Healthcare
Dive into the data and learn what it takes to move up the Healthcare career ladder!
Each career level contains information about hourly wages, job descriptions, main job duties, examples of job titles, general skills, and links to educational courses or training opportunities.
If you have further questions about local labour market information, contact us here: [email protected].
SECTION 1
Home Support Worker, Caregivers and Related Cccupations
Median hourly wage:
$22.76/hr
What you do:
Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations, provide personal care and companionship for seniors, persons with disabilities and convalescent clients. They provide care in the client's residence, where they may also reside. They are employed by home care and support agencies, private households, or they may be self-employed.
Main job duties:
- Provide care and companionship for individuals and families during periods of incapacitation, convalescence or family disruption
- Administer bedside and personal care to clients such as aid in ambulation, bathing, personal hygiene, and dressing and undressing
- Plan and prepare meals and special diets, and feed or assist in feeding clients
- May perform routine health-related duties such as changing non-sterile dressings, assisting in the administration of medications and collecting specimens under the general direction of home care agency supervisor or nurse
- May perform routine housekeeping duties such as laundry, washing dishes and making beds.
Skills:
Interpersonal communication skills
Problem-solving
Empathy
Flexibility and adaptability
Assisting with personal hygiene and dressing
Job title examples:
Home support worker
Attendant for persons with disabilities – home care
Respite worker – home support
Family caregiver
Live-in caregiver – seniors
Personal aide – home support
Personal care attendant – home care
Respite worker – home support
Includes: Doula
Hourly wages:
$17.64 low
$22.76 median
$30.72 high
Education & Training:
| Home Support Worker | Eastern Ontario Training Board | https://eotb-cfeo.on.ca/learners-job-seekers/ |
| Home Support Worker for Paramed | Glengarry Inter-Agency Group | |
| Health Care Support Worker | Tri-County Literacy Council | |
| PSW | Catholic District School Board Ontario | https://coned.cdsbeo.on.ca/apps/pages/psw |
| PSW | ||
| PSW | St. Lawrence College | |
| PSW to PN Pathway | St. Lawrence College | |
| First aid training | First Aid 4u | |
| First aid training | St.John Ambulance | https://www.sja.ca/en/first-aid-training |
| Health Care Micro-credential | St. Lawrence College |
SECTION 2
Nurse Aides, Orderlies and Patient Service Associates
Median hourly wage:
$23.00/hr
What you do:
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates assist nurses, hospital staff and physicians in the basic care of patients. They are employed in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted care facilities for the elderly and other health care establishments. Emergency medical care attendant are employed by private ambulance services, urgent care centers or other health facilities.
Main job duties:
- Answer call signals; supply and empty bed pans; bathe and dress; serve meal trays, and feed patients; weigh, lift, turn, and position patients; shave patients prior to operations; and perform other duties related to patient care and comfort
- Take patients’ blood pressure, temperature and pulse; report or record fluid intake and output; document patient care on charts; collect specimens and perform other procedures as directed by
nursing and hospital staff
- Administer emergency first aid to injured or ill individuals within the scope of competencies
- Transport patients by wheelchair or stretcher for treatment or surgery or between care facilities.
- May perform maintenance tasks such as assisting with the set-up and maintenance of traction
equipment, cleaning or sterilizing equipment, maintaining and repairing equipment, and assembling, setting up and operating job-related equipment
nursing and hospital staff
equipment, cleaning or sterilizing equipment, maintaining and repairing equipment, and assembling, setting up and operating job-related equipment
Skills:
Attention to detail and record-keeping
Verbal and written communication
Interpersonal communication skills
Knowledge of medical terminology
Understanding of common disorders
Job title examples:
Health care aide
Hospital attendant
Long term care aide
Nurse aide
Nursing attendant
Orderly
Patient care aide
Patient service associate
Personal care attendant – medical
Psychiatric aide
Resident care aide – medical
Includes:
Emergency medical care attendant (non-paramedical)
Emergency medical responder (non-paramedical)
First aid attendant
Medical attendant – patient transfer
Hourly wages:
$17.77 low
$23.00 median
$28.72 high
Education & Training:
| Medical Office Assistant | St. Lawrence College | |
| Medical Transcriptionist | St. Lawrence College |
SECTION 3
Medical Laboratory Assistants and Related Technical Occupations
Median hourly wage:
$27.68/hr
What you do:
Medical laboratory assistants and workers in related technical occupations perform pre-analysis and pre-testing tasks such as collecting blood and other samples, processing specimens, and preparing special chemicals called reagents for use in testing. They conduct routine medical laboratory tests and set up, clean and maintain medical laboratory equipment. They are employed in medical laboratories in hospitals, clinics, research facilities, post-secondary educational institutions and government research laboratories.
