You have seen them go by: those lists of "jobs that could be worth millions by 2030, and nobody is paying attention". Number 9 is always the wildest. The video runs eight minutes, cites no source, and ends with a link to a paid course.
Here is the problem: the information these creators sell you drop by drop is public, free, and updated by the Government of Canada. It is called the Job Bank. For each occupation you will find the real salaries in Quebec, the official employment outlook, the number of people employed, and the education level of those who hold the job.
This article does two things. It shows you how to read these profiles yourself, so you never depend on an influencer again. And it applies the method to seven frequently cited occupations, with the official figures and the real training path in Quebec. You will see that the data sometimes flatly contradicts the viral narrative.
How to read a Job Bank profile
The Job Bank is the Government of Canada labour market information service. You search an occupation, you choose your province, and you get four pieces of information worth more than any video.
- The salaries (low, median, high). This is not a marketing average: "low" corresponds to people starting out, "high" to the most experienced. Always look at the full range, never the top figure alone.
- The employment outlook, rated Good, Moderate or Limited, over a three-year period, and broken down by region. It is the most important data point, and the one viral lists always ignore.
- The number of people employed in Quebec. Useful to gauge the real size of the pool: an occupation of 4,000 people does not open up like one of 70,000.
- The education level of those employed. It reveals the real entry door. If a third of holders have a college diploma, the bachelor's degree is not mandatory, whatever the job posting says.
The habit to build: open the occupation profile, then select your region. Outlooks vary enormously from one region to another. An occupation that is "limited" in Montreal can be "good" in Abitibi, and the reverse is just as true. It is free and takes two minutes.
The seven occupations, with the real numbers
Here is the official data, as is. Salaries are hourly and apply to Quebec. Each profile states its source and the date of the data. Nothing is estimated or rounded by us.
1. Cybersecurity analyst (NOC 21220)
These people protect an organization's systems and data: threat monitoring, incident response, penetration testing, compliance. They work in companies, consulting firms and the public sector.
Salary in Quebec: between $30.67/h and $71.43/h depending on experience. A cybersecurity management role reaches a median of about $67.55/h, or nearly $140,500 per year.
Official outlook: Good in Quebec for 2025-2027. About 7,350 people hold this job. Expected growth should create several positions.
Training in Quebec: the AEC in cybersecurity (generally 16 to 24 months) at institutions such as Collège de Rosemont or Cégep de Sherbrooke; the DEC in computer science (3 years); or a bachelor's degree or university certificate (Polytechnique, ÉTS, universities). Usual AEC prerequisite: the DES, with a computing foundation. Verify exact prerequisites with the institution.
Ground truth: the education level of jobholders is revealing: 33% hold a college attestation or diploma, 28% a bachelor's degree, 27% a graduate degree. College is therefore a real entry door. In Montreal, bilingualism commonly adds $5,000 to $10,000 to the salary. Finally, one rarely enters directly through a "cyber" title: the path often goes through IT support, fraud analysis or compliance.
Source: Job Bank, NOC 21220 profile (Quebec). Wages updated November 19, 2025; outlook updated December 10, 2025.
2. Registered nurse (NOC 31301)
Assessment, care, coordination: registered nursing staff handle the clinical care of patients in hospitals, long-term care homes, clinics and at home.
Salary in Quebec: between $27.00/h and $50.00/h. For a nurse practitioner (IPS), the range rises from $40.00/h to $66.26/h.
Official outlook: Moderate in Quebec for the 2024-2026 period. About 70,500 people hold this job, one of the largest pools in the province.
Training in Quebec: the DEC in nursing (3 years, at public CEGEPs, therefore at very low cost) or the bachelor's degree in nursing sciences (integrated path or 3 years after the DEC). The IPS requires a master's degree. DEC prerequisites: the DES with science prerequisites. The OIIQ licence is mandatory to practise.
Ground truth: the salary is largely governed by collective agreements, which limits individual negotiation but protects the floor. Real progression comes through specialization (IPS) or the private sector. Note: 42% of holders have a college diploma and 45% a bachelor's degree, so both paths genuinely coexist.
