Top Healthcare Jobs in Canada

Healthcare workers are vital to the well-being of every nation in the world. With its ongoing labor shortages due to Canadians retiring rapidly, the Great White North's need for these essential workers remains dire. To make it easier for skilled healthcare talent to fill the country's significant labor gaps, the government of Canada has made a number of pathways available. So if you are looking to live and work in the world's second-largest country, look at the top healthcare jobs in Canada and get ready to take your career to the next level.

The Demand For Healthcare Workers in Canada

According to Canada's Minister of Health, The Honorable Jean-Yves Duclos, the healthcare sector has the biggest labor shortage. This is why the government of Canada is working hard to facilitate, fast-track, and streamline Canadian permanent residency applications. These efforts will make recruitment for the sector much easier and get as many healthcare workers as needed to the country.

The Top Healthcare Jobs in Canada

If your career goals involve a job in the land of maple leaves, here are the top healthcare jobs in Canada, along with an idea of the salary you can earn, according to Talent.com.

Registered Nurse

Quite possibly the most in-demand position in the country, an increasing elderly population has increased the demand for registered nurses in Canada. These essential workers care directly for patients and carry out health education programs. As a nurse, you can find jobs in hospitals, homes, care facilities, doctors' rooms, clinics, etc.

You will need to register with a provincial body of the province you want to live and settle in and write a test to prove your competency. According to Canada's Job Bank, there should be around 155,500 nursing jobs in Canada over the next ten years.

You can expect to earn an average salary of 80,881 CAD per year or 41.48 CAD per hour. Entry-level nurse salaries start at 68,144 CAD annually, while highly experienced nurses can earn up to 107,336 CAD annually. Learn more about immigrating to Canada as a nurse.

Occupational Therapist (NOC 31203)

Occupational therapists work on developing individual and group programs for patients who are ill or injured, and have emotional or psychological issues. You'll find a job in this profession at hospitals, schools, care facilities, and other organizations. Job Bank says there should be around 9,100 OT jobs in Canada over the next ten years.

You can look forward to an average annual salary of 81,696 CAD per year or 41.90 CAD per hour. Entry-level OTs can expect to earn around 72,865 CAD annually, while highly experienced professionals can earn up to 113,994 CAD annually.

Physiotherapist (NOC 31202)

Physiotherapists play a vital role in recovery from medical conditions. These essential workers examine patients and develop treatment plans for improving and maintaining physical well-being. You'll find physio jobs in hospitals, clinics, industry, sports organizations, rehabilitation centers, and extended care facilities. You could even work as a self-employed physiotherapist in Canada. According to Canada's Job Bank, there will be around 14,300 job vacancies for physiotherapists in Canada over the next ten years.

Salaries for this profession are quite decent in the Great White North. You can earn around 87,108 CAD per year or 44.67 CAD per hour. Entry-level physios earn around 75,470 CAD annually, while most experienced professionals can rake up to 118,631 CAD annually.

Pharmacist (NOC 31120)

Pharmacists are responsible for compounding and dispensing medication. You'll find jobs in this profession at hospitals, health centers, and retail settings. If you are an industrial pharmacist, you'll be involved in researching, developing, promoting, and manufacturing pharmaceuticals. You can find a job at pharmaceutical companies, government departments, and various agencies if this is your area of expertise. Job Bank projections predict around 16,100 jobs over the next ten years.

You can expect to earn an average salary of 95,543 CAD per year or 49 CAD per hour in Canada. Entry-level pharmacists may earn around 74,133 CAD annually, while those with more experience can earn up to 155,831 CAD annually. Learn more about immigrating to Canada as a pharmacist.

Dentist (NOC 31110)

As a dentist in Canada, you'll be seeing to the oral health needs of Canadians. Your duties will include treating teeth, gums, and mouth issues. You may also perform oral surgeries like tooth extractions and dental deformity correction. According to Job Bank, there should be around 13,500 jobs for dentists in Canada over the next ten years.

You can expect to earn an average salary of 208,747 CAD per year or 107 per hour in Canada. Entry-level dentists earn around 129,007 CAD annually, and the more experienced can make up to 217,129 CAD annually. Learn more about immigrating to Canada as a dentist.

