Aviation
Career Ladder
Learn About the Aviation Career Path
Advance your skills and learn what it takes to move up the Aviation Career Ladder!
Each career level contains information about wages, job descriptions, main job duties, examples of job titles, general skills, and links to educational and training opportunities. Select one of the levels to learn more.
To explore other career ladders, please visit our Career Ladders page. If you have further questions about local labour market information, email helpdesk@wdb.ca or visit wdb.ca.
Entrepreneur / Business Owner
MEDIAN HOURLY WAGE
Varies
Varies
Professional Pilot/Flight Instructor
$63.22
Air Traffic Controller
$45.42
Aircraft Instrument, Electrical and Avionics Mechanics, Technicians & Inspectors
$41.39
Flight Attendant
$28.20
Check-in/Gate Attendant
$19.07
*median hourly wage as of October 1, 2024
Check-in/Gate Attendant
Hourly
Wages
Wages
Low
$17.20
Median
$19.07
High
$24.33
Main Job Duties
- Help customers plan travel time and routes, prepare and issue tickets, assign seats, prepare boarding passes, check baggage, attend boarding gates
- Assist pre-boarding passengers and provide information on fares and flight schedules and routes
- Trace lost, delayed or misdirected baggage for customers
Skills
Social Perceptiveness
Coordinating
Instructing
Monitoring
Time Management
Coordinating
Instructing
Monitoring
Time Management
Job Title Examples
Airline Ticket Agent
Counter Services Agent
Check-In Agent
Education & Training
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Several weeks of on-the-job and classroom training are provided for all occupations in this unit group.
- Airline station agents usually require experience as a ticket, baggage or cargo agent.
- Load planners require a restricted radio operator’s licence and usually require airline operations experience.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
SENECA POLYTECHNIC
FLEMING COLLEGE
Continuing Education
Continuing Education
OTEC – ONTARIO TOURISM EDUCATION CORPORATION
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write a driver’s test
Many jobs can be listed directly in the careers section of most airline websites.
Flight Attendant
Hourly
Wages
Wages
Low
$24.93
Median
$28.20
High
$41.88
Main Job Duties
- Greet passengers, explain and demonstrate safety procedures, check the general condition of the aircraft cabin, ensure that all necessary supplies are on board
- Attend to safety of passengers during take-offs, landings and emergencies
- Serve food and beverages to passengers and make flight announcements
Skills
Social Perceptiveness
Coordinating
Instructing
Monitoring
Time Management
Coordinating
Instructing
Monitoring
Time Management
Job Title Examples
Aircraft Flight Attendant
Flight Service Director
In-Charge Flight Attendant
Education & Training
- Flight attendants require the completion of secondary school and a training program approved by Transport Canada.
- Flight attendants usually require experience working with the public.
- Transport Canada requires that all commercial air operators (airlines) who employ flight attendants must have an approved flight attendant training program. Usually, a person is first hired by a commercial airline. The candidate will then complete a training program to qualify as a flight attendant with that company.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
SENECA POLYTECHNIC
Georgian College
AIRLINES IN CANADA
FLEMING COLLEGE
Continuing Education
Continuing Education
OTEC – ONTARIO TOURISM EDUCATION CORPORATION
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write a driver’s test
Many jobs can be listed directly in the careers section of most airline websites.
Aircraft Instrument, Electrical and Avionics Mechanics, Technicians & Inspectors
Hourly
Wages
Wages
Low
$32.54
Median
$41.39
High
$54.31
Main Job Duties
- Repair and overhaul, install, calibrate and test aircraft instruments
- Repair and overhaul, modify, install and test aircraft electrical systems and equipment
- Troubleshoot, repair and overhaul, test, modify, install and inspect aircraft electronic systems and components including communications, navigation, and autoflight equipment
- Inspect and test aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics systems and ensure that the installation, maintenance, repair and overhaul of these systems meet Transport Canada and company standards of performance and safety
Skills
Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
Troubleshooting
Repairing
Preventative Maintenance
Quality Control Testing
Troubleshooting
Repairing
Preventative Maintenance
Quality Control Testing
Job Title Examples
Aircraft Electrician
Aircraft Mechanic
Avionics Technician
Education & Training
- Aircraft instrument and avionics mechanics and technicians require completion of a two- to three-year college program in avionics or electronics.
- Aircraft electrical mechanics and technicians require completion of a college program as an electrical or electronic technician.
- Avionics inspectors require completion of a two- to three-year college program in avionics or electronics and three to five years of experience as an avionics mechanic or technician.
- Avionics inspectors, mechanics and technicians who sign maintenance releases and certify airworthiness require an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s (AME) licence (category E – avionics) issued by Transport Canada.
- Industry certification is available from the Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace (CCAA) for some occupations in this unit group.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
FLEMING COLLEGE
CENTENNIAL COLLEGE
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write a driver’s test
Many jobs can be listed directly in the careers section of most airline websites.
