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18 Easy Jobs That Pay Well & Make a Difference
By Publisher
| Last Updated March 10, 2022
Easy jobs that pay well exist. Many even let people contribute to the world in meaningful ways while earning $50K or more per year. If you've been dreaming of a career that feels easy yet still provides a good living and a sense of purpose, explore the examples featured below.
Remember that your definition of "easy" may differ greatly from others. There is really no such thing as an objectively easy job. "Easy" depends on each person's preferences and experiences. For one person, the easiest job may involve few responsibilities, whereas, for another person, it may involve many important tasks and activities.
The best way to discover easy, high-paying jobs that might be right for you is to focus on your strongest interests, and things you are passionate about. After all, you're much more likely to feel a sense of ease when doing something you enjoy.
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What Criteria Determine Canada's Easiest Jobs?
For this article, an easy job often has these qualities:
- Low stress
- Natural "flow" to your work
And the criteria for good pay are based on a couple of different metrics, sourced from Statistics Canada:
- The median yearly income for Canadian individuals: $37,800 (half of working Canadians make more; half make less)
- The average income in Canada: $49,000 a year
So, in this article, a yearly income that approaches or exceeds $50,000 is considered good pay for full-time work. But all the featured examples exceed the national median of $37,800.
Check out the following examples of potentially easy jobs that pay well in Canada. But don't shy away from pursuing whatever interests you most, even if it didn't make this list. For example, nurse, flight attendant, and paralegal work are some good-paying careers that may not necessarily sound easy, but they do offer the chance to be happy in your job if you're the right kind of person for them.
Salary and job outlook information is current as of January 21, 2022. It is based on data from the Government of Canada's Job Bank.
Easy Jobs That Pay Well in Canada
1. Radiologic Technologist
To be sure, taking medical x-rays for a living requires a specialized set of skills, an understanding of human anatomy, and a willingness to follow essential safety protocols. However, once trained and experienced, many radiologic techs develop confidence and a sense of mastery that make their workdays feel relatively easy and satisfying. Some people in this field also get to operate fascinating diagnostic technologies like computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.
- Median yearly pay: $74,880
- Top-end pay: $93,600 or more
2. Cardiology Technologist
As far as healthcare jobs go, this one is probably among the easiest. It requires a certain level of skill and medical knowledge, but it usually isn't as stressful or demanding as many other options. Many cardiology techs get great satisfaction from using machines that record and monitor patients' heart activity.
- Median yearly pay: $64,480
- Top-end pay: $78,000 or more
3. Medical Laboratory Technician
Having a predictable routine is the hallmark of an easy job for some people. Although medical lab techs' work can vary a little from day to day, most of it involves performing routine tests on blood, urine, or tissue samples in quiet laboratories.
- Median yearly pay: $72,800
- Top-end pay: $92,581 or more
4. Massage Therapist
Do you prefer to stay physically active rather than sit down all day? As a massage therapist, you could use your physical energy in the service of helping other people relax, prevent injury, or overcome pain or mobility issues. With formal training and practice, massage therapy can become an easy and highly rewarding job that leaves you feeling like you've made a positive difference each day.
- Median yearly pay: $60,008
- Top-end pay: $106,080 or more
5. Optician
This occupation is probably one of the least stressful options in the retail sector. It also tends to pay well. With just a small amount of formal training, you can help clients choose the right frames and lenses for prescription eyeglasses. You can also fit clients with contact lenses or eyeglasses while ensuring that they get produced in a timely fashion and meet the prescribed specifications.
- Median yearly pay: $52,000
- Top-end pay: $68,120 or more
6. Medical Transcriptionist
Have you ever wanted a job you could do from home? Many physicians, health care clinics, and hospitals hire self-employed medical transcriptionists to convert recorded verbal reports into accurate written form. You'll need a broad knowledge of medical and pharmaceutical terminology, but this can become a very easy job if you're a good listener and fast typist.
- Median yearly pay: $48,298
- Top-end pay: $69,181 or more
7. Electrician (Residential or Commercial)
You probably know that being an electrician requires a very high skill level. It also requires patience, a willingness to follow rules and prioritize safety, and some real ability with basic math and physics. But don't let those requirements deter you from pursuing what, for many electricians, is a low-stress occupation. Mastering the electrical trade often leads to a career full of pleasing variety and enjoyable, mentally stimulating hands-on work.
- Median yearly pay: $62,400
- Top-end pay: $89,648 or more
8. Drafting Specialist
It doesn't take very long to learn the basics of computer-aided drafting and design (CAD or CADD) software. As you get more and more proficient at using it, the process of preparing technical drawings for architects, engineers, or industrial designers becomes easier. With a little experience under your belt, it could eventually feel like an absolute breeze.
