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

Ontario’s job market in 2024 continues to reward specialized skills and technical expertise, particularly in energy, engineering, and public infrastructure sectors. The latest data on average hourly pay reveals the most lucrative industries for hourly employees, shedding light on where talent can maximize earnings in Canada’s economic powerhouse.

Top 10 Highest Paying Industries in Ontario by Hourly Wage

1. Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution: $48.60/hour
2. Utilities: $46.62/hour
3. Support Activities for Mining, Oil and Gas Extraction: $45.20/hour
4. Architectural, Engineering and Related Services: $43.93/hour
5. Utility System Construction: $43.73/hour
6. Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction: $41.25/hour
7. Management, Scientific and Technical Consulting Services: $40.02/hour
8. Building Equipment Contractors: $39.23/hour
9. Local, Municipal and Regional Public Administration: $39.11/hour
10. Air Transportation: $38.73/hour

Key Trends and Insights

• Energy & Utilities Lead: Power generation and utilities remain dominant due to critical infrastructure and high technical demands.
• Engineering and Construction: Specialized construction and engineering services continue to pay well, reflecting Ontario’s robust infrastructure investments.
• Public Sector & Transportation: Competitive wages in public administration and air transportation reflect the demand for governance and mobility services.

Future Outlook

As Ontario continues to invest in renewable energy, smart grids, and urban infrastructure, demand for skilled labor in these industries is projected to stay high, potentially driving wages even higher in future years.

Highest Hourly Wages by Industry in Ontario (2024)

Rank	Industry	Average hourly pay in 2024
1	Electric power generation, transmission and distribution	$48.60
2	Utilities	$46.62
3	Support activities for mining, and oil and gas extraction	$45.20
4	Architectural, engineering and related services	$43.93
5	Utility system construction	$43.73
6	Heavy and civil engineering construction	$41.25
7	Management, scientific and technical consulting services	$40.02
8	Building equipment contractors	$39.23
9	Local, municipal and regional public administration	$39.11
10	Air transportation	$38.73
11	Non-residential building construction	$38.67
12	Construction	$37.48
13	Specialty trade contractors	$37.15
14	Broadcasting and content providers	$37.15
15	Professional, scientific and technical services	$37.13
16	Machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers	$36.99
17	Telecommunications	$36.90
18	Construction, forestry, mining, and industrial machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers	$36.75
19	Construction of buildings	$36.37
20	Other machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers	$35.35
21	Agencies, brokerages and other insurance related activities	$35.28
22	Education special	$34.99
23	Residential building construction	$34.62
24	Transportation equipment manufacturing	$34.44
25	Converted paper product manufacturing	$34.37
26	Health care and social assistance	$34.22
27	Goods producing industries	$33.74
28	Insurance carriers and related activities	$33.46
29	Computer systems design and related services	$33.14
30	Insurance carriers	$32.77
31	Elementary and secondary schools	$32.72
32	Support activities for transportation	$32.42
33	Durable goods	$32.26
34	Architectural and structural metals manufacturing	$32.14
35	Lessors of non-financial intangible assets (except copyrighted works)	$31.75
36	Legal services	$31.55
37	Other professional, scientific and technical services	$31.49
38	Fabricated metal product manufacturing	$31.47
39	Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories merchant wholesalers	$31.21
40	Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investment and related activities	$31.16
41	Finance and insurance	$30.97
42	Manufacturing	$30.38
43	Rental and leasing services	$30.29
44	Chemical manufacturing	$30.25
45	Advertising, public relations, and related services	$30.21
46	Motor vehicle parts manufacturing	$30.20
47	Transportation and warehousing	$30.08
48	Industrial aggregate excluding unclassified businesses	$29.99
49	Wholesale trade	$29.88
50	Automobile dealers	$29.71
51	Wood product manufacturing	$29.67
52	Textile mills	$29.23
53	Repair and maintenance	$28.88
54	Religious, grant-making, civic, and professional and similar organizations	$28.87
55	Service producing industries	$28.74
56	Motor vehicle and parts dealers	$28.73
57	Business-to-business electronic markets, and agents and brokers	$28.60
58	Building material and supplies merchant wholesalers	$28.58
59	Offices of other health practitioners	$28.57
60	General freight trucking	$28.36
61	Truck transportation	$28.32
62	Management of companies and enterprises	$27.86
63	Textile and fabric finishing and fabric coating	$27.82
64	Health and personal care retailers	$27.55
65	Health and personal care retailers	$27.55
66	Non-durable goods	$27.46
67	Heritage institutions	$27.15
68	Other miscellaneous manufacturing	$27.08
69	Furniture and related product manufacturing	$26.92
70	Educational services	$26.80
71	Miscellaneous manufacturing	$26.77
72	Other support services	$26.77
73	Other services (except public administration)	$26.74
74	Miscellaneous merchant wholesalers	$26.62
75	Real estate and rental and leasing	$26.34
76	Plastics and rubber products manufacturing	$26.24
77	Travel arrangement and reservation services	$26.14
78	Performing arts, spectator sports and related industries	$25.97
79	Food merchant wholesalers	$25.79
80	Food, beverage and tobacco merchant wholesalers	$25.73
81	Employment services	$25.35
82	Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services	$25.31
83	Furniture, floor covering, window treatment and other home furnishings retailers	$25.22
84	Activities related to real estate	$25.05
85	Other schools and instruction	$24.95
86	Trade 12	$24.94
87	Warehousing and storage	$24.93
88	Administrative and support services	$24.92
89	Services to buildings and dwellings	$24.70
90	Furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers	$24.65
91	Business support services	$24.19
92	General merchandise retailers	$23.80
93	Real estate	$23.78
94	Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers	$23.67
95	Building material and supplies dealers	$23.63
96	Electronics and appliances retailers	$23.59
97	Retail trade	$23.20
98	Other miscellaneous store retailers	$22.17
99	Arts, entertainment and recreation	$22.10
100	Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers	$21.65
101	Personal care services	$21.52
102	Clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers	$21.11
103	Amusement, gambling and recreation industries	$21.01
104	Clothing and clothing accessories retailers	$20.66
105	Food and beverage retailers	$20.20
106	Grocery and convenience retailers	$19.89
107	Accommodation and food services	$19.13
108	Gasoline stations and fuel vendors	$19.11
109	Gasoline stations	$18.98
110	Food services and drinking places	$18.82

Source:

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