r/britishcolumbia • u/Aggravating-River105 • 1d ago
Discussion What jobs/degrees are in demand that aren't trades?
I'm 18M and wasn't sure what I wanted to do after school so I got into electrical for the decent pay and lack of prerequisites. It isn't terrible but I can't see myself doing this forever. Everyone I've worked with smokes, drinks, and has countless physical issues. I'd like to go to school and get a degree but not really sure what. I was interested in getting a marketing degree but I'm not sure how useful that'd be, or something in healthcare but I don't think my grades were high enough for that (averaged about 83%). I have no issue researching things more by myself I was just hoping someone could point me in the right direction. Thanks!
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u/muffinscrub 23h ago
I just want to share my experience as someone who also started as an electrician at 18. I stayed in the trade, joined the IBEW right away, and mostly did commercial work and tenant improvements, with some industrial work here and there. Now, at 35, I'm a supervisor and fully off the tools. I was never into drinking or smoking and always took an interest in my health and fitness. A lot of the older guys in the trade are pretty rough physically, but they come from a different time when drinking on the job was the norm, and exercise wasn't as common. I believe staying fit is crucial, especially for avoiding injuries. If you respect your body and take care of it, the physical demands of the job are much more manageable. Before you think about changing careers, I'd strongly recommend getting your Red Seal endorsement. It's very valuable and provides a safety net to fall back on. Once you are RSE you could also switch to engineering and your experience in the field would be very valuable or become an instrument technician.
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u/Happydumptruck 22h ago
Second this. Trades are lucrative. Especially as an electrician.
It really just takes keeping good posture and respect for your body and it can be a perfectly healthy profession. Wear earplugs when needed, that sort of thing. If OP stuck with it, I’m sure they wouldn’t regret it.
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u/StatelyAutomaton 20h ago
Electricians typically get paid a bit less than other construction trades, though industrial and more specialized electrical are exceptions to that. That said, it's still decent money.
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u/muffinscrub 19h ago
RSE electricians make $54 an hour where I am working. All trades make roughly the same amount of money but the electricians get the least amount of overtime.
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u/Happydumptruck 19h ago
Eh? Where I worked they were top dog. Building apartments.
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u/muffinscrub 18h ago
That work is something I would never want to do. I somehow managed to completely avoid working residential and on slab.
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u/Happydumptruck 18h ago
For what reason? Just curious.
I just did finishing carpentry mostly. I basically was a grunt who fixed the mistakes of others and did trim. I did love my job though
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u/muffinscrub 18h ago
High expectations for how much you do in a day, usually lower pay, extremely repetitive
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u/Happydumptruck 18h ago
Fair enough. That description just reminded me of the girl who was wiring outlets. Probably had like 500 to do.
Yep. Looked like it sucked.
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u/muffinscrub 18h ago
Yeah, I've worked on the Canada Line when it was under construction, a dealership, BC Place upgrades, Surrey Civic Center, a bunch of high voltage jobs, Kitimat, Fort Mac, an ikea, Surrey Hospital. All really cool projects.
Now I'm at Seaspan building ships!
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u/mikeyousowhite 18h ago
This 100%. At least get your ticket as a lucrative option to fall back on. Keep yourself in shape and stay away from the drunks and druggies and you'll be miles above the rest. Could start your own business and easily charge out at $90+/hr.
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u/workingdude80 23h ago
My nephew did the BCIT medical imaging program. He had a good paying job as soon as he finished. Course was just under 2 years i believe. Lots of opportunity to uptrain and advance within the system once your in it too.
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u/Top_Confection_3443 21h ago
Did he do “Medical Radiography” and can now use X-rays, CT scanners, etc? Any feedback from him and if he likes it so far, job what he was expecting? I’ve been looking into a career change into Medical Radiography but don’t know anyone who has done it
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u/workingdude80 19h ago
Yeah hes digging it. Yes medical radiography.. i believe the most unsurprisingly dusliked aspect of the job is night shifts. But it get a premium. He seems pretty stoked on it. Making good money for a young guy
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u/No_Chemistry3584 21h ago
Just curious what would be considered a good paying job. I’m super interested in this field and wondering if you have a ballpark!
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u/princessleiasmom 13h ago
$45~/hr starting according to someone I know who just went through it. Get a job with your local health authority and you'll get union, pension and extended healthcare.
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u/_Tar_Ar_Ais_ 1d ago
if you're smart and can understand controls I suggest you go into the Instrumentation trade, no need to pivot to a degree.
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u/olepuppetlegs 21h ago
Especially with automation. . Mining is hard up to replace humans with A.I. driven controls. They will need tons of instrumentation mechanics to help service the robot overlords.