Main job duties:
- Collect, label, sort and prepare blood, tissue and other samples from patients
- Log and validate patient samples and prepare them for testing
- Set up medical laboratory equipment
- Prepare chemical reagents to be combined with biological samples for testing
- Conduct routine laboratory tests and sample analyses
- Perform quality assurance of testing techniques and record results
- Clean and maintain medical laboratory and medical laboratory equipment
Skills:
Interpersonal communication skills
Flexibility and adaptability
Teamwork
Occupational health and safety
Quality assurance
Bilingual
Job title examples:
Medical laboratory aide
Medical laboratory assistant
Medical laboratory technician
Phlebotomist
Phlebotomy aide
Includes:
Blood bank technician
Renal technician
Hourly wages:
$17.94 low
$27.68 median
$39.25 high
Education & Training:
| Pre-Health Sciences Pathway | St. Lawrence College | |
| Medical Transcriptionist | St. Lawrence College | |
| Pharmacy Assistant | Elegance College |
SECTION 4
Medical Radiation Technologists
Median hourly wage:
$43.91/hr
What you do:
Medical radiation technologists use radiation and electromagnetism to produce images of body structures for the diagnosis and treatment of injury and disease and use radiation therapy equipment to administer radiation treatment. They are employed in hospitals, cancer treatment centres, clinics, radiological laboratories, colleges and universities.
Main job duties:
Radiological technologists
- Operate X-ray, radiographic and fluoroscopic equipment, computerized tomography (CT) scanners and mammography units to produce radiographs or anatomic images of the human body for the diagnosis by radiologists of disease or injury
Nuclear medicine technologists
- Prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals, such as radionuclides and other tracer materials, to patients or biological samples
- Operate radiation detection equipment, such as gamma cameras, scanners, scintillation counters, tomodensitometers and ionization chambers, to acquire data for use by nuclear medicine physicians in the diagnosis of disease
Radiation therapists
- Operate linear accelerators, cobalt 60, X-ray and other radiation therapy equipment to administer radiation treatment prescribed by radiation oncologists
- Assist radiation oncologists and clinical physicists with preparation of radiation treatment plan
- Assist in the preparation of sealed radioactive materials such as cobalt, radium, cesium and isotopes and the construction of devices such as plaster casts and acrylic moulds to assist with administration of radiation treatment
Magnetic resonance technologists
- Operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to produce anatomic images of the human body for diagnosis by radiologists of disease or injury
- Perform verification and quality control checks on magnet equipment
- Safety screen all patients for contra-indicators present that could harm the patient or would exclude the patient from having the examination
Skills:
Interpersonal skills
Leadership
Javascript
Teamwork
Problem-solving
Bilingual
Job title examples:
Mammography technician
Nuclear medicine clinical instructor
Nuclear medicine technologist
Nuclear medicine technologists supervisor
Radiation oncology technologist
Radiation therapist
Radiation therapy clinical instructor
Radiation therapy technologist (RTT)
Radiography technologist
Radiological technologist
Radiotherapy technician
X-ray (radiology) technician
Includes:
Diagnostic imaging technologist
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologist
Hourly wages:
$33.45 low
$43.91 median
$50.18 high
Education & Training:
SECTION 5
Medical Sonographers
Median hourly wage:
$40.44/hr
What you do:
Medical sonographers operate ultrasound equipment to produce and record images of various parts of the body to aid physicians in monitoring pregnancies and in diagnosing cardiac, ophthalmic, vascular and other medical disorders. They are employed in clinics and hospitals.
Main job duties:
- Operate ultrasound imaging equipment that transmits high-frequency sound pulses through the body to produce images of those parts of the body requiring examination
- Monitor examination by viewing images on video screen, to evaluate quality and consistency of diagnostic images, and make adjustments to equipment, as required
- Record, store and process scanned images by using camera unit connected to ultrasound equipment
- Observe and care for patients throughout examinations to ensure patient safety and comfort
- Prepare examination reports for physicians to aid in the monitoring of pregnancies and the diagnosis of cardiac, abdominal, ophthalmic, vascular and other disorders
- Perform quality control checks on ultrasound equipment to ensure proper operation and perform minor repairs and adjustments as required
Skills:
Interpersonal communication skills
Patient care
Teamwork
Time management
Bilingual
Job title examples:
Diagnostic medical sonography instructor
Medical sonographer
Medical sonographers supervisor
Registered diagnostic medical sonographer (RDMS)
Ultrasound technologist
Hourly wages:
$31.93 low
$40.44 median
$47.90 high
Education & Training:
SECTION 6
Massage Therapists
Median hourly wage:
$31.03/hr
What you do:
Massage therapists assess soft tissues and joints of the body for treatment and prevention of dysfunction, injury, pain and physical disorders. They work in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals, clinics, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres and educational institutions.
