urban construction and maintenance.
  Reddit comments highlight exceptional pay: “Elevator tech … They make ridiculous money” Reddit.
  Certifications like Red Seal and sector-specific licensing enhance prospects Trades Job.

7. Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME)

• High-responsibility aviation roles.
  Certified AMEs through Transport Canada maintain aircraft, earning strong pay and job security Trades Job.

8. Construction Manager (with Trade Background)

• Salaries in the CAD 100,000–150,000+ range ca.36ng.ng.
  Combined with skilled trade expertise and project management, construction managers command top-tier compensation.

9. Heavy-Duty Equipment Technician / Heavy-Duty Mechanic

• Automotive/Heavy Equipment Technician: ~CAD $76,149 Course Compare
  In remote regions like Alberta, experienced HD mechanics claim incomes up to CAD $250,000 with fly-in/fly-out (FIFO) and shift work Reddit.

10. Skilled Trades (Aggregate Category: Electricians, Plumbers, HVAC Technicians, Welders)

• Salaries span CAD $80,000–150,000+ depending on trade and location crisswrites.com.
  These are versatile and high-pay pathways, especially with overtime or specialized skillsets (e.g., pipeline welding).

Honorable Mentions

• Mechanical Industrial Split (Steamfitter/Pipefitter): CAD $105K+ four years after certification Explore CareerBeacon.

• Welders (industrial/pipeline): Pipeline and underwater specialists often surpass CAD $100K Trades Job.

Insights & Context

Trades Are Lucrative and Accessible

Many of these high-paying jobs don’t require university degrees, instead relying on apprenticeships, Red Seal certification, or license programs—making them accessible career paths without hefty student loans Trades Jobcrisswrites.com.

Regional Variation Matters

Cost of living widely varies. As one Reddit user noted: “If you go up north... cost of living is much higher.” Still, places like Saskatchewan or Alberta offer excellent pay-to-cost ratios: “a $120K base wage 20 minutes away is hard to beat” Reddit.

Demand-Driven Growth

Construction, infrastructure expansion, energy, and industrial sectors drive demand. Trades like powerline work, elevator mechanics, and heavy-duty maintenance are critical workforce needs Reddit+1.

Ranked Summary Table

Rank	Job Title	Approx. Salary (CAD)
1	Senior Electrician	$106,861
2	Plumber / Steamfitter	$101,400
3	Millwright / Industrial Mechanic	$93,361 (mid). $99K+ post-apprentice
4	Refrigeration / HVAC Technician	$86,000–94,500
5	Powerline Technician	$100K+ (varies regionally)
6	Elevator Mechanic	High, often well into six figures
7	Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME)	High, depending on routes & license
8	Construction Manager (trade background)	$100K–150K+
9	Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanic	Up to $250K (FIFO in remote regions)
10	Aggregate Skilled Trades (electrician, plumber, HVAC, welder)	$80K–150K+

Why Skill Pays Off in 2025

• Labor Shortages & Aging Workforce: Numerous trades face crucial shortages, pushing wages up due to demand.

• Ongoing Infrastructure Projects: Public and private investment in infrastructure amplifies demand for skilled trades.

• Flexible Certification Paths: Red Seal and apprenticeships grant swift access to high wages, bypassing four-year degrees.

• Regional Incentives: Remote and unionized regions often offer higher base pay, generous overtime, and benefits.

Final Thoughts

Canada’s top-paying skilled worker jobs in 2025 reflect a blend of technical demand, certification, and sector growth:

• Top tradie roles like senior electricians, steamfitters, millwrights, powerline and elevator technicians dominate the income charts.

• Heavy-duty mechanics in resource-rich regions may hit the highest ceilings when working FIFO.

• Roles like construction managers and AMEs, while requiring additional training, offer strong leadership-paying paths.

• Overall, aspiring workers can pursue high compensation via trades without traditional higher education—especially by targeting certifications, union roles, and remote or high-demand sectors.