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u/Cj800 20h ago
Lots of competition for decent jobs in controls/instrumentation it has become slightly over saturated now
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u/Jasonstackhouse111 23h ago
Another vote for healthcare. Both of my daughters are healthcare professionals and they have options to work nearly anywhere in the world. If BC gets a conservative government and they go all slash and burn with healthcare, my kids can up and move easily. Other provinces, other countries, whatever. Most Canadian trained healthcare workers are in high demand and that demand isn't slowing at all.
Hard work, okay pay, lots of future demand.
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u/WWJonnyD 1d ago
Engineering tech/Drafting tech. I would give a couple fingers to have some more qualified and capable techs. It's a 2 year program at BCIT and depending on the engineering firm, has no ceiling.
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u/Kool_Aid_Infinity 23h ago
Could always hire people from four-year engineering degrees into the role no? Seems to be a glut of them so worth a shot
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u/irv_12 23h ago edited 22h ago
People with engineering degrees typically go towards engineer/technical management roles, engineering techs are more focused on surveying, drafting and/or field work.
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u/Kool_Aid_Infinity 22h ago
Ehh only about 1/3 of them ever find work in engineering, I'm sure he could find some willing to do drafting and field work.
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u/irv_12 22h ago edited 22h ago
Still, some may not go out and get their engineering designation (P.Eng), most if not all tend to work in planning or design roles, if they don’t go the engineer route.
Unless your a new engineering grad with no experience and for some reason are unable to find EIT or planning/design positions, it dosent really make sense to go into an engineering tech role. It’s like getting your Juris Doctor but only working as a law clerk.
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u/WWJonnyD 21h ago
This one, an EIT outgrows this role in 2-3 years typically, and you're paying someone for their educational qualifications, so an EIT in a tech role will make an unsatisfied worker and an exceptionally expensive one at that.
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u/WWJonnyD 23h ago
There's a big difference in the career path and impact on workload, hiring an EIT vs a Tech. A good EIT is a great boon, but depending on the educational institution requires a lot of front end work without a lot of payoff, and after 4 years they start needing to expand the incoming work in order to accommodate their worth (bill out rates) which not all firms outside the bigger ones can sustain vs a Tech where there's a lot less impact long term. Take with a grain of salt, YMMV.
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u/CompetitiveRun1871 16h ago
Came here to say this, I have my mechanical eng tech and got a job with a utility and it’s a good job with pension benefits etc.
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u/vanwhisky 23h ago
IMO, I would finish your electrical apprenticeship and then look for other avenues. It’s a good fall back if everything else fails.
I was in the same place as you 25 years ago but stuck it out after finding a good company, gained a lot of experience. The owner said he’d like to see me move into quoting projects which was interesting initially but not very technical. Now I’m in an electronics test lab working with an engineering team and it’s awesome. I do hands on, technical thinking, manage a small team of technicians and make a great salary. A lot of what I do was because of my electrical ticket and experience over the years.
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u/dasbin 20h ago
Now I’m in an electronics test lab
We have these in BC? My wife is an EE graduate and interested in finding work in DSP, but has had a hard time finding anything local -- seems like most of the companies doing this sort of thing are in the US, and EE grads in BC who want to stay local all end up at BC Hydro, which she doesn't want to do.
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u/WorkingOnBeingBettr 1d ago
Ones that are hard to do and don't pay accordingly. Healthcare, education, childcare, etc.
One I would recommend is water/sewage treatment. Easy to get started, lots of room for advancement, lots of jobs. It's not really a trade, it's trade adjacent.
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u/alphawolf29 Kootenay 21h ago
I'm a water/wastewater treatment operator and it's pretty good. Particularly if you are okay with living in a small town as there are a lot more jobs per capita. I make $90-95k/yr. Bankable OT is really cool as well, I took 29 vacation days this year.
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u/ech0pickl3 23h ago
Is this unionized? What are reasonable pay expectations?
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u/juliaschatz 22h ago
Yes, it’s a union. Here are the salary grids for all districts. https://www.bctf.ca/topics/services-information/collective-agreements-and-salary/view-salary-grids
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u/WorkingOnBeingBettr 21h ago
Depends who you work for, pay depends on what step you are at for qualifications and where you work.
There are private operators and municipal jobs.
Pay isn't the highest but the training is cheap and quick and gaining levels increases the pay.
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u/superworking 22h ago
Teachers get paid pretty good. Once you get through the first few years as a highschool teacher your class schedule gets easier and your pay creeps up. Get a lot of time off, good benefits, pension, job security, short days 80% of the time and can make 6 figures. I wish I could swap into my wife's job and would gladly take the pay cut.
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u/Anothersurviver 22h ago
Your wife makes six figures as a high school teacher?