Main job duties:
- Assess clients by conducting range of motion and muscle tests and propose treatment plans
- Explain procedures, risks and benefits to clients
- Administer massage techniques, treating soft tissues and joints of the body through soft tissue manipulation, relaxation techniques, hydrotherapy, trigger point therapy, joint pain and lower grade mobilizations, remedial exercise programs and client self-help programs
- Suggest home care instructions and provide information about techniques for further postural improvement and stretching, strengthening, relaxation and rehabilitative exercises
- Maintain records of treatments given
- May consult with other health care professionals such as physiotherapists, chiropractors, physicians and psychologists when developing treatment plans for clients.
Skills:
Interpersonal communication skills
Teamwork skills
Fast-paced setting
Charting software
Scheduling
Job title examples:
Massage therapist (MT)
Registered massage practitioner
Registered massage therapist (RMT)
Hourly wages:
$18.53 low
$31.03 median
$57.11 high
Education & Training:
| Massage Therapy | Elegance College | https://elegance.on.ca/programs/massage-therapy/ |
SECTION 7
Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses
Median hourly wage:
$38.91/hr
What you do:
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses provide direct nursing care to patients, deliver health education programs and provide consultative services regarding issues relevant to the practice of nursing. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors' offices, clinics, community agencies, companies, private homes and public and private organizations or they may be self-employed.
Main job duties:
- Assess patients to identify appropriate nursing interventions
- Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
- Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by a physician or according to established policies and protocols
- Monitor, assess, address, document and report symptoms and changes in patients’ conditions
- Operate or monitor medical apparatus or equipment
- Assist in surgery and other medical procedures
- May supervise licensed practical nurses and other nursing staff
- May develop and implement discharge planning process on admission of patients
- May teach and counsel patients and their families on health-related issues in collaboration with other health care providers.
Skills:
Interpersonal communication skills
Patient care
Teamwork
Leadership
Bilingual
Job title examples:
Clinical nurse
Community health nurse
Critical care nurse
Emergency care nurse
Intensive care nurse
Nurse researcher
Nursing consultant
Occupational health nurse
Private duty nurse
Public health nurse
Registered nurse (R.N.)
Registered psychiatric nurse (R.P.N.)
Includes:
Infection control officer
Hourly wages:
$27.28 low
$38.91 median
$49.70 high
Education & Training:
| Personal Support Work to Practical Nurse Pathway | St. Lawrence College | |
| Practical Nursing | St. Lawrence College |
Continuing Education
| Pre-Health Sciences Pathway Advanced | St. Lawrence College | |
| Practical Nurse Perioperative | St. Lawrence College | |
| Records and Information Management | St. Lawrence College | |
| Registered Nurse Prescribing | St. Lawrence College | |
| Registered Nurse Critical Care | St. Lawrence College | |
| Professional Development (MRT) | Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists | |
| Additions & Mental Health Micro-credential | St. Lawrence College |
SECTION 8
Nurse Practitioners
Median hourly wage:
$55.78/hr
What you do:
Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with additional education, advanced knowledge and nursing experience, and a specialty of practice. They provide a range of health services to patients and deliver preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Nurse practitioners work in conjunction with physicians and collaboratively with other nursing colleagues and health-care providers, or they may work independently. They are employed in community health centres, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and rehabilitation centres. Nurse practitioners may specialize in primary healthcare or acute care.
Main job duties:
- Examine patients, take their medical histories and consult with physicians and other medical practitioners to evaluate patients’ physical and mental health
- Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures
- Inoculate and vaccinate patients
- Advise patients and their families on health care, including health promotion, disease, illness and accident prevention
- Collaborate with members of an interdisciplinary health team, such as family physicians, therapists, and nutritionists to plan, implement, coordinate and evaluate patient care in consultation with patients and their families
- Perform a patient advocacy role
- Prescribe and administer medications
May co-ordinate or manage primary patient care.
May co-ordinate or manage primary patient care.
Skills:
Communication skills
Leadership
Patient care
Teamwork
Critical thinking
Bilingual
Job title examples:
Advanced practice nurse
Extended class registered nurse
Nurse practitioner
Hourly wages:
$24.83 low
$55.78 median
$68.85 high
Education & Training:
SECTION 9
Entrepreneurs / Business Owners | Healthcare
Median hourly wage:
Varies
What you do:
Organize and operate a business, taking on greater than normal financial risks to do so.
Main job duties:
- Creating and managing a business plan, ongoing research and planning, hiring staff, creating policies, and forecasting
- Maintaining business accounts, payments processing, taxes and general bookkeeping
- Develop marketing campaigns, manage social media and conduct other marketing activities
- Respond to customer service inquiries, including answering phone calls and emails to build a positive reputation for the business
Skills:
Work independently
Customer service
Organization
Accounting
Time management
Job title examples:
Small Business Owner
Franchisee
Hourly wages:
Education & Training:
| Business Management/Entrepreneurial | St. Lawrence College | |
| Supply Chain Management | St. Lawrence College | |
| Business Administration | St. Lawrence College | |
| Leadership Development Series | St. Lawrence College |