In light of the many challenges facing Canada’s energy sector,*  Monday’s edition of The Owl compared the output of the energy sector to other slices of the national economic pie while Tuesday’s edition tallied the number of energy sector jobs versus those in other industries.

In the third and final installment of the series, we take a look at the average pay provided by energy sector jobs vis-à-vis pay in other sectors.

The energy sector stands out in terms of the average compensation it offers. As of 2019, energy sector jobs paid an average of $66.95 per hour or $137,550 per year. The average across all industries was a more modest $37.35 per hour or $63,153 per year.

Not everyone in the energy sector earns the same amount, but the average level of compensation highlights that, when it comes to pay, energy sector jobs are “good” jobs.

Auto sector jobs stack up relatively well at $47.32 per hour or $92,645 per year.

At the other end of the spectrum are jobs in the accommodation and food services sector. The average hourly pay in this sector in 2019 was $20.35 or $28,895 per year.

*Includes oil and gas extraction, support services for oil and gas extraction such as contract drilling, pipeline transportation, natural gas distribution, petroleum refineries, coal mining, uranium ore mining, and electric power generation, transmission and distribution.