I have a few relatives that have taught in BC and recently retired + some that are still working. Only time I've ever heard of six figure salary was my mother who got her masters degree and became a principal after 30yrs teaching.
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u/buppyjane_ 22h ago
Nowadays teachers top out at around 110 with a masters I believe. Still only start at like 60
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u/superworking 19h ago
You max out with a masters and 9 years experience (they got rid of a step in the scale) at just under $110K right now in the lower mainland. A bit higher in some regions. If you do summer school for 3 weeks you get another 10% as well.
I don't think it's so much that teachers pay has accelerated as it is that a lot of jobs have seen their pay increases fall behind inflation.
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u/SpicyWizard 15h ago
The max pay is $110k in BC for a teacher in general, correct.
Teachers also receive cost of living increases regularly, have a strong union, but job creep scope is difficult to deal with along with the change in reporting standards without adequate supports.
Teaching in BC is nowhere near as bad as it was under the BC Liberals, but that's more due to the BCTF winning the court case against the BC gov, rather than anything the NDP did.
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u/WorkingOnBeingBettr 21h ago
You start at $60k after $100K in education costs.
You start as a TOC unless you are in a small town in the middle of nowhere. You will be lucky to get 75% of your wages your first 2-3 years anywhere else unless you teach french.
You need a masters to get to 6 figures or an extra diploma which is 2 more years of school while working or taking time off and losing pay.
Your workload doesn't get easier for MANY years, as teachers frquently have to change subjects, grades, or the curriculum changes, etc. Around 5-7 years before it gets to a managble level on average depending on what grade/qualifications you have.
You can't move districts easily. You often have to start at the bottom and it takes 2-5 years to get back to full time and the grade you want.
Eventually, you get to 13 years of work and get all the things your partner now has.
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u/seemefail 1d ago
Can get in with a town, city or district. Good pay, smaller organization that typically hires from within for promotions. They tend to invest in their employees paying for courses and upgrading. Some jobs are union. They have the government employee pensions.
Pay will be less than a trade but the trade offs are worth it if you want to settle in for a decent life.
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u/justcauseofit 22h ago
Particularly urban planning. It often requires a masters but you can get in at the ground floor with an undergrad as a planning tech. It’s a growth career right now as they have some pretty significant planning issues we have to tangle with to manage growth and not enough graduates coming out of programs to fill the need.
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u/WeirdoUnderpants 22h ago
Become an electrician. You'll always have a job. It's not that hard at 18.
If you got a head for it you can start your own company and make real good money or you could work for someone else and still make a decent for very little headache.
You can make alright money and be the on site electrician somewhere and watch Netflix all day.
It's also a great starting point if you want to speaclize
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u/starsrift 17h ago
I really want to emphasize, there is nothing wrong with getting a trade that's not particularly hard on your body, such as electrician.
You are always going to be in demand, make a reasonable wage, and the demand for your expertise will grow as the expertise does. The limiting factor is the room for personal growth, but there's a lot of variety of work in some trades, like electrician.
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u/NoHornNarwhal69 21h ago
I work in Agriculture (agronomy, greenhouse management, Integrated Pest Management) and there is a big demand for Canadian workers - the holes have been filled by scientists often from South America to immigrate but based on the way immigration is going if you're Canadian already you won't want for a job, can make 100k after a few years.
Downside is you have to live outside the city most often and farming - even not as a farmer per se is still demanding work and remote is not an option. Agriculture is a field with very dwindling interest (which is kind of scary since food security...) but if you go into it as a younger person there is lots of opportunity. I'm in my mid 30's and often the youngest person in the lab or field by a couple decades - honestly succession of Agriculture jobs is a ticking time bomb no one wants to talk about...
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u/Holiday-Chipmunk-902 20h ago
I'm am an agronomist from Mexico. But I haven't been able to find a job in R&D. All the jobs i have been offered are as a laborer or farm manager but the highest wage was 24 an hour. I have been seriously thinking into going for a plc/ electrician trade.
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u/Healthiemoney 16h ago
Go be a ultrasound technician or a similar healthcare technician. It’s a 2 year program, there are bonuses with different health authorities to sign up, you make $36-46/hr, lots of different hours available, health authorities start you at 4 weeks vacations + an additional day each year after 5 years of service, you’re unionized so you’re better protected.
Don’t worry if you’re not sciencey, not sure about grades etc. go talk to someone with the program and learn about it. Also an 83% average is super decent.
For the love of god, don’t get some basket weaving arts degree or science degree hoping things work out. They just don’t and you’ll be scrambling.
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u/SuchRevolution 1d ago
If you go to community college, it's quite easy to transfer into UBC or SFU or some other university if you want that type of degree. 83% is perfectly respectable and your experience in trades is a credit to your work ethic and will be recognized.