Medical Doctor (NOC 31102)

Canada takes healthcare seriously and provides universal healthcare to its citizens and Canadian permanent residents. But to keep its healthcare system afloat, it needs more doctors. General practitioners and family physicians work nationwide, treating diseases and injuries. You'll find jobs at Canadian hospitals and other healthcare facilities if you are a specialist. According to Canada's Job Bank, there will be around 48,900 posts for doctors in the country over the next ten years.

The average salary for MDs in Canada is around 100,000 CAD per year or 51.28 CAD per hour. You can earn around 48,750 CAD per year as an entry-level doctor, while top-level doctors can earn up to 298,593 CAD annually. Learn more about immigrating to Canada as a doctor.

Home Care Provider (NOC 44101)

Home support workers provide personal care services to seniors, those with special needs, and convalescent individuals. You'll be based at a client's residence, caring for them. You can find employment with home care and support agencies or private households or be self-employed. With an aging population, the need for this occupation continues to grow. The country will need around 34,500 home care providers over the next ten years.

You can expect an average salary of 27,300 CAD per year or 14 CAD per hour as a home care worker in Canada. Entry-level positions pay around 24,375 CAD annually, while an experienced home care worker can make up to 33,150 CAD annually.

Optician

Opticians work on improving patients' vision. In Canada, you would work fitting lenses for contacts and spectacles according to your patient's eye and face profile. Job Bank predicts the country will need around 5,500 opticians over the next ten years.

Your average salary in Canada could be around 54,049 CAD per year or 27.72 CAD per hour. Entry-level opticians start at 53,067 CAD annually; the most experienced ones earn around 67,500 CAD annually.

Work in Canada as a Healthcare Professional

The great thing about Canada is that it has over 80 immigration programs and visas that can get you here. Let's take a look at some of them.

Express Entry

The Express Entry system is the perfect way to apply for Canadian permanent residency. It is also one of the fastest ways to move to Canada, with a processing time as short as six months.

You can be eligible for one of three programs under Express Entry, namely the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class, and Canadian Experience Class. If you meet the requirements, you'll be placed into the Express Entry pool, where you'll be given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score out of a maximum of 1,200 points.

You can earn points through several factors, including your work experience, education, language skills, and adding your partner to your application. Successful applicants will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

In a recent update to Express Entry, it was announced that there would be a dedicated round of invitations for healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists, and optometrists. This forms part of the country's efforts to bridge the gaps in the healthcare workforce.

PNP

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is an agreement between the government of Canada and participating provinces, which allows these provinces to nominate eligible economic immigrants who want to work and stay in a particular province.

For a better chance of obtaining an ITA, applying to a province where your skills are most needed is a good idea. Participating provinces are as follows:

Quebec

As you may have noticed, Quebec is not part of Canada's PNP. The Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is this province's version of the Canada Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker program and operates almost the same as a PNP. It allows skilled foreign workers and their families to live and work in Quebec as permanent residents.

Candidates must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Quebec immigration authorities, after which they will be evaluated based on a particular set of eligibility criteria according to the demand of their skills in the province.

Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot

If you are a carer, you can work in Canada via the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot. These are 5-year pilots that were established to help foreign skilled and experienced home child care providers and home support workers move to Canada and obtain permanent residency.You will need:

  • A valid job offer
  • To be admissible to Canada
  • Be proficient in one or both of Canada's official languages
  • At least a year’s post-secondary education

Work Permit

If you’re looking to take a less permanent route to working in Canada, you can apply for a Canadian work permit. This will allow you to work in Canada for a set period, depending on the type of work permit you get. There are two types of Canadian work permits:

  • An Open work permit will allow you to work for any employer in Canada, and in any location.
  • An Employer-specific work permit is more limiting, as it restricts who you can work for, where you work and for how long. Your employer will also have to apply for a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to certify that no Canadian citizens were available to fill the role you will be filling.

FAQs

How Can I Check My CRS Score for Express Entry?

You can get an estimate of your CRS score using our CRS calculator.

How Can I Find Healthcare Jobs in Canada?

Take a look at job websites such as: