Most Vancouver job guides list sectors. This one names employers, gives published pay ranges and points you to the unions and women's networks that control access to work in film, the port and the trades. It also shows how BC's Pay Transparency Act changes what you can learn before you apply.
Key facts
- BC's general minimum wage is $18.25 an hour as of June 1, 2026 (Government of BC).
- Software developers and programmers in BC earn a median of $52.40 an hour, with a range of $31.25 to $84.13 (WorkBC, derived from 2025 Job Bank wage data).
- Under the BC Nurses' Union provincial agreement, general duty registered nurses earned $41.42 to $55.91 an hour on the grid effective April 1, 2024 (Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, November 2025 contract comparison).
- Customs, ship and other brokers in BC earn a median of $30.86 an hour (WorkBC, 2025 Job Bank data).
- Since November 1, 2023, publicly advertised BC job postings must include the expected pay or pay range, and employers cannot ask about your pay history.
- Annual pay transparency reporting extends to BC employers with 50 or more employees on November 1, 2026.
Tech and life sciences: who hires and what it pays
Vancouver's tech employers cluster downtown, in Mount Pleasant, along the Burnaby corridor and in Richmond. The work is not only engineering. Product, data, QA, technical writing, customer success and people operations all hire.
Named employers to research
- Electronic Arts runs a large studio in Burnaby, home to several sports franchises.
- Amazon, Microsoft and SAP all have Vancouver engineering offices.
- Clio (legal software, Burnaby) and Visier (people analytics, Vancouver) are homegrown software companies with sizable local teams.
- AbCellera is a Vancouver antibody discovery company that hires scientists, lab staff and data specialists.
Hiring levels change quarter to quarter, so check each careers page and LinkedIn for current openings rather than assuming a team is growing.
Pay benchmarks
WorkBC lists software developers and programmers at a median of $52.40 an hour, roughly $107,315 a year, with a range of $31.25 to $84.13 an hour. Because BC postings must now show a range, compare each posting against that median. A range sitting well below it for a mid-level role is a signal to ask questions.
Women in tech networks in Vancouver
- SCWIST (Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology) is based in Vancouver and runs mentoring and networking events.
- Canada Learning Code offers beginner and intermediate coding workshops, useful if you are moving into tech from an adjacent role.
- BC Tech Association lists events and runs programs for people entering the sector.
A practical path many women use: start in technical support, QA or project coordination, build a portfolio of shipped work, then move into product or engineering internally.
Film, television and visual effects
Metro Vancouver is one of North America's busiest production centres. Hiring in this sector runs through unions and guilds, so knowing which one covers your department matters more than any job board.
Studios and VFX houses
Physical production happens at stages such as Bridge Studios and Mammoth Studios in Burnaby and Vancouver Film Studios in East Vancouver. On the post-production side, Sony Pictures Imageworks has its headquarters in Vancouver, and Framestore runs a Vancouver studio. VFX hiring is project-driven, so watch for posts tied to new show or feature awards.
The unions and guilds that control access
- IATSE Local 891 covers most below-the-line crafts in BC, including costume, hair and makeup, set decoration, props, art department, accounting and production coordination. It runs a permittee system for new entrants.
- Teamsters Local 155 covers drivers, location managers and some casting roles.
- DGC BC (Directors Guild of Canada, BC District Council) covers directors, assistant directors, production managers and location managers on DGC productions.
- UBCP/ACTRA represents performers.
Each union publishes its own entry requirements and rate sheets. Pull the current rates from the union directly before negotiating, because they change with each agreement.
Women's networks in film
Women in Film and Television Vancouver (WIFTV) runs mentorship programs, a member directory and industry events. Creative BC publishes production lists that tell you which shows are shooting, which helps you target production offices directly.
Port, logistics and trade
The Port of Vancouver, managed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, is Canada's largest port. The logistics network around it stretches across Delta, Richmond, Surrey, Burnaby and the North Shore.
Named employers to research
- Vancouver Fraser Port Authority hires in planning, environmental programs, operations, finance and communications.
- GCT Global Container Terminals operates Deltaport in Delta and Vanterm in Vancouver.
- DP World operates Centerm in Vancouver.
- BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) handles hiring and training for longshore work, which is represented by ILWU Canada locals.
- CN and CPKC run rail operations that move port cargo inland.
- Customs brokers such as Livingston International and Cole International hire entry-level brokerage staff in the Lower Mainland.
Pay benchmarks
WorkBC lists customs, ship and other brokers at a median of $30.86 an hour and procurement and purchasing officers at a median of $34.70 an hour, with a range of $26.20 to $52.94 (both from 2025 Job Bank data). Customs brokerage is a good entry point because the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers' CCS designation gives you a portable credential.
Getting into skilled trades and equipment roles
The BC Centre for Women in the Trades (BCCWITT) works with employers and unions to recruit and retain women in trades and offers resources for women entering apprenticeships. Pair that with SkilledTradesBC, which manages apprenticeship registration in the province, if you are considering electrical, heavy-duty mechanic or millwright pathways that feed into port and rail work.
Health care: the biggest employer group
Health care is one of the largest employers of women in Metro Vancouver, and its pay is set by collective agreement, so ranges are public.
The four main employers
- Vancouver Coastal Health covers Vancouver, Richmond, the North Shore and Sea-to-Sky.
- Fraser Health covers Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Langley and the Fraser Valley.
- Providence Health Care runs St. Paul's Hospital and Mount Saint Joseph Hospital.
- Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) runs BC Children's and BC Women's Hospital, BC Cancer and BC Emergency Health Services.
Pay benchmarks
On the BC Nurses' Union grid effective April 1, 2024, general duty registered nurses earned $41.42 to $55.91 an hour across 10 steps, and licensed practical nurses earned $32.84 to $41.35 (CFNU, November 2025). Long-service pay adds up to $3.50 an hour at 30 years. That agreement expired March 31, 2025, so confirm the current grid with BCNU or the Health Employers Association of BC before you negotiate.
Credentials and next steps
Regulated roles require registration with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives or the relevant college. BCHealthCareers.ca lists provincial programs for internationally educated nurses and current wage information. Non-clinical roles such as unit clerk, health records and pharmacy technician are posted on each health authority's careers site.
Using BC's Pay Transparency Act in your search
The Pay Transparency Act took effect in 2023. This is a general overview, not legal advice. The Government of BC's pay transparency pages have the full rules.
Ranges in postings and no pay-history questions
Since November 1, 2023, publicly advertised postings must include the expected pay or range, and employers cannot ask what you earned before. If asked, redirect to the posted range and your expectations for this role.
Annual reports by employer size
The BC government and six large Crown corporations reported first in 2023. Employers with 1,000 or more employees reported from November 1, 2024, those with 300 or more from November 1, 2025, and those with 50 or more begin on November 1, 2026. Reports must be posted on the employer's website.
What to look for in a report
Before an interview with a health authority, a large tech employer or the port authority, read the most recent report. Look at the gap in mean and median hourly pay, the share of women in each pay quartile, and whether bonuses and overtime show gaps. Then ask the interviewer what the organization is doing about any gap it reported. That question is specific, fair and hard to answer with a slogan.
Commute and childcare
A well-paid job can still fail on a 90-minute commute or a missing childcare space.
Matching jobs to transit
- The Expo Line reaches Metrotown, New Westminster and Surrey Central, close to Fraser Health facilities and Burnaby tech offices.
- The Millennium Line serves Brentwood, Lougheed and Coquitlam.
- The Canada Line serves Richmond and YVR, useful for airport and logistics roles.
- The SeaBus links downtown with Lonsdale Quay. The West Coast Express serves Mission, Maple Ridge and Port Moody commuters on weekdays.
Deltaport and many Delta and Surrey warehouses are poorly served by transit. If you do not drive, check shift start times against bus schedules before accepting.
Childcare
ChildCareBC's $10 a Day sites cap fees at participating licensed centres, and the Affordable Child Care Benefit helps with costs at others. Waitlists are long, so register near both home and work early. Ask health authority and large campus employers whether they have on-site or partner childcare.
Shift work and flexibility
Port and hospital shifts often run on fixed rotations, which can be easier to plan childcare around than unpredictable office hours. Ask how far ahead schedules are posted and how shift trades work.
How WomenAtWork.ca fits in
WomenAtWork.ca is a Canada-focused job board for women seeking employment and career advancement, with listings that show pay ranges. Job seekers can create a free account, set job alerts and apply with a saved profile through WomenAtWork.ca for job seekers. Use it alongside employer careers pages and the union and network channels above, not instead of them.
For Metro Vancouver employers, the practical steps are simple: put a realistic range in every posting, train recruiters not to ask about pay history, and if you have 50 or more employees, start collecting data now for your November 2026 report. Listing roles on WomenAtWork.ca for employers puts them in front of women actively searching in Canada.
FAQ
Which Vancouver employers hire the most women?
The health authorities, Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, Providence Health Care and PHSA, are among the largest. Tech, education, professional services and the port authority also employ many women.
How do I get into film work in Vancouver with no credits?
Identify the union for your department, usually IATSE Local 891 for crafts and coordination roles, and follow its permittee process. Join WIFTV for mentorship and use Creative BC production lists to contact production offices.
What does a registered nurse earn in Vancouver?
On the BCNU grid effective April 1, 2024, general duty RNs earned $41.42 to $55.91 an hour before shift premiums and long-service pay. Check BCNU for the current grid, since that agreement expired in March 2025.
Do Vancouver job postings have to show salary?
Yes. Since November 1, 2023, publicly advertised BC postings must include the expected pay or range.
Can a BC employer ask what I earned before?
No. The Pay Transparency Act bans pay-history questions. You can share your expectations for the new role instead.
Is WomenAtWork.ca free for job seekers?
Yes. Creating an account and applying to jobs is free for job seekers. Employers pay to post roles.
Start your Vancouver search
Pick one sector, research three named employers and their pay transparency reports, and join one union or network this 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 WomenAtWork.ca for job seekers.