The number from your aggregated average list is definitely not the norm from my personal job search over the last 6 months. The positions in the 50 and 60ks are for senior positions or American companies with Canada offices (with the exception of course for the CSPS, which is impossible to get into unless you know someone that can pull favours or you win a multiple years long lottery to qualify for an IT-01 pool).
I really wish it was bollocks because it’s been feeling like a whole bucket full of bollocks for a long time.
35-45k is the norm I’m seeing on Indeed and LinkedIn applications for my line of work. If I’m feeling particularly suicidal I’ll look at the same job applications for US residence and dream about buying the groceries I want, instead of the minimum I need to have enough for housing.
I’ve had some really miserable jobs that barely put me through school and many of those jobs were less work/demoralizing than my job search. Feels just hopeless.
Expensive too. I don’t think I’ve ever jumped ship at the wrong time, but the consequences when there’s no other work free is terrible. Current customer service job is low pay but much easier to show up and do extra hours, nice staff and nice customers - a first!
could you be more specific about what tech field you are talking about?
I too am a tech worker in Canada, but most of the jobs in my field (Kernel programmer) are starting at about 75K or so (or at least they were in 2018 when I was new), and compared to most of my peers I’m taking the passion route that pays a bit less. My wife went the dev ops route and found a similar starting salary and had I sold my soul to app dev (and the type of shop that hires only university grads) I would be looking at around 90K or so starting salary. 5 years on we are both making 115KCAD or so.
If I look at my alma maters’ coop statistics, I can see that even first year coop positions are going for an average of 20CAD/hr (so equivalent to ~40K a year) (and those numbers tend be skewed down since they include general math degrees, which have less market value).
So Either a lot has changed in the last 5 years (Job market seems to have cooled off a fair amount, but judging by my linkedin tech jobs are still very much in demand), you are talking about a tech job that doesn’t require a university degree, or their are extenuating circumstances that are making you less desirable. If it is the third there are generally quite a lot you can do to mitigate that, biggest among them being to build your portfolio (protip, small finished and/or published projects are much more impressive than large half done ones).
Without doxxing myself or giving away too much info, I am in UX and business analysis. I’m not coding (sometimes but sparingly). Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong.
My field is basically the bridge between devs and the client. Need enough technical knowledge to come up with software features to implement and enough people/business/process knowledge to make it work and temper expectations with all parties.
Feels like I should have just specialized in one thing instead of combining as that’s where all the money is.
Ah, I think most of this thread is using STEM and “Tech” a bit too interchangeably unfortunately. This makes a lot more sense I think unfortunately.
I think your career seems very skewed towards experience unfortunately, those sorts of dev/client relations positions can be extremely well paying but only late in your career. You might find it easier to start if you try the Project Manager route and then side grade into the analyst role you want. I’m no expert here, but I think there are some PM certs you can get to get over the no experience hump there.
I’d argue I work in tech as my role is very technical and deals with agile software development. I run scrums with developers and meet with non-tech savvy clients to translate their demands into actual workable software features (along with the overall experience and UI elements+testing).
Not really a PM role as my strengths are more technical than people/project managing. Thanks for the kind words!
Again these averages are skewed by the few exclusive jobs with high salaries (like the CRA and being an RBC IT exec for example from your link).
Is it possible to make $60k+ in Canada in IT? Sure. Is it likely? No.
For those that aren’t in the top 10% of the batch, there’s 100 $35k-45kish jobs for every 1 high level $60k+ job. If you aren’t a wizard or considered an SME then it’s the choice between having enough for rent to waiting for luck to be in your favour. The majority of those I graduated with are in similar positions.
The overachieving burnout-types are either starting business with limited success or have decent paying jobs. The rest I know (me included) are stuck looking for greener pastures.
So, my advice would be to either get some qualifications or certification on what you know to be desired skill sets that pay well.
Or find a startup and get some equity in return for a lesser wage. Risky but if it blows up you’ll be set for life.
I’ve been dirt poor twice, once when I left school and once when I couldn’t work because of health issues.
I’ve had over 30 different jobs in 30 years, I never stay if they don’t promote me, and retired at 40, got bored and now have 4 different income streams from storage units I bought cheap, and 3 part time gigs in agtech that I take no wages for, just % of revenue
Just saying, it’s never too late to pivot. Net zero is going to cost 100 trillion and most of that will be private investment in tech to mitigate climate change.
I love working in an industry that’s trying to mitigate it, releaves me of existential dread and pays great.
I’m very intrigued by your comment because if I am reading it as you have written it, you retired at 40 and have worked for 30 years. I wonder what countries have 10 year olds as active parts of the workforce?
I’ll try your highly relatable advice on having multiple property investments and getting useful certifications instead of the useless ITIL, UX, Scrum Master, and WAS/WCAG certs I’ve got.
The number from your aggregated average list is definitely not the norm from my personal job search over the last 6 months. The positions in the 50 and 60ks are for senior positions or American companies with Canada offices (with the exception of course for the CSPS, which is impossible to get into unless you know someone that can pull favours or you win a multiple years long lottery to qualify for an IT-01 pool).
