High Opportunity Occupations

Discover occupations in B.C. that are expected to offer the best opportunities over the next 10 years.

High Opportunity Occupations are those that are expected to experience higher demand and offer higher pay compared to other occupations.

The British Columbia Labour Market Outlook: 2019 Edition provides a list of High Opportunity Occupations for B.C., and for each of B.C.’s seven economic regions. High Opportunity Occupations are identified by answering the four key questions below:

HOO Graphic

Find High Opportunity Occupations where you live, for who you are and what you aspire to be.

Or Search for High Opportunity Occupations by region, education and occupational interest below.

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A degree is the typical education background
OccupationOccupational InterestMedian Hourly WageJob Openings to 2029
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012) Investigative, Social $38.00 19,590
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (NOC 4032) Social $34.87 11,470
Financial auditors and accountants (NOC 1111) Conventional $28.85 10,480
Secondary school teachers (NOC 4031) Social $35.71 7,650
Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171) Investigative, Conventional $38.97 7,600
Computer programmers and interactive media developers (NOC 2174) Investigative, Conventional $35.19 6,290
Other financial officers (NOC 1114) Enterprising, Conventional $31.77 5,380
Lawyers and Quebec notaries (NOC 4112) Enterprising $115,621* 5,150
Computer and information systems managers (NOC 0213) Enterprising $43.27 4,720
Software engineers and designers (NOC 2173) Investigative $38.46 4,480
Corporate sales managers (NOC 0601) Enterprising $35.58 4,440
College and other vocational instructors (NOC 4021) Social $35.00 4,380
Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services (NOC 0013) Enterprising $52.45 4,350
Professional occupations in business management consulting (NOC 1122) Conventional, Investigative, Enterprising $36.06 4,260
Financial managers (NOC 0111) Enterprising, Conventional $38.46 4,200
Civil engineers (NOC 2131) Investigative, Realistic $38.51 4,190
Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade (NOC 6221) Enterprising $23.50 4,040
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (NOC 1123) Enterprising $27.40 4,000
Senior managers - construction, transportation, production and utilities (NOC 0016) Enterprising $49.32 3,770
General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 3112) Investigative $209,000* 3,430
Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c. (NOC 0015) Enterprising $36.15 3,360
University professors and lecturers (NOC 4011) Social $41.03 3,220
Banking, credit and other investment managers (NOC 0122) Enterprising $43.27 3,110
Managers in health care (NOC 0311) Enterprising $41.21 3,060
Specialist physicians (NOC 3111) Investigative N/A 3,040
Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants (NOC 4163) Enterprising $32.05 2,970
Advertising, marketing and public relations managers (NOC 0124) Enterprising $40.87 2,880
Human resources professionals (NOC 1121) Social, Enterprising, Conventional $38.07 2,780
Social workers (NOC 4152) Social $34.15 2,760
Musicians and singers (NOC 5133) Artistic $27.00 2,640
Other instructors (NOC 4216) Social $20.00 2,600
Other administrative services managers (NOC 0114) Enterprising $32.00 2,530
Family, marriage and other related counsellors (NOC 4153) Social $25.00 2,480
Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations (NOC 5131) Artistic $28.85 2,390
Senior managers - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations (NOC 0014) Enterprising $45.96 2,380
Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers (NOC 0121) Enterprising $38.46 2,370
Accommodation service managers (NOC 0632) Enterprising $25.00 2,360
Human resources managers (NOC 0112) Enterprising $38.46 2,360
Managers in social, community and correctional services (NOC 0423) Enterprising $37.26 2,360
Other business services managers (NOC 0125) Enterprising $38.46 2,130
Executive assistants (NOC 1222) Conventional $25.71 2,050
Electrical and electronics engineers (NOC 2133) Investigative, Realistic $36.92 2,020
Web designers and developers (NOC 2175) Artistic, Investigative, Conventional $26.32 1,960
Mechanical engineers (NOC 2132) Investigative, Realistic $42.31 1,850
Physiotherapists (NOC 3142) Social $38.00 1,850
School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education (NOC 0422) Enterprising $42.31 1,850
Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (NOC 3011) Investigative, Social $41.54 1,790
Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers (NOC 4165) Enterprising $34.00 1,640
Dentists (NOC 3113) Investigative, Realistic $104,055* 1,620
Purchasing managers (NOC 0113) Enterprising $41.37 1,370
Administrators - post-secondary education and vocational training (NOC 0421) Enterprising $41.35 1,360
Architects (NOC 2151) Artistic $30.29 1,350
Engineering managers (NOC 0211) Enterprising $54.00 1,330
Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers (NOC 4161) Investigative, Enterprising, Realistic $42.86 1,240
Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors (NOC 0513) Enterprising $25.37 1,200
Educational counsellors (NOC 4033) Social $32.69 1,090
Senior government managers and officials (NOC 0012) Enterprising N/A 1,070
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 2147) Realistic, Investigative $47.69 1,020
Psychologists (NOC 4151) Investigative $34.37 1,000
Occupational therapists (NOC 3143) Social, Investigative $39.00 950
Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts (NOC 0512) Enterprising $27.04 870
