Calgary pays well for skilled work. How you get in depends on the target: a finance desk downtown, an engineering consultancy, or a first-period apprenticeship on an industrial site. This guide names Calgary employers to research, gives pay figures from the most recent Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, and sets out the current apprenticeship route for women going into oilfield and construction trades. Employers trying to hire more women into these roles get their own section, including the training and apprenticeship programs to check before the next hire.
Key facts
- In the 2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, electricians averaged $38.41 an hour and mechanical engineers $50.41 an hour across the province.
- Alberta apprenticeship is now administered by Apprenticeship and Industry Education under the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act, which replaced the older Apprenticeship and Industry Training framework in 2022.
- Apprentices track hours, technical training and exams through MyTradesecrets.
- Women Building Futures is an Alberta non-profit that runs pre-employment trades and industrial training for women.
- Hiring incentives change often. The federal Apprenticeship Service employer grant was paused for review in 2025, and the Canada-Alberta Job Grant has also paused intake at times.
What Calgary Jobs Pay: Current Alberta Survey Figures
The most reliable public pay source for Alberta is the Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, published on the province's alis career site. The latest edition is the 2023 survey. The figures below are provincewide averages across all experience levels. They are not Calgary-only numbers or starting wages, and they exclude overtime, benefits and bonuses.
| Occupation (2021 NOC) | Average hourly | Average annual |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians, except industrial and power system (72200) | $38.41 | $81,919 |
| Industrial electricians (72201) | $40.13 | $89,593 |
| Welders and related machine operators (72106) | $37.72 | $79,452 |
| Power engineers and power systems operators (92100) | $46.73 | $100,426 |
| Construction estimators (22303) | $42.38 | $88,238 |
| Financial and investment analysts (11101) | $46.37 | $92,414 |
| Mechanical engineers (21301) | $50.41 | $103,650 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers (21310) | $54.04 | $110,757 |
Source: 2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, via alis.alberta.ca.
How to read these numbers
Each average mixes new hires with people who have worked in the occupation for decades. Every alis occupation page also lists average starting pay and top pay, so look up your exact occupation before you negotiate. Field roles on rotation often pay overtime, a living-out allowance or free camp accommodation on top of base pay. None of that shows up in the averages.
What apprentices earn
Apprentices are paid a share of the journeyperson rate, and that share rises with each period of training. The exact rate depends on the employer, the trade and any collective agreement. Before you accept, ask for your first-period rate and the schedule of increases in writing.
Where to check the Calgary region specifically
The federal Job Bank publishes wage ranges by economic region, and for many occupations that includes a Calgary region breakdown. Checking it next to the alis figures shows whether local pay runs above or below the provincial average for your role.
Calgary Employers to Research by Sector
This list does not claim that any company is hiring today. These are large employers based in Calgary or with a big Calgary presence, and their careers pages are worth bookmarking and checking weekly.
Energy producers and pipelines
Suncor Energy, Cenovus Energy, Imperial, Canadian Natural Resources and ARC Resources all have head offices in Calgary, as do the pipeline companies TC Energy, Enbridge and Pembina Pipeline. Head office roles include reservoir and production engineering, geoscience, land and regulatory work, health, safety and environment, supply chain and finance. Most field operations are outside the city, in the oil sands region and across Alberta's gas plays, so operator and maintenance roles usually involve rotation.
Drilling and oilfield services
Precision Drilling, Ensign Energy Services and Trican Well Service are headquartered in Calgary. Entry-level rig and field roles such as floorhand, leasehand and equipment helper are a common first step for people without industry experience. Ask each employer whether it pays for ticket training or expects you to have your tickets before you start.
Engineering, EPC and construction
Fluor Canada runs its Canadian operations from Calgary, and Stantec, WSP and Worley have large Calgary offices. In construction, Graham is headquartered in Calgary, and PCL, Ledcor and EllisDon all have Calgary operations. These firms hire engineers, technologists, estimators and project controls staff. They also hire trades, directly or through subcontractors.
Finance and corporate services
ATB Financial, the Crown-owned Alberta financial institution, has a large Calgary workforce. The major Canadian banks run commercial and energy lending teams from Calgary offices. Deloitte, KPMG, EY and PwC all have Calgary offices that hire CPAs and CPA students, often with an energy client focus.
Women in Skilled Trades in Alberta: How the Current Apprenticeship System Works
Who runs it now
Apprenticeship and Industry Education, part of the Government of Alberta, administers apprenticeship under the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act. Older guides that mention Apprenticeship and Industry Training or the AIT Act may describe outdated rules, so check tradesecrets.alberta.ca for current requirements.
The steps, in order
- Choose a trade and check its entrance requirements on tradesecrets.alberta.ca. Some trades need specific high school courses, or an entrance exam if you do not have them.
- Find an employer to sponsor you. This is where most new entrants get stuck.
- Register as an apprentice with your employer, then use MyTradesecrets to track your hours, technical training and exams.
- Work your on-the-job hours under a certified journeyperson.
- Attend technical training for each period. In Calgary, SAIT delivers technical training for many trades.
- Write your certification exam. In Red Seal trades, passing the interprovincial exam earns the Red Seal endorsement, which is recognized across provinces and territories.
Trades with steady Calgary-area demand
Electrician, instrumentation and control technician, welder, steamfitter-pipefitter, heavy equipment technician, millwright, ironworker, carpenter, plumber, gasfitter and crane operator are the trades most closely tied to Calgary's energy and construction employers. The alis electrician profile currently gives the occupation a Hot three-year outlook.
Money while you train
Eligible apprentices can claim Employment Insurance during their classroom weeks. The federal Canada Apprentice Loan offers interest-free loans to apprentices in Red Seal trades. The federal Apprenticeship Incentive Grant and Apprenticeship Completion Grant ended on March 31, 2025, so do not plan around them.