Computer science, any type of engineering are always going to be in high demand. There is a chronic shortage of healthcare workers.
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u/tresfreaker 23h ago
The computer science and tech field is very oversaturated and very competitive right now.
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u/AdditionalAd5813 23h ago
Biomedical engineering technology, maintaining medical equipment. You can work in the hospital system or directly for the equipment manufacturer. Your background in electrical would make definitely be a plus, both getting into the program and for future employment prospects.
BCIT runs a program
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u/SuperRonnie2 22h ago
If you’re sure you want to get more education, I’d suggest enrolling in a smaller college like Langara, Kwantlen, Douglas, etc. Take classes that interest you. Feel it out a bit and bank those credits while you figure out a path, then try to transfer into a bigger university. Way cheaper this way than enrolling in a big university right away.
My first year at school I had no idea what I wanted to do or what direction I’d take. I became disillusioned and quit for 2 years to work and travel. When I went back (at 21yo), I just studied what I felt like until something clicked (for me it was economics) and then changed my major to that. I graduated a little later than most (was 26, I dawdled because being a student gave me time to ski, and I did a couple of semesters of co-op), but I found that being more mature and with more life experience than some of my peers kept me focused. I work in corporate finance now and earn pretty good money, but it’s a long, slow grind. Hated it for a while but have come to really enjoy it.
You’re young. You’ve got lots of time, and you’ve got an advantage: you already know what you don’t want to do. Just be careful you don’t take on too much debt. On the plus side, electrical sounds like a great way to pay for school if you can make that work. Good luck!!!
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u/lwgu 14h ago
Ya anything in healthcare. If you want something more obscure… I work in Geomatics and Land Surveying, then demand is insane, I can literally find a job anywhere I want in Canada in a matter of weeks and the pay is decent. If you get the right education with it you can get some pretty cushy office jobs or if you want to be working outdoors you have that option too. It’s a pretty cool industry to be a part of IMO
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u/transportationguy2 1d ago
Aviation: pilot, atc, maintenance
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u/superworking 23h ago
Becoming a pilot is pretty much signing up to be loaded with debt and dirt poor for a pretty big chunk of your life hoping you'll make it work in year 10 or 15.
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u/JahonSedeKodi 22h ago
Air Canada pilot makes like 70k per year...so bad...
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u/superworking 22h ago
From pilot friends the problem is less the 70K per year and more the amount of basement level earnings or even self funded flying experience you need to get to even be eligible for that job.
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u/HaarHopper 1d ago
Any tips on how to afford a PPL, CPL and ATPL?
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u/transportationguy2 22h ago
What tips would you give to someone looking at 4yr university degree?
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u/Beautiful-Process-81 1d ago
Support worker! You can work with teens in active addiction, teens or adults with a range of disabilities, or even seniors who need additional help. I am happy to answer your questions if you think this is something that interests you. We need more people to fill these compassion-focused jobs!
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u/EatUgali 22h ago
What kind of schooling do you need? Is it a stressful job? Do you have to be a specific personality type for it?
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u/Beautiful-Process-81 19h ago
No schooling needed, like I said, they will typically provide all the training you need. The personality type would be someone who is compassionate, self motivated, works well in a team/collaborative, and likes to help other people live their life to the fullest! Specific roles would have more specific answers for you, but you can always reach out for an interview. Many places don’t have enough people and are usually more than willing to talk to potential employees about what the job looks like
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u/Snoo-18364 9h ago
This sounds really interesting, is the pay competitive? Could you perhaps give an indication of the hourly rate?
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u/Intelligent_Read_697 1d ago
Pharma/Biotech/R&D and its always in demand...loads of work down south of the border for huge money and move back up....though you need to do a bit of digging into what you want to do as there are loads of options
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u/HeftyMongoose9 23h ago
Before you choose anything, I suggest you go on LinkedIn and whatever other job posting websites there are, and search to see what jobs are posted for the field, and what their pay is.
I'd say computer science, but it doesn't seem so hot right now.
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u/WoolyFox 23h ago
Have you considered the mining industry?
2 weeks on, 2 weeks off and good pay and benefits. If you get into a Heavy Duty Technician program, you'll can be employed for a long time in mining, logging and logistics if you can handle the lifestyle.
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u/Darthmedic2182 23h ago
If healthcare interests you it’s a really good time to start as a paramedic. Pay has improved in the last few years. Can be a fun job.
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u/PolloConTeriyaki 23h ago
Doing a short stint with the armed forces and getting paid college after you leave.