Air Traffic Controller
Hourly
Wages
Wages
Low
$31.57
Median
$45.42
High
$75.70
Main Job Duties
- Control flow of air traffic within assigned airspace using radar monitors, radio and other communication equipment and visual references
- Issue aircraft takeoff and landing instructions to pilots and relay meteorological, navigational and other information to pilots in flight
- Maintain radio and telephone contact with adjacent control towers, terminal control units and other area control centres, and coordinate movement of aircraft into adjoining areas
- Alert airport emergency services when aircraft are experiencing difficulties and report missing aircraft to search and rescue services
- Direct activities of all moving aircraft and service vehicles on or near airport runways
Skills
Coordinating
Monitoring
Digital Literacy
Oral Communication: Oral Expression
Problem Solving
Monitoring
Digital Literacy
Oral Communication: Oral Expression
Problem Solving
Job Title Examples
Air Traffic Controller
Flight Service Specialist
Flight Dispatcher
Flight Operations Officer
Education & Training
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- A basic radio telephone operator’s licence is required.
- Air traffic controllers and flight service specialists require completion of a NAV Canada training program which includes structured in-class and on-the-job training.
- Air traffic controllers require an air traffic controller’s licence.
- Flight dispatchers may require experience in air traffic control or flight operations and may require a private pilot’s licence.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Seneca Polytechnic – Peterborough Campus
Seneca Polytechnic
NAV CANADA
Vaughn College
FLEMING COLLEGE
Continuing Education
Continuing Education
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write a driver’s test
Many jobs can be listed directly in the careers section of most airline websites.
Professional Pilot/
Flight Instructor
Hourly
Wages
Wages
Low
$39.21
Median
$63.22
High
$88.22
Main Job Duties
- Conduct pre-flight inspection of aircraft and check passenger and cargo distribution to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met
- Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air-traffic control, inform crew members of flight and test procedures and direct activities of aircraft crew during flights
- Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions and other information
- Conduct in-flight tests and monitor functioning of aircraft equipment and systems during flights, maintain communications with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters and respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions
- Prepare flight evaluation reports
- Train pilots to use new equipment, or prepare them for examinations to revalidate or upgrade existing licences
- May fly new or experimental planes to examine their flight performance and safety
- May participate in search and rescue operations, forest firefighting, aerial surveying, crop dusting and other services
- Instruct student pilots in procedures and techniques of flying aircraft and in ground-school subjects such as navigation, radio procedures and flying regulations
- Train licensed pilots for additional certification
Skills
Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
Digital Literacy
Operation and Control
Instructing
Monitoring
Digital Literacy
Operation and Control
Instructing
Monitoring
Job Title Examples
Airplane Pilot
Helicopter Pilot
Flight Instructor
Flying Instructor
Education & Training
- Completion of secondary school and graduation from a certified flying or aviation school are required.
- A university degree or college diploma may be required.
- A commercial pilot’s licence (more than 200 hours of flight experience) or an air transport pilot’s licence (more than 1500 hours of flight experience) is required.
- Transport Canada ratings and endorsements to provide instructions on different types of aircraft are required.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Seneca Polytechnic – Peterborough Campus
W.M. Aeroflight Inc. – Peterborough
Aerotrike Aviation – Peterborough
Seneca Polytechnic
University of Waterloo
Ontario Flight Centre – Georgian College
Flight Schools in Ontario
FLEMING COLLEGE
Continuing Education
Continuing Education
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write a driver’s test
Many jobs can be listed directly in the careers section of most airline websites.
Entrepreneur / Business Owner
Approximately 1,450 new businesses are launched annually in the WDB region.
Main Job Duties
- Create and manage a business plan, including ongoing research and planning, and time management
- Secure funding, maintain business bank accounts, payments processing, taxes and general bookkeeping
- Develop marketing campaigns, manage social media and conduct other marketing activities
- Respond to customer service inquiries, including answer phone calls and emails to build a positive reputation for the business
- Recruit and manage employees
Skills
Work Independently
Customer Service
Organization
Time Management
Accounting
Customer Service
Organization
Time Management
Accounting
Job Title Examples
Small Business Owner
Franchisee
Education & Training
ONTARIO SUMMER COMPANY
Grant for students aged 15 to 29 to start a new summer business
Grant for students aged 15 to 29 to start a new summer business
STARTER COMPANY PLUS
Grant for Canadians 18+ to start a new business or grow a business that has been in operations for fewer than five years
Grant for Canadians 18+ to start a new business or grow a business that has been in operations for fewer than five years
COMMUNITY FUTURES
Financing, mentorship and community support for local small businesses
Financing, mentorship and community support for local small businesses
INNOVATION CLUSTER
Supports entrepreneurs in the formation and growth of tech-driven companies
Supports entrepreneurs in the formation and growth of tech-driven companies
FLEMING COLLEGE
Continuing Education
Continuing Education
TRENT UNIVERSITY
Sources:
National Occupational Classification (NOC)
Lightcast (2024.1)
Job Bank
These Career Ladders were developed as part of the Build and Soar Program and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This Employment Ontario project is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.