Top 10 Highest Paying Hourly Jobs in British Columbia by Industry (2024)

British Columbia (BC) boasts a diverse and dynamic economy, with various industries offering competitive wages. In 2024, sectors like utilities, mining, and office administration services lead the province in average hourly pay.

Highest Paying Industries in BC (2024)

1. Utilities — $52.53/hour
2. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction — $46.54/hour
3. Office administrative services — $44.78/hour
4. Inland water transportation — $44.11/hour
5. Utility system construction — $44.01/hour
6. Computer systems design and related services — $43.18/hour
7. Motion picture and video industries — $43.02/hour
8. Motion picture and sound recording industries — $42.92/hour
9. Other heavy and civil engineering construction — $42.27/hour
10. Information and cultural industries — $42.19/hour

These industries reflect BC’s unique blend of natural resources, technology, and creative sectors driving the provincial economy.

Economic Insights for BC

• Utilities sector dominates due to specialized expertise and infrastructure demands.
• Mining and resource extraction remain pivotal due to BC’s rich natural resources.
• The film and video industries in Vancouver boost earnings in the cultural sector.

Highest Hourly Wages by Industry in BC (2024)

Rank	Industry	Average hourly pay in 2024
1	Utilities	$52.53
2	Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction	$46.54
3	Office administrative services	$44.78
4	Inland water transportation	$44.11
5	Utility system construction	$44.01
6	Computer systems design and related services	$43.18
7	Motion picture and video industries	$43.02
8	Motion picture and sound recording industries	$42.92
9	Other heavy and civil engineering construction	$42.27
10	Information and cultural industries	$42.19
11	Architectural, engineering and related services	$42.01
12	Heavy and civil engineering construction	$41.44
13	Highway, street and bridge construction	$40.39
14	Management, scientific and technical consulting services	$39.67
15	Paper manufacturing	$39.54
16	Freight transportation arrangement	$39.01
17	Non-residential building construction	$38.82
18	Non-scheduled air transportation	$38.49
19	Building equipment contractors	$38.36
20	Insurance carriers and related activities	$37.97
21	Machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers	$37.59
22	Professional, scientific and technical services	$37.58
23	Construction	$37.04
24	Specialty trade contractors	$36.44
25	Air transportation	$36.40
26	Support activities for forestry	$36.27
27	Support activities for transportation	$36.05
28	Construction of buildings	$35.97
29	Finance and insurance	$35.77
30	Logging	$35.76
31	Offices of physicians	$35.50
32	Forestry, logging and support 8	$35.44
33	Ambulatory health care services	$35.23
34	Forestry and logging	$35.16
35	Goods producing industries 7	$35.13
36	Scientific research and development services	$35.08
37	Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors	$34.68
38	Residential building construction	$34.67
39	Commercial and industrial machinery and equipment rental and leasing	$34.22
40	Transportation and warehousing	$34.21
41	Education special 18	$33.75
42	Wood product manufacturing	$33.65
43	Elementary and secondary schools	$33.52
44	Building finishing contractors	$33.46
45	Legal services	$33.20
46	Health care and social assistance	$33.04
47	Machinery manufacturing	$32.89
48	Repair and maintenance	$32.48
49	Durable goods 10	$32.47
50	Nursing and residential care facilities	$32.18
51	Other professional, scientific and technical services	$31.42
52	Indigenous public administration	$31.22
53	Industrial aggregate excluding unclassified businesses 5 6	$30.95
54	Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investment and related activities	$30.94
55	Agencies, brokerages and other insurance related activities	$30.92
56	Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services	$30.85
57	Building material and supplies merchant wholesalers	$30.46
58	Management of companies and enterprises	$30.46
59	Specialized freight trucking	$30.39
60	Other financial investment activities	$30.37
61	Manufacturing	$30.23
62	Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services	$30.10
63	Motor vehicle and parts dealers	$30.00
64	Administrative and support services	$29.99
65	Wholesale trade	$29.98
66	Other services (except public administration)	$29.91
67	Service producing industries 11	$29.77
68	Chemical manufacturing	$29.67
69	Lumber, millwork, hardware and other building supplies merchant wholesalers	$29.63
70	Social assistance	$29.09
71	Other schools and instruction	$28.71
72	Health and personal care retailers	$28.55
73	Health and personal care retailers	$28.55
74	Educational services	$28.53
75	Miscellaneous manufacturing	$28.13
76	Non-durable goods 9	$27.18
77	Real estate and rental and leasing	$26.72
78	Household and institutional furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturing	$26.59
79	Performing arts, spectator sports and related industries	$26.54
80	Heritage institutions	$26.09
81	Warehousing and storage	$26.08
82	Trade 12	$25.01
83	Services to buildings and dwellings	$24.92
84	Real estate	$24.90
85	Food, beverage and tobacco merchant wholesalers	$24.67
86	Food merchant wholesalers	$24.47
87	Activities related to real estate	$24.34
88	Food manufacturing	$24.29
89	Retail trade	$23.76
90	Other food manufacturing	$23.36
91	Arts, entertainment and recreation	$23.17
92	Accommodation services	$22.58
93	Traveller accommodation	$22.52
94	Amusement, gambling and recreation industries	$22.44
95	Clothing and clothing accessories retailers	$22.34
96	Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers	$22.08
97	Clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers	$22.00
98	Food and beverage retailers	$21.02
99	Grocery and convenience retailers	$20.89
100	Accommodation and food services	$20.53
101	Food services and drinking places	$20.04
102	Full-service restaurants and limited-service eating places	$19.83
103	Gasoline stations and fuel vendors	$19.12
104	Gasoline stations	$19.04

FAQ

1. What industry pays the most in British Columbia?
The Utilities industry is the highest paying in BC, offering an average of $52.53 per hour in 2024.

2. Are creative industries like film and sound well-paid in BC?
Yes, industries like motion picture and sound recording offer competitive wages, averaging over $42/hour, thanks to BC’s thriving entertainment sector.

3. How does the tech sector perform in BC wages?
Tech-related roles in computer systems design and related services pay around $43.18/hour, reflecting the province’s growing digital economy.

Source:

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0206-01  Average hourly earnings for employees paid by the hour, by industry, annual