Women Building Futures Graduates: Turning Training Into a First Job
What the programs cover
Women Building Futures runs pre-employment programs for women. They combine shop time, exposure to several trades, safety tickets and job-readiness coaching. Program streams, intake dates and locations change, so check womenbuildingfutures.ca for what is running now.
Where graduates usually land first
The usual entry points are construction labourer, trades helper, first-period apprentice with an electrical or mechanical contractor, maintenance helper at an industrial site, and entry-level rig roles. Two groups of employers are the most realistic targets: contractors with Calgary shops, and industrial maintenance companies that serve oil sands sites and gas plants.
Resume details that matter on site
- List every ticket with its expiry date, for example H2S Alive, Standard First Aid with CPR, Ground Disturbance, Fall Protection, Confined Space Entry and WHMIS.
- Describe shop projects in concrete terms: the tools you used, the materials you worked with and what you built.
- State your driver's licence class and whether you have reliable transportation. Many site shifts start before transit runs.
- Say whether you can work a rotation such as 14 days on and 7 off, and whether you can live in camp.
Questions to ask in the interview
- Will I be registered as an apprentice from my first day, and in which trade?
- What is the first-period rate, and when does it step up?
- Is PPE provided in women's sizing?
- Who will be my journeyperson or mentor?
- What are the washroom and camp facilities like on site?
A Calgary Job Search Plan You Can Start This Week
Days 1 and 2: set your targets
Pick two occupations from the table above and read their full alis pages, including starting pay. From the employer list, pick five companies that hire for those occupations and set up job alerts on their careers pages.
Days 3 and 4: close your gaps
Compare three current postings against your resume. If most of them ask for a ticket you do not have, book that course. If you are in engineering or geoscience, confirm your APEGA registration status or your path to it, because Alberta employers expect it for professional roles.
Day 5: talk to people
Contact two people already doing the job you want. SAIT, Mount Royal University and University of Calgary alumni networks are good places to find them, and so are APEGA branch events and Calgary Construction Association events. Ask what the first year was really like and which employers treat new entrants well.
Ongoing: use a targeted board
General job sites bury trades and field postings under thousands of other listings. WomenAtWork.ca for job seekers lets you build a profile that employers looking for women candidates can find, as well as browse and apply.
For Employers: Programs, Sourcing and Retention
Programs to check before your next hire
- Canada-Alberta Job Grant. It covers up to two-thirds of eligible third-party training costs, to a maximum of $10,000 per trainee. For a previously unemployed Albertan you hire, it can cover up to 100 percent, to a maximum of $15,000. Training must be at least 21 hours and approved before it starts. Apprenticeship technical training is not eligible. Intake has been paused at times, so confirm the current status on alberta.ca.
- Federal Apprenticeship Service. It paid employers with 499 or fewer employees $5,000 for each new first-year apprentice in a Red Seal trade, or $10,000 when the apprentice came from an equity-deserving group, which included women. New intake was paused in 2025 while the federal government reviewed the program. Check Employment and Social Development Canada for what has replaced it before you budget for it.
- Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit. This federal credit equals 10 percent of eligible wages paid to an apprentice in a Red Seal trade during the first two years of the apprenticeship, up to $2,000 per apprentice per year.
Sourcing beyond your usual channels
If your roles only appear on general boards and union dispatch lists, you keep reaching the same applicants. Build relationships with the Women Building Futures employer team and with co-op and career offices at SAIT, Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary. When you post, include the first-period rate, the rotation, the camp details and whether PPE comes in women's sizing. Candidates screen on exactly those details. You can post directly to women candidates across Alberta through WomenAtWork.ca for employers.
Retention starts on day one
Women in non-traditional trades often say site culture decided whether they stayed. The fixes are practical: PPE that fits, secure washrooms and camp rooms, a named mentor for each new hire, and a clear way to report problems. Alberta's occupational health and safety legislation already requires employers to address workplace harassment and violence, so make sure your site procedures are written down and that supervisors are trained on them.
FAQ
How much do trades jobs pay in Calgary?
In the 2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, electricians averaged $38.41 an hour and welders $37.72 an hour across the province. Calgary rates for a given role can differ, and apprentices earn a lower share of the journeyperson rate that rises with each period.
Which Calgary employers hire for oilfield roles?
Drilling and service companies such as Precision Drilling, Ensign Energy Services and Trican Well Service are headquartered in Calgary. So are producers such as Suncor Energy, Cenovus Energy and Canadian Natural Resources. Most field work is outside the city on rotation.
Can I start a trade in Alberta with no experience?
Yes. Many women start with a pre-employment program such as those run by Women Building Futures, then find a sponsoring employer and register as an apprentice through Apprenticeship and Industry Education. Labourer and helper roles are also common starting points.
Which safety tickets help most for field jobs?
H2S Alive, Standard First Aid with CPR, Ground Disturbance, Fall Protection, Confined Space Entry and WHMIS appear in many Alberta field postings. Requirements vary by employer and site, so read each posting before you book courses.
Do I need to live in Calgary to get a Calgary job?
Not always. Many field roles run on rotation from a pickup point, and some head office roles are hybrid. Say clearly in your application where you live and whether you can relocate or commute.
Start Your Calgary Search
Calgary has well-paid work for women in energy, engineering, finance and the trades, and the steps above get you from research to applications within a week. Whether you are hiring or job hunting, WomenAtWork.ca serves both sides of the market. Employers can review pricing and post a role at WomenAtWork.ca for employers. Job seekers can browse openings and create a profile at https://womenatwork.ca/job-seekers.