- Median yearly pay: $59,072
- Top-end pay: $88,525 or more
9. Welder
Maybe more than any other trade, welding tends to feel easy once you've mastered the core skills. Certainly, some types of welding are known to be more difficult to learn than others. But becoming a metal welder is a terrific option if you enjoy working with your hands and seeing tangible results every day. Plus, between 2017 and 2026, welding positions may be relatively easy jobs to get due to a shortage of qualified workers. About 24,000 new openings are expected to become available in Canada over that period.
- Median yearly pay: $53,040
- Top-end pay: $85,488 or more
10. Long-Haul Truck Driver
The job of a commercial truck driver isn't for everyone. It's a different kind of lifestyle, one that requires a love of solitude, independence, and being away from home. But this occupation is worth looking into for people who want flexibility and opportunities to see new places. It's probably also one of the easiest jobs to get, provided you have a commercial driver's license and a clean record. Between 2017 and 2026, about 114,700 openings could become available across Canada due to a shortage of qualified drivers.
- Median yearly pay: $47,840
- Top-end pay: $68,806 or more
11. Software or Interactive Media Developer
Although many people don't view this career as super easy, some professionals in this field do. They find it easy because it utilizes their natural strengths: patience, a passion for learning, and a penchant for solving problems, arranging things in a logical order, and making things as efficient as possible. Computer programming can feel easy once you have a comfortable grasp of the programming languages you most enjoy using. And mobile application development can feel like a stimulating challenge, even when deadlines are involved. For the right kind of person, writing code and developing apps, games, or software can be extremely enjoyable and non-stressful.
- Median yearly pay: $79,997
- Top-end pay: $119,995
12. Computer Network Technician or Administrator
Are you a proud computer "geek" with a passion for understanding both old and new technologies and making them all work together? Having this kind of job can feel like a breeze if you truly love working with computers, putting things in order, and staying informed about the latest advancements. Just imagine creating and maintaining various kinds of computer networks while coordinating the use of high-performance servers and sophisticated software.
- Median yearly pay: $65,998
- Top-end pay: $102,710 or more
13. Web Developer or Designer
Creating and maintaining user-friendly websites requires a specialized set of skills. But it's amazing how "easy" it can feel to be a web designer or developer when you've mastered the tools of the job—things like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and Photoshop. Solving design or technical challenges can give you the feeling of being "in the zone" or "in your element," which just makes everything else feel less complicated. Plus, this field is perfect for people who want the freedom of self-employment.
- Median yearly pay: $62,400
- Top-end pay: $92,997 or more
14. Graphic Designer
Are you a highly visual thinker? Do you find it easier to grasp ideas when they're communicated through images rather than through words or sound alone? Graphic designers get paid to do something that comes easier to them than most people: communicate ideas and messages through appealing visuals and typographic layouts. And like most other creative professionals, they often feel like they're working "in the zone," which helps minimize the stress of deadlines.
- Median yearly pay: $57,138
- Top-end pay: $90,126 or more
15. Audio Engineer
Doing something you love almost always feels easier than doing something you don't enjoy or are indifferent about. That's why so many skilled audio engineers feel like they have easy jobs. They are involved in recording, mixing, or editing music or sound for cool projects or live events. For example, imagine recording songs for a great band, mixing sound for an amazing concert, or editing audio for a thrilling film or TV show. The possibilities for satisfying work are extensive.
- Median yearly pay: $57,387
- Top-end pay: $86,445 or more
16. Garbage or Recycling Collector
Blue-collar positions related to a city's public works department are often jobs that require no experience. The job of collecting garbage or recyclables is frequently one of the best positions to pursue if you want to earn good pay but don't have many other skills yet. That said, having a license to drive large trucks can make you an especially attractive candidate. This occupation is also known to be surprisingly easy and satisfying once you've learned the ropes.
- Median yearly pay: $52,000
- Top-end pay: $68,640 or more
17. Hydrologist
People who research the interactions between water and land tend to find their jobs highly satisfying. Many hydrologists have relatively low-stress positions that involve supervising other staff, taking environmental measurements, and analyzing field data. They get to help forecast civic water supplies, make flood-control plans, or make water and soil conservation recommendations. Strict deadlines tend to be infrequent. But keep in mind that you'll need at least a bachelor's degree to enter this field, and some positions require a master's degree.
- Median yearly pay: $92,810
- Top-end pay: $140,005 or more
18. Mathematician or Actuary
Are you one of the few people who truly love math? Canada is full of opportunities for those with the ability to use mathematics to solve problems, assess potential future scenarios, or find new, practical ways to apply the science of numbers. As far as well-paid, easy jobs go, the options in this field often require a higher education level than many of the other alternatives. However, the payoff is that, with experience, you may get to enjoy a non-hectic work environment with few major responsibilities or urgent demands for your attention.
- Median yearly pay: $93,870
- Top-end pay: $140,566 or more
Get the Career Training You Need
Many easy jobs that pay well above average also exist; you may just need the right education for them. Many of Canada's vocational colleges and trade schools offer excellent programs to help adults get skills for satisfying careers like those featured above. Find a nearby school right now by entering your postal code into the easy search tool below!
