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

Quebec’s diverse economy presents numerous high-paying job opportunities across sectors. In 2024, industries such as telecommunications, rail transportation, and mining lead the province with competitive wages. Understanding these trends is crucial for job seekers, career planners, and policymakers alike. Below, we break down the top 10 highest paying industries in Quebec, based on the latest wage data.

Top 10 Highest Paying Industries in Quebec (2024)

1. Telecommunications – $44.78/hour
2. Rail Transportation – $43.81/hour
3. Mining, Quarrying, and Oil & Gas Extraction – $41.58/hour
4. Information and Cultural Industries – $41.12/hour
5. Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction – $40.33/hour
6. Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction – $39.53/hour
7. Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors – $39.29/hour
8. Specialty Trade Contractors – $39.11/hour
9. Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services – $39.10/hour
10. Utilities – $39.09/hour

These sectors not only offer lucrative wages but also reflect the ongoing demand in infrastructure, technology, and resource extraction across Quebec.

Key Takeaways

• Telecommunications tops the chart with an impressive $44.78/hour.
• The transportation sector, including rail, offers significant earnings potential.
• Resource-based sectors like mining and utilities remain high-paying staples in Quebec’s economy.

For professionals looking to upskill or transition careers, focusing on these sectors can lead to better financial rewards and job stability.

Highest Hourly Wages by Industry in Quebec (2024)

Rank	Industry	Average hourly pay in 2024
1	Telecommunications	$44.78
2	Rail transportation	$43.81
3	Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction	$41.58
4	Information and cultural industries	$41.12
5	Other heavy and civil engineering construction	$40.33
6	Highway, street and bridge construction	$39.53
7	Foundation, structure, and building exterior contractors	$39.29
8	Specialty trade contractors	$39.11
9	Management, scientific and technical consulting services	$39.10
10	Utilities	$39.09
11	Construction of buildings	$38.68
12	Computer systems design and related services	$38.35
13	Local, municipal and regional public administration	$38.15
14	Professional, scientific and technical services	$38.14
15	Legal services	$37.96
16	Other specialty trade contractors	$37.46
17	Paper manufacturing	$37.40
18	Support activities for transportation	$37.07
19	Construction, forestry, mining, and industrial machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers	$36.52
20	Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services	$35.59
21	Ambulatory health care services	$35.54
22	Machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers	$35.46
23	Residential building construction	$35.16
24	Publishing industries	$35.16
25	Goods producing industries 7	$35.15
26	Agencies, brokerages and other insurance related activities	$34.99
27	Insurance carriers and related activities	$34.78
28	Transportation equipment manufacturing	$34.74
29	Insurance carriers	$34.66
30	Finance and insurance	$33.83
31	Transit and ground passenger transportation	$33.31
32	Offices of other health practitioners	$33.05
33	Logging	$33.01
34	Forestry and logging	$32.91
35	Credit intermediation and related activities	$32.25
36	Sawmills and wood preservation	$32.04
37	Other professional, scientific and technical services	$32.04
38	Durable goods 10	$31.92
39	Machinery manufacturing	$31.82
40	Transportation and warehousing	$31.70
41	Fabricated metal product manufacturing	$31.30
42	Industrial aggregate excluding unclassified businesses 5 6	$31.15
43	Office administrative services	$30.95
44	Education special 18	$30.80
45	Manufacturing	$30.40
46	Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories merchant wholesalers	$30.30
47	Individual and family services	$30.10
48	Wood product manufacturing	$29.94
49	Chemical manufacturing	$29.90
50	General freight trucking	$29.77
51	Wholesale trade	$29.74
52	Service producing industries 11	$29.73
53	Other wood product manufacturing	$29.57
54	Rental and leasing services	$29.56
55	Repair and maintenance	$29.45
56	Truck transportation	$29.39
57	Textile mills	$28.81
58	Elementary and secondary schools	$28.69
59	Non-durable goods 9	$28.15
60	Automotive repair and maintenance	$28.07
61	Employment services	$27.87
62	Real estate and rental and leasing	$27.64
63	Miscellaneous manufacturing	$27.31
64	Other miscellaneous manufacturing	$27.10
65	Business-to-business electronic markets, and agents and brokers	$27.06
66	Heritage institutions	$26.82
67	Real estate	$26.72
68	Plastics and rubber products manufacturing	$26.54
69	Educational services	$26.48
70	Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services	$26.43
71	Plastic product manufacturing	$26.41
72	Health and personal care retailers	$26.34
73	Health and personal care retailers	$26.34
74	Food manufacturing	$26.27
75	Lessors of real estate	$26.27
76	Personal and household goods merchant wholesalers	$26.18
77	Administrative and support services	$26.15
78	Arts, entertainment and recreation	$25.55
79	Other food manufacturing	$25.52
80	Printing and related support activities	$25.30
81	Services to buildings and dwellings	$25.25
82	Performing arts, spectator sports and related industries	$25.20
83	Other schools and instruction	$25.16
84	Trade 12	$24.93
85	Furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers	$24.88
86	Business support services	$24.72
87	Furniture, floor covering, window treatment and other home furnishings retailers	$24.18
88	Retail trade	$23.31
89	Textile, clothing and footwear merchant wholesalers	$23.19
90	Personal care services	$22.29
91	Traveller accommodation	$22.10
92	Accommodation services	$22.05
93	Apparel manufacturing	$21.36
94	Sporting goods, hobby and musical instrument retailers	$21.30
95	Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers	$20.97
96	Clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers	$20.54
97	Clothing and clothing accessories retailers	$20.43
98	Gasoline stations and fuel vendors	$19.33
99	Gasoline stations	$19.21

FAQ

1. What is the highest paying industry in Quebec in 2024?
The Telecommunications industry ranks highest in Quebec, with an average hourly pay of $44.78.

2. Are construction jobs well-paying in Quebec?
Yes, multiple construction-related industries, such as heavy and civil engineering and highway construction, are among the top-paying sectors, earning over $39/hour.

3. Which industries offer growth and stability in Quebec?
Industries like telecommunications, rail transportation, and utilities not only pay well but are projected to remain stable and essential due to technological advancements and infrastructure needs.

Source:

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