How much does a engineering earn in British Columbia?

Roughly $67,560 in the first years and $98,010 by year five (BC median, before tax). Source: WorkBC NOC 21300 (Job Bank BC wages 2025, High Opportunity); UBC 2026/27 domestic tuition and mandatory fees.

What does it cost in BC?

About $37,700 in tuition and fees; typical debt if you borrow $22,000. UBC Applied Science tuition ~$32,100 over 4 years plus ~$1,400/yr fees.

How long does it take?

About 4 years, first real paycheque in about 4 years.

University degree

Engineering

BASc (UBC) / BEng; EIT then P.Eng (Engineers and Geoscientists BC)

Numbers for 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 credential4

First real paycheque~4 years

Time in a classroom80%

Total cost$37,700

Typical debt after$22,000

Demand in BCHigh

The first ten years

schoolschoolschoolschoolschoolearnearnearnearnearn

Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

British Columbia median before tax. Overtime, location and specialisation change this a lot. Net by year 10 after program cost: $484k, low to high $400k to $566k.

What's in "net by year 10"

Earnings, years 1 to 10	$522k	4 years at $0 while in school, then $67,560 rising to $98,010 by year five, flat after
Program cost	−$38k	tuition and fees
Typical (medians)	$484k	the number on the card
Low to high	$400k to $566k	pay 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 isHeavy math and labs for four years; co-op terms in industry. Specialise in second year.

What actually stops peopleAdmission averages of 88–95 at the major schools, and a brutal first year.

The downsideFive years if you do co-op, which you should. High tuition. Roughly a fifth of students switch out after first year.

If you're the parentThe traditional safe choice, and it still delivers: strong pay, licensure, and mobility. It costs the most and takes the longest to pay off.

Local opportunities in British Columbia

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How to enter

What you need

Courses: Advanced Functions, Calculus & Vectors, Physics, Chemistry, English (U)
Average around 85+

Deadlines in BC

EducationPlannerBC: most deadlines January 15 to March 15; some programs rolling
StudentAid BC opens in spring

Next steps in British Columbia

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In British ColumbiaUBC Applied Science tuition ~$32,100 over 4 years plus ~$1,400/yr fees.

www.workbc.ca · students.ubc.ca

✓ Verified 2026-10-09 for BC Sources: WorkBC NOC 21300 (Job Bank BC wages 2025, High Opportunity); UBC 2026/27 domestic tuition and mandatory fees

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