Popular Part Time Jobs for Students in Canada
August 23, 2023
|
Are you a student in Canada looking to make some extra money while gaining valuable experience? Look no further! Part-time jobs for students in Canada have become increasingly more prevalent as student demand has risen. Some of the highest paying part-time jobs for students in Canada are easily accessible on campus, like teachers or research assistants.
From being a teacher's assistant to working as a salesperson, there are plenty of options. Lend your skills as a prospective working individual in Canada by checking out and applying to one of the top 10 most popular part-time jobs for students in Canada!
Top 10 Popular Part-Time Jobs for Students in Canada
If you’re on the hunt for a job as a student, here are the ten most popular part-time jobs in Canada for international students in Canada. Information on where jobs are in demand and their average hourly rate is sourced from Canada’s Job Bank.
Teachers Assistant (NOC 43100)
Being a teacher's assistant is a fantastic part-time job for students in Canada. It provides you with an opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills, but it also allows you to positively impact students' lives.
As a teacher's assistant, you will assist the teacher in various tasks such as grading papers, preparing lesson materials, and supporting students. This job is both intellectually stimulating and also highly rewarding.
Job Prospects
Provinces in demand: Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Quebec, Yukon Territory.
Average Hourly Wage
Median hourly wage rate: 29.90 CAD.
Food and Beverage Server (NOC 65200)
If you have excellent customer service skills, becoming a food and beverage server might be the right fit for you. Restaurants, cafes, and bars always need friendly and efficient servers.
This part-time job allows you to earn tips, which can significantly increase your income. You also interact with people from diverse backgrounds, enhancing your communication and interpersonal skills.
Job Prospects
Provinces in demand: Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Yukon Territory.
Average Hourly Wage
Median hourly wage rate: 20.66 CAD.
Rideshare Driver (NOC 75200)
With the rise of ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft, becoming a rideshare driver has become a popular part-time job for students in Canada. If you have a valid driver's license and a reliable vehicle, you can earn money by providing transportation services to passengers.
This job offers flexible working hours, allowing you to choose when you want to work. Additionally, you can meet interesting people and explore different parts of the city while earning money.
Job Prospects
Provinces in demand: Ontario.
Average Hourly Wage
Median hourly wage rate: 21.63 CAD.
Learn more about how to work in Canada as an Uber driver.
Tutor or Instructor (NOC 41210)
If you excel in a particular subject or have a specific skill, working as a tutor or instructor can be both financially rewarding and personally fulfilling. Many students in Canada require additional academic support or want to learn a new skill, making tutoring a high-demand part-time job.
Whether you specialize in math, science, music, or languages, you can find eager students to learn from you. This job allows you to share your knowledge and helps you develop your communication and teaching abilities.
Job Prospects
Provinces in demand: Quebec.
Average Hourly Wage
Median hourly wage rate: 56.21 CAD.
Freelancer (NOC 51111)
In today's digital age, freelancing has become a popular choice for students looking for part-time jobs in Canada. As a freelancer, you can offer your services in various fields such as writing, graphic design, web development, editing, and social media management.
This job allows you to work on your terms, choose your clients, and set your rates. It also allows you to work from anywhere, allowing you to balance work and studies effectively.
Job Prospects
Provinces in demand: Manitoba.
Average Hourly Wage
Median hourly wage rate: 42.63 CAD.
Nanny or Babysitter (NOC 44100)
If you love spending time with children and have a knack for taking care of them, working as a nanny or babysitter can be a rewarding part-time job for students in Canada. Many families need reliable and trustworthy individuals to look after their children while they are at work or attending events.
This job allows you to earn money and allows you to develop your interpersonal and problem-solving skills. Plus, the joy of watching children grow and thrive is truly priceless.
Job Prospects
Provinces in demand: Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Yukon Territory.
Average Hourly Wage
Median hourly wage rate: 23.12 CAD.
Dog Walker (NOC 65220)
Are you a pet lover? Ever thought of turning your love for animals into a part-time job? Becoming a dog walker is an excellent option for students in Canada who enjoy spending time outdoors and have a genuine affection for dogs.
Many busy pet owners cannot give their furry friends the exercise they need, which is where you come in. By taking dogs for walks and ensuring they get their daily dose of exercise, you help the pets stay healthy and get paid for doing something they love.
Job Prospects
Provinces in demand: Ontario.
Average Hourly Wage
Median hourly wage rate: 21.76 CAD.
Translator (NOC 51114)
If you are bilingual or multilingual, working as a translator can be a lucrative part-time job for students in Canada. As Canada is a multicultural country, there is a high demand for translators who can bridge the language gap between different communities.
Whether it's translating documents, interpreting for clients, or providing language assistance, this job allows you to utilize your language skills while earning money. It also provides you with valuable cultural insights and enhances your communication abilities.
Job Prospects
Provinces in demand: Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Yukon Territory.
Average Hourly Wage
Median hourly wage rate: 39.23 CAD.
Salesperson (NOC 64100)
If you have excellent communication and persuasion skills, working as a salesperson can be a rewarding part-time job for students in Canada. Many retail stores and businesses constantly seek enthusiastic individuals who can promote their products or services. As a salesperson, you will interact with customers, assist them in finding the right products, and close sales. This job not only helps you develop your sales and negotiation skills but also provides you with valuable customer service experience.
Job Prospects
Provinces in demand: Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Life, Yukon Territory.
Average Hourly Wage
Median hourly wage rate: 20.67 CAD.
Service Coordinator (NOC 64409)
Working as a service coordinator is an excellent part-time job for students in Canada who are detail-oriented and organized. Many companies, especially in the service industry, require individuals who can manage appointments, handle customer inquiries, and ensure smooth operations.
