Ontario · Job Bank numbers
Highest-paying jobs in Ontario without a university degree
These are jobs Job Bank says usually need a college diploma, an apprenticeship, a shorter programme or on-the-job training, rather than a university degree, ranked by median hourly pay in Ontario.
Published Last reviewed How we research and correct this
Only jobs with a moderate or better outlook for 2025 to 2027 and a reasonably large workforce are included, so the list is not topped by something that pays well because three people do it.
40 jobs. Jobs with a link to our own guide are marked.
| Job | Outlook 2025–2027 | Median pay | Women | Usually needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructorsOur guide | Good | $63.00/hr | 7% | College or apprenticeship |
| Power engineers and power systems operators | Good | $57.00/hr | 8% | College or apprenticeship |
| Railway and yard locomotive engineers | Good | $56.09/hr | 7% | Short programme or training |
| Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades | Moderate | $53.43/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Supervisors, mining and quarrying | Moderate | $52.40/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Power system electricians | Good | $50.85/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Police officers (except commissioned)Our guide | Moderate | $50.55/hr | 23% | College or apprenticeship |
| FirefightersOur guide | Good | $48.53/hr | 7% | College or apprenticeship |
| Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers | Moderate | $45.96/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations | Moderate | $45.05/hr | 6% | College or apprenticeship |
| Electrical power line and cable workers | Good | $45.00/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Medical radiation technologists | Good | $45.00/hr | 76% | College or apprenticeship |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | Good | $44.66/hr | 71% | College or apprenticeship |
| Ironworkers | Moderate | $44.34/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapistsOur guide | Good | $44.00/hr | >95% | College or apprenticeship |
| Elevator constructors and mechanics | Moderate | $43.50/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Border services, customs, and immigration officers | Moderate | $42.68/hr | 44% | Short programme or training |
| Paramedical occupationsOur guide | Good | $42.17/hr | 37% | College or apprenticeship |
| Medical laboratory technologistsOur guide | Good | $42.00/hr | 77% | College or apprenticeship |
| By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers | Moderate | $41.33/hr | 37% | Short programme or training |
| Medical sonographers | Good | $41.00/hr | 86% | College or apprenticeship |
| Industrial electricians | Moderate | $40.50/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Crane operators | Moderate | $40.48/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews | Moderate | $40.00/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Construction inspectors | Moderate | $39.00/hr | 15% | College or apprenticeship |
| Correctional service officers | Moderate | $39.00/hr | 31% | Short programme or training |
| Construction estimators | Moderate | $38.46/hr | 16% | College or apprenticeship |
| Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades | Moderate | $38.46/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades | Moderate | $38.46/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Water and waste treatment plant operators | Good | $38.11/hr | 13% | College or apprenticeship |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectorsOur guide | Good | $38.00/hr | 5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Bricklayers | Good | $38.00/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Occupational health and safety specialists | Moderate | $38.00/hr | 39% | College or apprenticeship |
| Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade | Moderate | $38.00/hr | 26% | College or apprenticeship |
| Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers | Moderate | $37.50/hr | 6% | College or apprenticeship |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanicsOur guide | Good | $37.00/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
| Railway yard and track maintenance workers | Moderate | $37.00/hr | <5% | High school |
| Supervisors, other mechanical and metal products manufacturing | Moderate | $37.00/hr | 11% | College or apprenticeship |
| Procurement and purchasing agents and officers | Moderate | $36.41/hr | 55% | College or apprenticeship |
| Gas fitters | Moderate | $36.06/hr | <5% | College or apprenticeship |
Before you act on this
How to read the list
- Median means half of Ontario workers in the job earn more and half earn less. It is the middle, not the starting wage, and what you earn in your first year is closer to the low end Job Bank publishes on each job's own page.
- Pay here is for the whole province. It varies a lot by region, by employer, and by how long you have done it.
- Several of these are management or supervisory jobs that you reach after years in the work, not on day one. The 'usually needs' column says what Job Bank says it usually takes to be hired into the group, which can include experience as well as training.
Source: Job Bank Ontario outlooks and wages (Employment and Social Development Canada, from Statistics Canada data), each job linked to its own report. See every job in one table.
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