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Canadian Armed Forces (paid trade training)

CAF Regular Force, paid trade training (national pay)

24 of 30 verified for BC; "start something" routes use national figures · How we verify
Trades go through SkilledTradesBC (4 levels, Youth Train in Trades lets you start Level 1 in high school). Numbers from WorkBC and Job Bank BC, BCIT, VCC and UBC.
Years to credential0
First real paycheque~a month
Time in a classroom30%
Total cost$0
Typical debt after$0
Demand in BCHigh

The first ten years

earnearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearn
Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

What's in "net by year 10"
Earnings, years 1 to 10$648k$45,000 rising to $70,000 by year five, flat after
Program cost−$0ktuition and fees
Typical (medians)$648kthe number on the card
Low to high$551k to $745kpay 15% under or over the median, cost 15% more or 10% less

Not counted: income tax, rent, food, loan interest, inflation, and unemployment gaps. They apply to every route, so they change the size of each number more than the order. Pay is the British Columbia median before tax from the sources on this page.

The picture

What the day-to-day isBasic training, then paid trade school (vehicle tech, electrician, medic, cook, IT and dozens more), then working in the trade on a base.
What actually stops peopleMedical and fitness screening, and a multi-year service commitment.
The downsideYou go where they post you. Deployments are possible. Leaving early is not simple.
If you're the parentFully paid training, a salary from day one, and a pension. The trade-off is control over where your child lives for several years.
Local opportunities in British Columbia

Ready to explore this for real?

Eight quick questions about whether this route fits your life, not just your grades. You'll get a readiness check, and if you want, we'll introduce you to employers, unions or programs in your region.

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How to enter

What you need
  • No specific courses or average; Grade 12 (or equivalent) and a willingness to show up
Deadlines in BC
  • Depends on the program

Next steps in British Columbia

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In British ColumbiaPay does not vary by province; national figures apply. Post-Living Differential may apply in Victoria and Vancouver.
forces.ca

◐ Partly verified CAF pay is national; BC bases CFB Esquimalt and CFB Comox

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