Three Routes Start
Straight to work

Transit or bus operator

Class 2 licence with air brake; paid training at CMBC (TransLink) or BC Transit

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~2 months
Time in a classroom30%
Total cost$0
Typical debt after$0
Demand in BCSteady

The first ten years

schoolearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearn
Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

What's in "net by year 10"
Earnings, years 1 to 10$602k$43,680 rising to $64,710 by year five, flat after
Program cost−$0ktuition and fees
Typical (medians)$602kthe number on the card
Low to high$511k to $692kpay 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 isDriving a route for a municipal transit agency, unionised, with a pension.
What actually stops peopleAge and licence minimums (often 21 with a full G), a clean record, and a competitive hiring process.
The downsideSplit shifts, early mornings and dealing with the public all day.
If you're the parentPublic-sector pay and pension with no tuition. Your child may need to be 21, so this can be a plan for after a first job.
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.

Check my readiness

How to enter

What you need
  • No specific courses or average; Grade 12 (or equivalent) and a willingness to show up
Deadlines in BC
  • No deadline; hiring year round

Next steps in British Columbia

  1. 1
  2. 2

Save or share this pathway

Email it to yourself or someone who should see it.

In British ColumbiaLots of applicants per posting; most CMBC hires start part-time on split shifts. Top rate (~$35+/hr) comes within a few years, so year 5 is conservative.
www.workbc.ca

✓ Verified 2026-10-09 for BC Sources: WorkBC NOC 73301 (Job Bank BC wages 2025)

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