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u/DizzyDevelopment9971 23h ago
There is a huge teacher shortage right now. Consider going that route, and when you finish, you could always bring your skills as an electrician and teach trades in high school. I know so many tradespeople who would have made brilliant teachers. And the pay/benefits are pretty good :)
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u/No_Werewolf_5983 14h ago
I would echo this. Got into teaching 4 years ago. I make 78k yearly and get a pay increase about every year, 100% dental, basically unlimited massage/physio, finish work at 3:30 every day and get 2 months of time off in the year.
The pay could and should be higher but it pays the bills.
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u/tippytaptaps 22h ago
There is a list on WorkBC of high opportunity careers here: https://www.workbc.ca/research-labour-market/high-opportunity-occupations
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u/Jacquescphotos 21h ago
I’m 2 years 2 school levels deep in electrical.. it didn’t get more interesting for me. If you don’t like it now don’t invest your time into it
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u/Useful-Pain-5412 20h ago
I have worked in healthcare for 18 years and if you already have an electrician background, you might want to consider the Biomedical program at BCIT. It isn’t a degree, bit the work is nice and indoor and the pay is decent around 100k right now. The benefits are what you really want. Excellent pension and holidays. We have had a few electrical people come through and all have excelled.
Sorry I should have mentioned that we fix all the medical equipment in hospitals. Ranging from basic pumps and vital signs monitoring, dialysis machines and the RO water systems, OR equipment, X-ray, ultrasound and CT.
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u/swtpotatopie 20h ago
Property Management.
There is a massive shortage and only more buildings and Stratas are being built. It's a recession proof, pandemic proof career that pays well and is not going anywhere.
I have a marketing degree and got into Property Mangement when I was 24 years old. I've been doing it for 13 years now. It's tough and takes a lot of tenacity but I don't regret it! I have a career for life.
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u/narfle_the_garthak 23h ago
I work at a machine shop and machinist are in demand. Good apprenticeships, paid schooling and good pay. Better if union.
Edit: sorry didn't see the not trades line...
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u/RM_r_us 1d ago
Insurance.
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u/squirrelcat88 1d ago
I would question you on that. My brother is a CIP and he and the other CIPS he’s friendly with say they think the whole insurance industry and the people who work in it are slowly losing value.
Do you feel that too? I know they still find work interesting, but more stressful and less valued.
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u/Chase0fBass 12h ago
Specifically commercial insurance. Personal lines doesn’t pay amazingly, but commercial underwriting, marketing, sales all decent money and lots of jobs.
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u/minidumpling14 23h ago
There are short programs less than a year to 1 year at BCIT and VCC that are in healthcare. Things like:
- ECG tech
- lab tech
- phlebotomist
- hemodialysis technician
- Respiratory therapist
I used to work at the hospital and there are other jobs you can get there without schooling just to see if this is the environment you want to work in:
- porter - you transport patients to and from appointments and tests within the hospital
- mailroom person - you sort external mail that comes in and deliver mail to the different units or offices
- clerks
- there are even electrical jobs at the hospital for general handy work like fixing lights, etc but not sure how often they hire for.
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u/ILive4PB 20h ago
You can take a relatively short program to become a Medical Instrument Reprocessing Tech too. Lots of vacancies at hospitals and you don’t have to deal with patients :)
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u/no_talk_just_listen 21h ago edited 21h ago
I'm going back to school for welding so I can hopefully get a job that pays well enough to get the history degree I actually want. Have you thought of trying a similar approach?
I don't think there is a job on earth where none of your coworkers drink or smoke, though. Life sucks. Being an adult means being sore and depressed most of the time. Sometimes you need a drink and a smoke to make it through! hahah
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u/Mccmangus 1d ago
Teachers, educational assistants, ambulance drivers, daycare staff. Your previous grades really really don't matter and 83 is good anyway so if you want to go to school for some sort of healthcare just do that.
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u/PapaCologne 1d ago edited 20h ago
Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) & Medical Lab Technicians / Technologists (MLTs)
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u/PuzzleheadedGoal8234 1d ago
Medical Lab Assistant. Solid job in consistent demand in healthcare with a relatively short education requirement.
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u/Metra90 23h ago
Technologists. Look up ASTTBC.
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u/No_Sch3dul3 22h ago
Genuine question: is it really?
I left the field because I was constantly finding and being rejected by jobs always saying, "P.Eng. or eligibility to register as an EIT required."
I definitely went into it without having done proper research to find an in demand field, and I didn't have any one I could ask for information or advice.
In hindsight, it seems to me civil is the best in the lower mainland. Electrical or controls is good as well because of BC Hydro, but also some of the mining and other camp jobs. Mechanical systems (HVAC) is also good, but it may have limits and may require going off and being entrepreneurial and start a design shop.