Dietitians and nutritionists (NOC 3132) Investigative, Social $36.87 820
Utilities managers (NOC 0912) Enterprising $56.41 780
Veterinarians (NOC 3114) Investigative $85,140* 760
Geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 2113) Investigative $38.46 750
Allied primary health practitioners (NOC 3124) Social $45.77 720
Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment (NOC 3144) Social, Investigative $24.00 700
Architecture and science managers (NOC 0212) Enterprising $43.81 620
Chiropractors (NOC 3122) Social $53,032* 550
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (NOC 3141) Social, Investigative $37.28 510
Geological engineers (NOC 2144) Realistic, Investigative $35.00 400
Information systems testing technicians (NOC 2283) Investigative, Conventional $32.00 400
Medical sonographers (NOC 3216) Realistic, Social $37.61 340
Optometrists (NOC 3121) Investigative, Social, Realistic $73,717* 340
Library, archive, museum and art gallery managers (NOC 0511) Enterprising $31.01 260
Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries (NOC 2161) Investigative, Conventional $39.07 260
Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (NOC 3125) Social, Investigative $55,235* 260
Landscape architects (NOC 2152) Artistic, Investigative $32.19 190
Physicists and astronomers (NOC 2111) Investigative $52.23 130
Petroleum engineers (NOC 2145) Investigative N/A 90
A diploma/certificate is the typical education background
OccupationOccupational InterestMedian Hourly WageJob Openings to 2029
Retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621) Enterprising $28.85 19,710
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413) Social $21.00 17,890
Administrative officers (NOC 1221) Conventional $24.00 16,320
Social and community service workers (NOC 4212) Social, Conventional $20.00 11,020
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 1311) Conventional $20.07 9,440
Construction managers (NOC 0711) Enterprising $36.25 7,300
Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations (NOC 4412) Enterprising, Realistic, Conventional $18.00 6,610
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers (NOC 7321) Realistic $28.80 6,180
Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators (NOC 7512) Realistic $26.00 4,710
Facility operation and maintenance managers (NOC 0714) Enterprising $35.00 4,660
Licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233) Social $27.32 4,290
Managers in agriculture (NOC 0821) Realistic $20.00 3,870
Manufacturing managers (NOC 0911) Enterprising, Conventional $38.46 3,830
Property administrators (NOC 1224) Enterprising $21.20 3,800
Home building and renovation managers (NOC 0712) Enterprising $19.54 3,740
Police officers (except commissioned) (NOC 4311) Enterprising $40.00 2,950
Computer network technicians (NOC 2281) Realistic, Conventional $30.00 2,700
Insurance agents and brokers (NOC 6231) Enterprising, Conventional $21.79 2,700
Managers in transportation (NOC 0731) Enterprising N/A 2,680
Supervisors, supply chain, tracking and scheduling co-ordination occupations (NOC 1215) Conventional, Enterprising $24.70 2,420
Legal administrative assistants (NOC 1242) Conventional $24.29 2,310
Massage therapists (NOC 3236) Social $22.50 2,300
Dental assistants (NOC 3411) Realistic, Conventional, Social $24.50 2,040
Other assisting occupations in support of health services (NOC 3414) Realistic, Conventional $22.00 1,990
Medical administrative assistants (NOC 1243) Conventional $23.00 1,900
Managers in customer and personal services, n.e.c. (NOC 0651) Enterprising $24.48 1,750
Retail and wholesale buyers (NOC 6222) Enterprising, Conventional $24.04 1,700
Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants (NOC 3212) Realistic, Conventional $23.00 1,650
Interior designers and interior decorators (NOC 5242) Artistic $22.00 1,580
Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 3211) Investigative, Realistic $33.33 1,520
Firefighters (NOC 4312) Realistic $40.88 1,420
Paralegal and related occupations (NOC 4211) Conventional, Enterprising $28.85 1,320
Paramedical occupations (NOC 3234) Social $27.00 1,320
Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 3222) Realistic, Social, Conventional $41.00 1,310
Photographers (NOC 5221) Artistic N/A 1,150
Practitioners of natural healing (NOC 3232) Social N/A 1,140
Medical radiation technologists (NOC 3215) Realistic, Social $35.00 1,110
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 3213) Realistic $16.00 600
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (NOC 3214) Social $33.00 570
Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers (NOC 0432) Enterprising $57.87 300
Health information management occupations (NOC 1252) Conventional $32.04 300
High school is the typical education background
OccupationOccupational InterestMedian Hourly WageJob Openings to 2029
Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents (NOC 6733) Realistic $17.87 12,790
Food and beverage servers (NOC 6513) Social $14.00 9,820
Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 0631) Enterprising $21.63 9,520
Retail sales supervisors (NOC 6211) Enterprising $19.20 3,090
Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs (NOC 7513) Realistic $15.38 2,860
Food service supervisors (NOC 6311) Realistic, Conventional $14.25 2,010
Casino occupations (NOC 6533) Conventional, Enterprising $18.00 1,660
Longshore workers (NOC 7451) Realistic $40.00 1,580
Letter carriers (NOC 1512) Conventional, Realistic $25.00 1,130
  • WAGE RATE: For occupations with a “*”, the annual wage rate is provided, as the hourly wage rate is not available. In some cases, no wage data is available, and this is indicated with ‘N/A’.