18 Best Careers for Remote Work in Canada 2024: Earn $100,000/Year

Do you dread going into an office every day? A remote work career could be the answer for you.

Until quite recently, most of the remote jobs available used to be for software and IT professionals only, but that’s no longer the case. 

As a finance major who has been working online full-time since 2019, I can vouch that you don’t need to be inherently tech-savvy to be a successful remote worker.

Choose a career path that you feel comfortable with, hone your skills, and you can become a successful and well-paid remote worker. This list of the best careers for remote work in Canada can help you find the right fit. 

How Much Can You Make As a Remote Worker

The median salary of remote workers in Canada is between $70,000 – $80,000 per year, according to Talent.com.

How much you can earn as a remote worker is directly proportional to your competency and experience. Most of the highest-paid remote professionals usually have years of experience and a lot of industry exposure.

They also have a successful history of managing things independently, running a team, and having strong communication and coordination skills.

Many companies bestow the privilege of working from home to their senior management, consultants, experts, and chief executives. If you are at that stage of your career, you can easily make $100,000 or more in a year working remotely. 

Industries With Highest Percentage of Remote Workers

According to a report published by Owllabs, the sector leading to the percentage of remote workers is health care (15%) and technology (10%). Other major sectors are:

Financial Services: 9%
Education: 8%
Manufacturing: 7%
Professional Services: 6%
Retail: 6% 

Of note that this data is from US participants, but there are many similarities between job trends in the US and Canada. We can expect a similar sector-wise distribution of remote jobs and workers here in the country.

The most important takeaway from this data is that it comprises many different sectors. Technology and software surprisingly don’t constitute the bulk of remote jobs.

Websites Where You Can Find Remote Work

There are several websites where you can look for remote work. Some of them are:

1. LinkedIn: If you can create a strong professional profile on LinkedIn, you can find several high-paying remote jobs and make the right professional connections.
2. Indeed Canada: A sizeable number of remote jobs are posted on Indeed Canada every day. You will be able to find the right fit here, as well as gain insights into the remote job market in Canada. Like which companies are hiring most remote workers, which employers are paying better, and what general requirements do companies seek in their remote workers?
3. Flexjobs: It’s a paid website that focuses solely on remote jobs. They do a lot of pre-screening of the job postings and ensure that only legit and safe jobs are available on their portal.
4. Toptal: If you are highly competent in your field, Toptal might be the best place for you to find the best-paying remote jobs. You’ll have to go through their screening process to prove your competency.
5. Angellist: It’s a good place to connect to startups and agile businesses, which are likely to prefer remote workers over on-site workers.

Related reading: Full list of the best websites to find remote work in Canada.

Technology Industry:

Percentage of remote workers: 10%

Technology and internet-based companies find it easiest to transition from an on-site to a remote working model. Most people associated with this industry have enough know-how of computers and the internet to adapt to the change easily.

The most common remote tech jobs include software development, IT support, consultancy, training, project management, systems deployment, etc.

1. Junior Software Engineer   

How Much You Can Earn: $40,000 to $65,000 a year

Junior software engineers and developers with minimal experience can find several remote job options in Canada. In software development, especially in agile organizations, remote working is usually a mature enough concept that they can seamlessly integrate a new developer into the loop. 

It requires a bachelor’s degree in computers or another relevant field. Software engineers can also freelance as an additional income source.

Canadian software engineers can also try for remote jobs across the border since the US software industry is much stronger and pays a lot more.

You don’t have to do a four-year degree, either. I did the Lighthouse Labs program in Vancouver, which is a 12-week coding BootCamp. I landed a job as a junior developer shortly after completion, and the job paid $50,000 a year.

2. Engineering consultants

How Much You Can Earn: $69,000 to $139,000 a year 

Engineering consultants are less frequently associated with one organization and mostly work freelance.

To become an engineering consultant, you must have an engineering degree, preferably a master’s degree, and several years of experience. A company normally hires engineering consultants to solve a particular problem or for a specific project. 

Even as remote workers, engineering consultants have a lot of freedom. They can work alone or in conjunction with a company’s on-site team. It’s a rewarding career path but requires a lot of industry exposure and problem-solving skills.

3. Machine Learning Engineer/Data Scientist 

How Much You Can Earn: $120,000/$91,000 a year median salary, respectively.

Machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science are three different areas but with a lot of overlap. And they are three of the best-paying remote jobs available, not just in Canada. You can easily find a temporary or permanent position in a foreign company as well if you have the right skill set.

Computer engineers, statisticians, and even people with a business degree can take free or paid online courses and develop the relevant skills needed for these jobs.

It also doesn’t require years and years of experience. But you will have to constantly learn and adapt to new developments in the field.