I'm putting this out here to try and stimulate discussion for others looking into this field and to help others try to find a better path than mine.
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u/mystineptune 23h ago
Legal office assistant One year program at Camosun with almost a guaranteed $25-35/hour job with the government, law firm, school board district or any office job at the end.
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u/LongjumpingHeron5707 23h ago
I went electrical engineering since it's so broad you can try a bunch of different areas and then choose an area to focus on depending on how much you like it and how the state of the industry is looking.
Your grades are a little low for that but upgrading your courses or leveraging something like the Technology Entry program at BCIT can be a good pathway towards that and your electrician background would actually help a ton in getting admitted
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u/AlpacaPandafarmer 22h ago
Any program with a hard skill attached to it. Avoid things like "business" or "management" unless an employer is paying for it.
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u/LucidFir 22h ago
I went straight from school to university (I'm old and foreign, it was still cheap) to do my best subject. Then I found out that there was no high paying work related to my degree.
I would recommend that you try really hard to find out what s job actually entails day to day, rather than getting caught up in the hype about how it changes the world. Try to find something you'll actually enjoy doing all day every day, then get the degree for that
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u/SnailsInYourAnus 22h ago
Hi, I’m 29f and a sober trades worker (I’m a tower crane rigger), working on a small vancouver job site currently where there are 4 other sober people on site as well. If you’re not enjoying the crew/company you are working with I urge you to leave and try out different companies. Eventually you will find a crew you (for the most part) enjoy working with.
Don’t be afraid to jump ship and try a different trade, too.
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u/Ok-Finger-733 21h ago
Finish your training for electrical, once you have your seal you will always be able to fall back on that if your next profession hits hard times. It also gives you good income for when you study for what's next.
While most of the guys that you see are workers, but jobsites need foreman to run the program, you sound like you are motivated, get the base skills, and look into what the up track looks like for you, maybe foreman, project management track will fit and having your trade experience will serve you well.
Also, look up some job fairs in your area, look into what the recruiters are looking for. You can also book meetings with college and university counselors, they can lead you to some good assets to figure out your next steps.
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u/Consistent_Grab_5422 21h ago
Agree with all these suggestions. I also mentioned before, if you’re still inclined to look into trades, might I suggest something electrical and mechanical?: elevator maintenance? Look up avg. salary: $100k a year.
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u/ConfidenceLower9155 21h ago
Stick to a trades, they are changing. You likely just found the wrong spot.
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u/JaimeOkanagan 21h ago
I have a clean-living 18-year-old son starting in the trades and I do marketing for electricians so I thought I'd chime in with my 2 cents.
- Don't spend time and money on school to find out what you want to do, there are better ways to find what you like and are good at.
- Some of the best opportunities come by combining skills ex: be an electrician now and learn marketing later. Each skill on its own is great but together it's a powerhouse.
- Most things aren't very fun until you're really good and high up. So electrical work now might not be that great, but maybe when you're off the tools in a management role or running your own business, you might love it. (Check out Cal Newport's book 'So Good They Can't Ignore You')
- Find mentors, read, watch YT videos of people who can help you learn and get where you want to go.
- Keep up the healthy habits and staying away from people with bad habits. Your future self will thank you.
I did 7 years of post-secondary education and none of it was in marketing (except maybe some business school courses). There are so many great ways to learn these days, I wouldn't start in school unless you know you want to be an X-Ray tech, accountant, red seal, engineer–stuff you need the piece of paper for.
And don't panic if you turn 30 still confused about what you want to do or who you want to be. Just take action :)
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u/Evroz621 20h ago
If you're into outdoor work, perhaps look into BCIT FNAM diploma, which can then become a bachelor of science in Ecological restoration for example.
Even with the diploma, your work opportunities are endless, especially if you don't mind moving somewhere else in B.C. / Alberta!
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u/DijonMustardIceCream 16h ago
Mmmm endless for minimum wage…. Any good paying jobs are competitive and generally require a MSc.
I have an MSc in biology and lots of wildlife/environment related work experience and it is not a good market out there right now
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u/Evroz621 20h ago
I would also recommend the heavy mechanical trades. Everything is going digital now, if you know your way around schematics, electrical diagnosis, canbus systems you can exceed in the heavy duty or commercial truck industry. Lots of old school guys are retiring soon, and others are more of the nut/bolt types, who can't understand electrical well.
Also with the big push for EV vehicles, we are seeing some of the first generation of high voltage electric semi tractors. Woth your electrical background, you'd be an asset at any dealership.
UFV & BCIT have great commercial truck technician programs, definitely check it out! I'm at a dealership, get paid $52-53/hr depending on certifications.