Source: Job Bank, NOC 31301 profile (Quebec). Wages updated November 19, 2025.
3. Electrician (NOC 72200)
Installation, maintenance and repair of electrical systems, in residential, commercial or industrial construction.
Salary in Quebec: between $22.40/h (low) and $44.79/h (high), with a median of $41.30/h. Wages in this trade are largely governed by construction agreements, and vary by region.
Official outlook: Limited in Quebec for 2025-2027. A number of experienced workers are already seeking employment in this occupation.
Training in Quebec: the DEP in electricity (about 1,800 hours, nearly 18 months; verify the exact duration on Inforoute FPT), then the apprenticeship supervised by the CCQ, with a number of hours to complete before obtaining the qualification certificate.
Ground truth: 78% of jobholders hold a trade school diploma. This is not a bad trade: it is a trade everyone has been recommending for five years, and the pool has filled up. Outlooks vary strongly by region: check yours before enrolling.
Source: Job Bank, NOC 72200 profile (Quebec) — wages. Wages updated November 19, 2025; outlook updated December 10, 2025.
4. Database and data analyst (NOC 21223)
These people design, develop and manage data management solutions; they define data rules, procedures and models. They are found in consulting firms and in the IT departments of the private and public sectors.
Salary in Quebec: between $22.00/h and $55.00/h. Canada-wide, the range runs from $25.00/h to $61.03/h: Quebec therefore pays somewhat less than the Canadian average.
Official outlook: Limited in Quebec for 2025-2027. About 4,850 people hold this job. Among the factors cited: a number of experienced workers are already seeking employment in this occupation.
Training in Quebec: the occupation generally requires a university degree (bachelor's, master's or doctorate), often in computer science, statistics or mathematics. A DEC in computer science topped up with a university certificate in data science is a frequent path. Verify the real requirements in the job postings in your region.
Ground truth: here is exactly the kind of occupation viral lists adore, and about which the official data says the opposite. The pool is small (4,850 people), the university requirement is real, and experienced candidates are already looking. It is not an easy entry door.
Source: Job Bank, NOC 21223 profile (Quebec), consulted in July 2026.
5. Software developer (NOC 21232)
Design, writing, testing and maintenance of software and web applications. It is the most sought-after job in the information technology group.
Salary in Quebec: between $29.00/h and $68.13/h. In the Capitale-Nationale region, the median salary is $45.67/h.
Official outlook: Good in Quebec for the 2024-2026 period. Expected employment growth should create several positions, and some positions will open up through retirements.
Training in Quebec: the DEC in computer science techniques (3 years, public CEGEPs) is the most direct route; the bachelor's degree in software engineering or computer science (ÉTS, Polytechnique, universities) opens the more specialized positions. AECs in web development also exist, over 12 to 18 months depending on the institution.
Ground truth, and it matters: outlooks are not uniform across IT. For the neighbouring group of computer specialists (NOC 21222), about 53,550 people in Quebec, the outlook is only Moderate for 2025-2027, and the Job Bank specifies that the growing use of artificial intelligence and the challenges that result from it could moderate demand. In other words: "working in IT" guarantees nothing; it is the precise role that counts. We cover this transformation in our article on AI as a productivity lever.
Sources: Job Bank, NOC 21232 and NOC 21222 profiles (Quebec), consulted in July 2026.
6. Nurse aide / patient care attendant (NOC 33102)
Basic patient care, assisting nursing and medical staff: hygiene, mobility, feeding, support. In hospitals, long-term care homes and seniors' residences.
Salary in Quebec: between $20.00/h and $27.92/h. The Canadian range is comparable ($19.00/h to $28.84/h). Regional gaps exist: in Nord-du-Québec, the range rises to $38.97/h.
Official outlook: Good in Quebec for the 2024-2026 period. About 68,450 people hold this job. Demand is high, driven by population aging, long-term care needs and government health priorities.