4. Technical Writer

How Much You Can Earn: $62,000 a year median salary (Range: $45,000 to $87,000 a year)

It’s easily the oddest of the bunch. Technical writers are usually either people with a technical background and formal education who discover a love of writing, or writers with a fondness for technology. 

This job entails writing technical reports, briefs on new technologies, manuals for new devices, articles about the latest technologies, reviews, buying guides, and educational material.

This career path as it combines technology, creativity, and education. Apart from full-time remote jobs, a technical writer can take on a freelance project quite easily.

Financial Services

Percentage of remote workers: 9%

Financial experts and professionals also enjoy their fair share of remote jobs. In fact, according to an estimate by Flexjobs, three of the most in-demand remote jobs, accountant, account management, and bookkeeping, are from the financial sector. Other jobs include financial analysts, consultants, and fintech experts.

5. Accountant

How Much You Can Earn: $39,000 to $73,000 a year (Median somewhere around $50,000)

Online accountant jobs have been gaining popularity. There is a large spread in the expected salary for remote accountants because their salaries vary significantly based on their experience, certification, and the additional services they provide. 

In most cases, remote accountants are responsible for reviewing the financial documents of a business (or an individual) to make sure they are complete and accurate.

Some accountants also run business payrolls, while others offer bookkeeping services. Remote accountants are also hired for tax preparations. Remotely working CPAs and auditors usually make much more money than regular accountants. 

6. Bookkeeping

How Much You Can Earn: $34,000 to $58,000 a year for experienced bookkeepers

Online bookkeeping software like Quickbooks has made it deceptively easy for business owners to maintain their business books themselves. 

Still, many people tend to outsource bookkeeping to individuals or online bookkeeping firms. These firms usually comprise a few bookkeepers that are compensated according to their expertise and certification.

Accountants who provide bookkeeping services tend to charge a premium rate compared to simple bookkeepers.

7. Financial Analysts

How Much You Can Earn: $58,000 to $77,000 a year

Businesses sometimes hire financial analysts to provide consultation about their internal financial matters, like forecasting, budgeting, and improving cash flows. 

They also perform market analysis, look for trends, and help individuals or companies develop actionable investment strategies. 

In Canada, the top employers for financial analysts include Bombardier, Loblaw’s Company Limited, and Deloitte. You need at least a bachelor’s degree (preferably in a finance-related subject) to start your career as a financial analyst.

8. Financial Advisor/Financial Coach

How Much You Can Earn: $57,467 a year average salary 

Financial advisors and financial coaches usually work with individuals and not organizations. In most cases, both have their own business instead of working for a company on a salary basis. 

A financial advisor’s job is to provide individuals with portfolio management, investment, and wealth management advice. On the other hand, financial coaches primarily work with individuals who have trouble managing their finances and have accumulated a significant amount of debt.

Education Sector

Percentage of remote workers: 8%

The value of remote teaching became apparent during the coronavirus pandemic when teachers who were used to physical classes had to transition to giving online classes. And though online teaching makes up for the bulk of remote jobs in the education sector, there are a few other jobs as well.

9. ESL Teachers 

How Much You Can Earn: $15 – 25 an hour on average

ESL, or English as the second language, is one of the most in-demand online jobs out there. Even with so many free online resources available, many people still prefer a human touch. Most ESL teachers work freelance, but some can be associated with an institution. 

For high school and younger students, an ESL teacher usually requires a college degree and CELTA, TESL, or TEFL certificate. For college students, you may require a master’s degree.

10. Online Teachers

How Much You Can Earn: $52,000 a year median salary

I separated online teaching from ESL teaching because there is a much wider spread here. Remote teachers don’t just have to be school or subject teachers. They can be online guides, trainers, and even consultants that companies sometimes hire to conduct online training sessions.

Consultants are usually experienced professionals with their own private businesses. But even online remote teaching for a particular institute or school can be a decently-paying option.

11. Content Creator

How Much You Can Earn: $33,000 to $69,000 per year

Content creators can find many jobs in the field of education. They may be required to write/update course books and other educational material for students.

They can help create educational videos to help students better absorb the course material. And some experienced ones can also be brought in (remotely) to help with preparing a curriculum.

Content creators can mostly find jobs with institutions that try and stay ahead of the curve and intend to teach their students using the most updated material and resources.

Manufacturing Sector

Percentage of remote workers: 7%

Manufacturing might seem like a sector far out of remote workers’ reach, but it has its fair share of remote workers. A lot of remote jobs in the manufacturing sector are related to design and consultation.

12. Industrial Design

How Much You Can Earn: $51,500 per year average salary

Industrial design professionals work on the design of products, manufacturing, and assembly lines. Traditionally, only a select few professionals used to go for industrial designing, but nowadays, with light industries and agile manufacturing techniques, industrial designing has gone significantly more mainstream. 

