Three RoutesCompare · Ontario figures · updated 2 November 2026
Air traffic controller (NAV Canada) vs Computer science
Same columns, no opinion about which is better for you. On typical Ontario figures, Air traffic controller (NAV Canada) is ahead by year 10 ($992k against $482k), because it starts earning earlier. The gap is before tax, rent and loan interest, which hit both routes. Air traffic controller (NAV Canada) gets to a real paycheque first (about 1 year). Air traffic controller (NAV Canada) costs $50,000 less to get into. Job Bank rates demand higher for Air traffic controller (NAV Canada) in Ontario right now.
| Measure | Air traffic controller (NAV Canada) | Computer science |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Straight to work | University degree |
| Credential | NAV Canada licence; paid training, 12 to 27 months | Bachelor of Science (BSc) |
| Years to finish | 2 | 4 |
| First real paycheque | About 1 year | About 4 years |
| Cost (tuition and fees) | $0 | $50,000 |
| Typical debt if you borrow | $0 | $30,600 |
| Earnings, first years | $58,600 | $77,900 |
| Earnings by year 5 | $125,000 | $94,100 |
| Net by year 10 (typical) | $992k | $482k |
| Demand in Ontario | High | Limited |
| Time in a classroom | 50% | 80% |
Earnings by year, roughly
Before tax. Years in school show as "school". Medians rise from the starting figure to the year-5 figure, then stay flat.
Air traffic controller (NAV Canada)
A day looks like: Online aptitude tests and an assessment centre, then one to two years of paid classroom and simulator training, then live traffic under supervision in a tower or area control centre.
What stops people: Roughly one in a hundred applicants is accepted into training, and under half of trainees graduate. Failing a stage can mean a multi-year wait before you can reapply.
Downside: Rotating shifts for a career, relocation to wherever the opening is, and a training wash-out rate that would be unacceptable anywhere else. Not a fallback plan.
Computer science
A day looks like: Programming, algorithms, math; project work; ideally two or three internships.
What stops people: Admission averages in the 90s at top programs; internships are now essential and hard to get.
Downside: Entry-level hiring has cooled sharply. Outcomes are split between graduates with internships and those without.
Quick answers
Which pays more, air traffic controller (nav canada) or computer science?
By year five, Air traffic controller (NAV Canada) is about $125,000 and Computer science about $94,100 (Ontario medians, before tax). By year ten, counting what each cost, Air traffic controller (NAV Canada) nets roughly $992k and Computer science roughly $482k.
Which is faster to a real paycheque?
Air traffic controller (NAV Canada): about 1 year. Computer science: about 4 years.
What does each cost?
Air traffic controller (NAV Canada): $0 in tuition and fees, typical debt $0. Computer science: $50,000, typical debt $30,600.
What is the downside of each?
Air traffic controller (NAV Canada): Rotating shifts for a career, relocation to wherever the opening is, and a training wash-out rate that would be unacceptable anywhere else. Not a fallback plan. Computer science: Entry-level hiring has cooled sharply. Outcomes are split between graduates with internships and those without.
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Figures are Ontario medians and typical costs from Job Bank, Statistics Canada, Skilled Trades Ontario and institution fee pages; the data page lists every source and date. Switch province on either pathway page for BC, Alberta or Quebec figures.