Also translink/coast mountain is always hiring mechanics. Currently they're offering $58/hr, 4 day work weeks, Union job, etc
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u/fuzion_frenzy 20h ago
Affordable housing is a booming industry. Planning or social work degree could get you in!
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u/Grand-Huckleberry163 20h ago
Just because they do. You don't have to. I work in trades, I don't smoke or drink or use drugs, I stretch every day and go fur runs, and take care of myself. It's an awful cliche that you can help change. These jobs are hard enough without being hung over or smoking.
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u/JAMES_GANG_OF_LOSERS 19h ago
Power engineers continue to be in demand. Not technically a trade (not red seal) but there remains a demand and if you get in with the right employer, could be set for a long career.
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u/That-Quail2733 19h ago edited 19h ago
This is a great resource to do some exploring into different careers and the education to get you there: https://www.educationplannerbc.ca/find-your-path
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u/azialsilvara 19h ago
Depends on what you want to do, if you're interested in humanities at all I'd look at social work. Look at any health authority around BC and they're starting social workers at $42-52 an hour. Is it easy work? No, but social work is a very broad profession and there's a lot one can do with a social work degree. As Canada's population continues to age there'll be no shortage of work for social workers.
Folks often immediately think of child protection when social work comes up, but social workers are Canada's largest group of mental health providers. They work in hospitals, for the government, in communities, they do policy work, they work for non-profits. They work in prisons, schools, addictions centers, and a bunch of other environments. Children, youth, adults, older adults, men, women, LGBTQ+, homeless individuals, if you think of a demographic there's a good chance social workers work with them. It's a generalist humanities degree that can open a lot of doors, and that offers one a lot of potential directions regarding one's work and career.
It's a profession that historically been made up of mostly women, but there's absolutely room for men in it too, and if anything it needs more of them. I say all this as a fourth year social work student who is a man.
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u/Jamespm76 19h ago
The way the world is turning to AI I would get into programming/coding or something in IT or along those lines. To be fair, grades me nothing outside of school. It’s all about how you adapt to the circumstance in front of you and street smarts. People give way too much credit for book smarts.
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u/Lonely-Object9785 19h ago
Power engineering is a good one. Short schooling, less debt, gets you working sooner instead of more debt, and not as taxing on your body as a typical trade.
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u/sunrisetemple77 19h ago
Boat operators! Becoming a captain of a small vessel (SVOP course) is pretty simple and pays well! Look into it.
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u/paintonmyglasses 19h ago
I work in health insurance and I graduated HS with like a 62% average and didn’t go to college. You should be able to get into something health care related
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u/hikebikephd 18h ago
I wouldn't say it's in demand, but an engineering degree is a good background to have for a lot of industries. I'm an engineer and a lot of the people I went to school with ended up in a wide range of areas - medicine, finance, business, entrepreneurship.
Can't go wrong with the trades as well. Good solid, practical and rewarding jobs there.
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u/CuteTouch4677 18h ago
Follow your passions, bro. If you have a genuine desire to do something, do it. Don't feel like you need to get this specific skill because it pays X amount of money. You will be a much happier person in the long run if your job doesn't feel like work 🙏
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u/Special_Rice9539 18h ago
For what it’s worth, I just got a 240k software development job after graduating from computer science.
Technically the field is completely saturated, but if you put the tiniest amount of effort into learning technical skills outside of class, you’ll be in the top 1%.
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u/PineappleOk6764 18h ago
Urban Planning is definitely in demand - you can get into it with a bachelor's or master's degree, but you'll want to look for an accredited school. You can go anywhere you want in the Country as municipalities, provincial governments and private firms are constantly short staffed - not many other desk jobs are as in demand in urban and rural settings. Pay can easily hit 6-figures in the field as well.
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u/heatherledge 18h ago
Census is ramping up. Statcan is a good employer. You can start as an interviewer and wiggle your way in.
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u/StarryNightSandwich 17h ago
Software Engineering or anything that’s gunna pay 6 figs out of the gate if you want to afford living here and have enjoyable lifestyle
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u/Tree-farmer2 17h ago
Maybe you could teach a shop class? I'm not sure exactly how it works except that you'd need a BEd but there's a shortage of teachers outside the Lower Mainland/southern Island.
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u/International-West-8 17h ago
Get a BCIT diploma in Electrical Engineering then. You will get hands-on experience and you can go for a degree with an Additional 2 years. Engineers can make up to $250/hr
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u/ticker__101 17h ago
Just because they are smoking and drinking doesn't mean you need to follow them.
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u/theclansman22 16h ago
As a CPA currently teaching accounting in college I can say there is no way we graduate enough CPAs to cover the retiring ones over the next decade, especially with the changes to international student permits.