Industrial designers can also be hired to revamp an existing design to make it more eco-friendly. Some designers can also be hired for 3D-printed tools and machines.

13. Logistics Support/Supply Chain

How Much You Can Earn: $36,000 to $71,000 per year

Supply chain and logistics are becoming more and more efficient every day. Many companies have adopted an agile methodology regarding logistics and supply chain, and that includes hiring remote workers that are adept at new digital supply chain software and tools. 

Supply chain managers can easily earn yearly salaries over $100,000, but usually only after years of experience.

14. Environmental Consultants

How Much You Can Earn: $43,000 to $84,000 per year

Many companies and manufacturing plants are trying to make their processes and products more and more eco-friendly. But they have to strike a clever balance between profitability and sustainability. That requires consultation from environmental experts. 

They may be biologists, environmental scientists, engineers, and even lawyers. This field is wide and growing and has plenty of remote working opportunities.

Health Care Industry

Percentage of remote workers: 15%

Surprisingly, there are many remote jobs within the healthcare sector. There are medical assistant jobs, which include positions like health advisor, remote consultant, and virtual medical assistant.

Medical coder and biller jobs can also be done remotely. It usually requires an associate degree, a postsecondary certificate, and a professional certificate. Other remote medical jobs include virtual nursing, medical transcriptionist, remote pharmacists, and medical writer.

15. Customer Service Representative (CSR)

How Much You Can Earn: $38,000 to $48,000 a year on average

It requires minimal education, usually only a high school diploma. The employer is responsible for training. This job usually requires good verbal communication skills, fast learning, an even temperament, the ability to empathize, and a work ethic. Knowing French is usually a plus in Canada but not necessary.

Unlike other task-based remote jobs, a CSR’s remote job usually requires following strict timings.

Several CSR jobs in healthcare revolve around selling a medical product and targeting a specific clientele (like patients suffering from bone-related diseases). Other healthcare CSR jobs might include fielding patient calls and booking appointments.    

16. Medical Transcriptionist

How Much You Can Earn: $39,000 – $56,000 a year (Team leads and senior transcriptionists usually get higher salaries)

A remote medical transcriptionist’s job is to convert voice recordings of healthcare professionals regarding patient histories, reports on operations, examination notes, etc. This is usually done from a record-keeping perspective. The job usually only requires a high school diploma but sometimes will require a medical transcriptionist diploma.

Bilinguals that can both write and read English and French are preferred. It also takes some time for transcriptionists to develop an ear for specific medical terms. Though still relevant, this job might become obsolete in a few years with improvements in AI.

17. DevOps Engineer/Senior Software Developer

How Much You Can Earn: $80,000 to $130,000 a year on average

DevOps engineers and senior software developers are two separate jobs, but they usually require similar education and experience. For a software developer, the job usually entails developing a dedicated system or app for a healthcare institution or company and providing maintenance and support for that system or app.

DevOps usually work with the deployment and modification of an already existing software, system, or app. Both would require you to have a bachelor’s degree in computers (or a similar field) and a few years of experience.

18. Telehealth Doctor

 How Much You Can Earn: $150,000 to $200,000 a year on average

If you are licensed to practice medicine in Canada, you can work remotely as a telehealth doctor. This job requires doctors to communicate with the patients via video call, phone calls, or sometimes texts.

Telehealth doctors diagnose (as much as they can without a physical examination), advise patients, and prescribe medicine. They can also review medical reports online. 

There is a cost to this freedom, however. General physicians and specialists usually earn significantly more when they are working on-site than they do remotely. If you are choosing this career path, it’s better that you have an on-site job or practical experience as well before turning to the remote version.

Can I work in Canada if I have a remote job?

If you’re planning to work your remote job while in Canada, you’ve got to think about your visa status first. Even for remote jobs, the rules of immigration still apply. So, you’ll need the right paperwork, like a work visa or maybe even permanent resident status.

If you’re only there for a short trip, you might fall into the ‘business visitor’ category, which could mean you don’t need a work permit. But every situation’s unique, so getting some advice from an immigration expert could be a real lifesaver.

Don’t forget about taxes, too. Depending on how long you stay and your connections to Canada, your tax situation might change.

Conclusion

Like an on-site job, how successful and well-paid you are in remote work depends directly on your hard work, experience, education, and competency. But one trait that every person that’s seeking a remote career should have is adaptability.

If you can’t adapt to change and new technology, you may be unable to keep pace with the ever-changing market. For a remote worker, a wider skill set might be more helpful than one skill honed to perfection.

If you want more ideas about remote work careers, check out this ultimate guide on how to make money online in Canada.