I really wish it was bollocks because it’s been feeling like a whole bucket full of bollocks for a long time.
35-45k is the norm I’m seeing on Indeed and LinkedIn applications for my line of work. If I’m feeling particularly suicidal I’ll look at the same job applications for US residence and dream about buying the groceries I want, instead of the minimum I need to have enough for housing.
Looking for a job is a job far more punishing than many of the paid jobs I’ve had :(
I’ve had some really miserable jobs that barely put me through school and many of those jobs were less work/demoralizing than my job search. Feels just hopeless.
Expensive too. I don’t think I’ve ever jumped ship at the wrong time, but the consequences when there’s no other work free is terrible. Current customer service job is low pay but much easier to show up and do extra hours, nice staff and nice customers - a first!
could you be more specific about what tech field you are talking about?
I too am a tech worker in Canada, but most of the jobs in my field (Kernel programmer) are starting at about 75K or so (or at least they were in 2018 when I was new), and compared to most of my peers I’m taking the passion route that pays a bit less. My wife went the dev ops route and found a similar starting salary and had I sold my soul to app dev (and the type of shop that hires only university grads) I would be looking at around 90K or so starting salary. 5 years on we are both making 115KCAD or so.
If I look at my alma maters’ coop statistics, I can see that even first year coop positions are going for an average of 20CAD/hr (so equivalent to ~40K a year) (and those numbers tend be skewed down since they include general math degrees, which have less market value).
So Either a lot has changed in the last 5 years (Job market seems to have cooled off a fair amount, but judging by my linkedin tech jobs are still very much in demand), you are talking about a tech job that doesn’t require a university degree, or their are extenuating circumstances that are making you less desirable. If it is the third there are generally quite a lot you can do to mitigate that, biggest among them being to build your portfolio (protip, small finished and/or published projects are much more impressive than large half done ones).
Without doxxing myself or giving away too much info, I am in UX and business analysis. I’m not coding (sometimes but sparingly). Maybe that’s where I’m going wrong.
My field is basically the bridge between devs and the client. Need enough technical knowledge to come up with software features to implement and enough people/business/process knowledge to make it work and temper expectations with all parties.
Feels like I should have just specialized in one thing instead of combining as that’s where all the money is.
Ah, I think most of this thread is using STEM and “Tech” a bit too interchangeably unfortunately. This makes a lot more sense I think unfortunately.
I think your career seems very skewed towards experience unfortunately, those sorts of dev/client relations positions can be extremely well paying but only late in your career. You might find it easier to start if you try the Project Manager route and then side grade into the analyst role you want. I’m no expert here, but I think there are some PM certs you can get to get over the no experience hump there.
Keep your chin up and good luck!
I’d argue I work in tech as my role is very technical and deals with agile software development. I run scrums with developers and meet with non-tech savvy clients to translate their demands into actual workable software features (along with the overall experience and UI elements+testing).
Not really a PM role as my strengths are more technical than people/project managing. Thanks for the kind words!
Tech jobs on indeed show it even higher at 72k
https://ca.indeed.com/career/it-technician/salaries
If you’re talking entry level, then sure, but if you pick a fast growing company there will be opportunities to progress
Again these averages are skewed by the few exclusive jobs with high salaries (like the CRA and being an RBC IT exec for example from your link).
Is it possible to make $60k+ in Canada in IT? Sure. Is it likely? No.
For those that aren’t in the top 10% of the batch, there’s 100 $35k-45kish jobs for every 1 high level $60k+ job. If you aren’t a wizard or considered an SME then it’s the choice between having enough for rent to waiting for luck to be in your favour. The majority of those I graduated with are in similar positions.
The overachieving burnout-types are either starting business with limited success or have decent paying jobs. The rest I know (me included) are stuck looking for greener pastures.
So, my advice would be to either get some qualifications or certification on what you know to be desired skill sets that pay well.
Or find a startup and get some equity in return for a lesser wage. Risky but if it blows up you’ll be set for life.
I’ve been dirt poor twice, once when I left school and once when I couldn’t work because of health issues.
I’ve had over 30 different jobs in 30 years, I never stay if they don’t promote me, and retired at 40, got bored and now have 4 different income streams from storage units I bought cheap, and 3 part time gigs in agtech that I take no wages for, just % of revenue
Just saying, it’s never too late to pivot. Net zero is going to cost 100 trillion and most of that will be private investment in tech to mitigate climate change.
I love working in an industry that’s trying to mitigate it, releaves me of existential dread and pays great.
I’m very intrigued by your comment because if I am reading it as you have written it, you retired at 40 and have worked for 30 years. I wonder what countries have 10 year olds as active parts of the workforce?
I’ll try your highly relatable advice on having multiple property investments and getting useful certifications instead of the useless ITIL, UX, Scrum Master, and WAS/WCAG certs I’ve got.
Take care!