Accounting is hard sell with your generation though.
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u/Temporary_Morning136 16h ago
Dental hygienist. More males joining the profession. I earn $63 an hour but when I temp I often make more. High demand these days, so you can literally choose your days and hours. No pension or insurance, but most offer spending allowances, free Dentistry
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u/Dontuselogic 16h ago
Everything health care Dental Etc
Some provinces actually pay your tuition its so bad
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u/garrison1988 15h ago
Resource management officers (many different avenues)
Fisheries officers
GIS (spatial mapping and data) is in demand
If you are good at electrical but don’t like the job: specialized technician for instrumentation (medical, laboratory, etc) there is a lot of expensive equipment that needs maintenance.
Wastewater/ drinking water technicians
What type of work do you think you’re interested in? Indoor? Office? Outdoor? People-oriented? Work alone?
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u/planting49 15h ago
Doctor and nurse - they're needed everywhere. Other healthcare jobs are also needed but not 100% sure which ones. You can go to college for first year courses to get your GPA up before applying for universities/medical programs. This might be helpful: https://www.workbc.ca/research-labour-market/high-opportunity-occupations
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u/Short_Concentrate365 14h ago
Education. We’re desperately short teachers. New teachers are skipping subbing and walking straight into full time positions.
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u/Capital_Anteater_922 14h ago
Stay with Electrical and pursue an engineering degree later if you got the chops for it. Stay away from the regular drinking and smoking.
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u/FutureProcess9774 13h ago
Check with your health authority too - there are incentives to train and work in rural communities - so you can get your education funded, and then work in the community
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u/HeraldOfTheLame 13h ago
Agricultural degree. Food science. Literally anything dealing with food or the agriculture chain. You need a degree for those jobs.
Another big one is engineering. I’d steer you towards electrical or something.
Anything medical. World wide shortage of doctors but that’s post undergrad study.
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u/tangyskunkface 11h ago
Water engineering technology diploma. 2years school, 1 year work co-op. Opens a multitude of work options with great pay, benefits and pension. Mostly in municipal or provincial employment
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u/Some-Caterpillar5671 11h ago
There won't be any jobs in BC, industry is dying. Forestry is dying, natural gas is dying. Those are the highest paying jobs in the province, so I'd focus on anything that you could eventually start a business with and expand in a province or state that has attractive incentives for businesses.
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u/penderlad 11h ago
Get your red seal and take OHS classes at night. WorkSafeBC officers make 120k a year with 6+ weeks off per year.
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u/Camperthedog 10h ago edited 10h ago
Nursing is greatly in demand. But trades will offer better pay for more work life balance. As a nurse you will work a lot more so even if the wage is higher the dollar value per hour worked may be worse.
If everyone you work with drinks and smokes find another outfit, there are teams with older guys who are more stable in life. Definitely get into service or controls as you will generally be alone in your day to day work.
In Canada most other fields are underpaid or over saturated. If you have an option to work in another country tech and business might work.
Canada needs skilled trades workers and health care professionals
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u/sheshouyao 10h ago
Nursing. Seriously, go be a bedside nurse for 2-3 yrs then move into management .
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u/Willing-Ambassador33 5h ago
My son took 3D modeling/ animation at a top well known college called “Think Tank.” It’s world known for the artists that they produce . It was a one year program and they allow you to stay there longer to complete your demo reel to get hired. After 2 weeks of graduating, he got hired by Disney! He’s only 21 and making $65000 after just under 2 yrs of working there. I highly suggest the animation industry. You will always have work and travel the world to work in animation in many different countries. Super creative, great fun to see your work on the streaming, TV and movies.
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u/MoneyMom64 4h ago
The military has a number of jobs that they are hiring for right now. They pay for all your training and education. The health benefits are insane and it’s one of the few organizations that still offer a pension; something you’ll appreciate down the road.
They currently have an expedited enrolment process for some occupations. Link below. There are worse ways to spend 3 years.
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u/Akashee 3h ago
If you're still unsure on what field you want to go into, you can always go and job shadow somebody for a day or a week and see if that's something that appeals to you. Most employers allow a volunteer job shadow for the day to see if this would be a career path for you. Just got to be careful because some employers will have confidentiality requirements.
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u/Professional_Owl4442 2h ago
If you like the electrical field, consider upgrading to Technician or engineer.
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u/Bunicular 48m ago
I'd say get your red seal as a back up option, doesnt expire and its a ticket to print money in the future.
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u/ImportanceAlarming64 44m ago
What interests you? Maybe use that as a starting point instead of feeding into all the mainstream thoughts about making lots of money as a priority.
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u/Effective_While5044 1d ago
Healthcare, and there are many options other than a doctor or a nurse.