As a service coordinator, you will schedule appointments, coordinate with technicians or service providers, and maintain customer satisfaction. This job offers valuable administrative and customer service experience, which can benefit your future career.
Job Prospects
Provinces in demand: Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory.
Average Hourly Wage
Median hourly wage rate: 36.89 CAD.
How Can I Work in Canada as a Student?
You have several options to work part-time while pursuing your studies as an international student in Canada. The options include working on campus, working off campus, and working as an intern or co-op student.
What Visa Do You Need?
To work in Canada as a student, you need a valid study permit. A study permit allows you to work part-time during the academic year and full-time during scheduled winter or summer holiday breaks. Please ensure that your study permit explicitly states that you are authorized to work off campus.
Work On Campus
Working on campus is a convenient option for students as it allows them to work within their university or college premises. Many institutions offer part-time job opportunities in various departments such as:
- Libraries
- Cafeterias
- Administrative offices
- Research labs
To be eligible to work on campus without a work permit as a student in Canada, you must:
- Be a student at a post-secondary designated learning institution (DLI)
- have a valid study permit
- Have a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Working on campus not only provides you with a source of income but also allows you to engage with the campus community and make valuable connections with faculty and staff.
Work Off Campus
If you prefer to explore job opportunities outside of your campus, you can work off-campus as a student in Canada. The eligibility requirements to apply to work off campus without a work permit for part-time job opportunities are the same as working on campus, including:
- Ensuring your study program is more than six months,
- Your study program leads to the grant of a degree, diploma or certificate and
- You have already begun studying
Industries that hire students to work off-campus part-time jobs include:
- Retail
- Hospitality
- Professional services
- Caregiving occupations e.g. nannies
Choosing to work off-campus provides you with the opportunity to gain real-world experience, expand your professional network, and develop essential working experience skills that will benefit you in your future career.
Work as an Intern or Co-op Student
Another excellent way to gain valuable work experience as a student in Canada is through internships or co-op programs. Many universities and colleges in Canada have study programs that include work experience as part of their curriculum.
To facilitate this curriculum, Canadian tertiary institutions have forged partnerships with companies and organizations offering students internships or co-op placements.
Internships and cooperative placements allow you to integrate classroom learning with practical work experience, providing a well-rounded education. Working as an intern or co-op student increases your chances of securing a job in your desired field after graduation.
Learn more about internships or co-op student work opportunities.
Why Work as a Student in Canada
Working part-time as a student in Canada offers numerous benefits. Here are some reasons why students should consider working while studying in Canada.
Financial Support
Working part-time provides students with a source of income to cover their living expenses and tuition fees or save for future goals. It allows them to become financially independent and reduces the need for relying solely on student loans, parental support, study grants, and other alternative student funding sources.
Gain Work Experience
Working part-time allows you to gain practical work experience in your chosen field. This is valuable when you start applying for internships, co-op programs, or full-time jobs after your graduation.
Work experience gained as a student also helps develop your transferable skills, which are highly sought after by Canadian employers. These skills include
- Communication,
- Teamwork,
- Critical thinking, and
- Problem-solving.
Networking Opportunities
Working part-time allows students to network and build social capital connections within their chosen field. You can meet professionals, mentors, and potential employers who can offer valuable insights and guidance about career opportunities.
Improved Language Skills
Working part-time in Canada as a student can significantly improve your language skills. It allows you to practice English or French in a real-life work setting, boosting your confidence and fluency.
Improved language skills can also enhance your academic performance and future career prospects because employers see it as a mark of strong communication skills.
Learn more about Canada’s language skills testing system and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
Work-Life Balance
The Canadian government doesn’t allow international students to work more than 20 hours a week while studying. This means that, as an international student in Canada, you can maintain an effective work-life balance, allowing you to get the most out of your studies, extracurricular activities, social life, and student life in Canada while still being able to supplement your income.
Post-Graduation Work Opportunities
Working part-time in Canada as a student can lead to post-graduation work opportunities. This is due to Canadian employers prioritizing Canadian qualifications- which are generally of a world-class level- which do not need to be accredited by either the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) or an international body like the World Education Services (WES). Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides various programs and permits that allow international students to work in Canada after completing their studies. This provides a pathway to gain valuable work experience and potentially immigrate to Canada.
Find out more about how to get a Post Graduate Work Permit in Canada.
FAQs
What are the Regulations for International Students Working Part-time in Canada?
International students in Canada have certain regulations to follow when it comes to working part-time. According to Canada’s government website, international students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions.
However, during vacation periods, like scheduled summer or winter holiday breaks or fall or spring reading week, they are allowed to work full-time.
Students working part-time can’t work in trade, highly skilled or professional occupations that require a post-secondary institution qualification i.e. IT professionals.
What are the Minimum Wages and Income Taxes for International Students Working Part-time in Canada?
The minimum wage for part-time jobs in Canada varies by province or territory and the part-time job you applied for and were accepted for. However, generally speaking, the minimum average hourly wage for part-time students in Canada is outlined as follows in the table below:
| Province | Minimum Hour Rate for Part-Time Work (CAD) |
| Alberta | 20.31 |
| British Columbia | 22.68 |
| Manitba | 19.16 |
| New Brunswick | 19.97 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 19.63 |
| Northwest Territories | 20.58 |
| Nova Scotia | 19.63 |
| Nunavut | 21.67 |
| Ontario | 20.99 |
| Prince Edwad Island | 19.63 |
| Quebec | 20,66 |
| Saskatchewan | 17.61 |
| Yukon | 22.71 |
All figures are obtained from the Canadian government.
Income taxes may apply to international students working part-time in Canada. Consult with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or a tax professional to understand their tax obligations.