Training in Quebec: this is the shortest training on this list. The DEP in assistance to persons in facilities and at home leads directly to employment; shorter attestations (AEP) also exist. Verify the exact duration on Inforoute FPT and with the vocational training centre in your region.
Ground truth: this is the only occupation on the list where a short training gives access to officially good outlooks. The trade-off is clear and must be said: the salary caps low (under $28/h at the top of the range), and the work is physically and emotionally demanding. It is a fast entry door into the health network, often used as a stepping stone toward the DEC in nursing.
Source: Job Bank, NOC 33102 profile (Quebec). Wages updated in November 2025.
7. Electrical and electronics engineering technologist (NOC 22310)
Technical support for the design, testing, production and operation of electrical and electronic equipment and systems. They are found at electric utilities, in telecommunications, manufacturing, engineering consulting and the public sector.
Salary in Quebec: between $25.00/h and $52.00/h.
Official outlook: Moderate in Quebec for 2025-2027. About 10,000 people hold this job. Some positions will be created, several will open through retirements, but a number of experienced workers are already seeking employment.
Training in Quebec: the DEC in electrical engineering technology (3 years, public CEGEPs) is the standard route, with specializations in automation, industrial electronics or networks. Check the programs offered near you with the SRAM and the CEGEPs.
Ground truth: after several years of decline due to international competition, the sector should return to growth thanks to diversification toward new markets. It is a well-paid technician job without a mandatory university detour, but the outlook remains average: it is not the shortcut the videos promise.
Source: Job Bank, NOC 22310 profile (Quebec), consulted in July 2026.
The surprise in the real data
If you were to keep only one thing from this exercise, it would be this: two of the most recommended occupations on social media show officially limited outlooks in Quebec.
The electrician, first. It is the star trade of every "golden trades" list. Outlook: limited for 2025-2027, notably because experienced workers are already seeking employment. The paradox is cruel: it is precisely because everyone recommends it that the pool has filled up.
The data analyst, next. The "job of the future" par excellence in the videos. Outlook: limited as well, with a Quebec pool of only 4,850 people and a very real university requirement. Meanwhile, the patient care attendant, never mentioned in these lists because it does not make people dream, shows a good outlook with the shortest training of the lot.
An occupation is not lucrative because it is popular. It is lucrative when demand exceeds the supply of candidates. These are two different things, and only one is measured by the government.
How to choose for yourself (and not for the algorithm)
There is no magic occupation. There is an occupation that suits you, in your region, with your situation. Four criteria, in this order.
- The outlook in YOUR region. Not in Quebec generally: in your region. It is the first thing to check, and the most often neglected.
- The duration and cost of the training. An 18-month public DEP and a four-year bachelor's degree represent neither the same investment nor the same risk. Also count the income you do not earn while studying.
- Compatibility with your life. Night shifts, physical work, travel, required bilingualism. A high salary under conditions you will not sustain for three years is not a good salary.
- The real entry door. Look at the education level of jobholders, not what the ideal job posting demands. It often reveals that a shorter path exists.
And above all: a better salary builds nothing on its own. What builds wealth is the gap between what you earn and what you spend, invested consistently. Our compound interest calculator shows it in seconds. You can also explore other occupations with our career explorer.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find this data myself?
On jobbank.gc.ca: search the occupation, choose Quebec then your region, and consult the Wages and Job Outlook tabs. For vocational training programs, consult Inforoute FPT; for DECs and AECs, the CEGEP and SRAM websites; for bachelor's degrees, the university websites.
Are the posted salaries guaranteed?
No. These are observed ranges, which vary by region, experience, sector and employer. The "top of the range" corresponds to seasoned people, not to a first job.
Should I avoid occupations with limited outlooks?
Not necessarily. A limited outlook means competition is stronger, not that there are no jobs. If the trade truly appeals to you and you are ready to stand out, it remains viable. But enter it knowing this, not believing in a shortage that does not exist.
Educational content only. Salaries and outlooks vary by region, experience and employer, and the data evolves. Always check the current occupation profile on the Job Bank, and the durations and prerequisites of programs with the institutions. This article does not constitute personalized career guidance.