Best Summer Jobs for Students in Canada (High Pay 2026)

For Canadian university and college students, May to August is not a "break." It is a financial sprint.

With tuition rising and rent skyrocketing, the traditional minimum wage summer job ($17/hr) is no longer enough. If you work 40 hours a week at minimum wage, you will earn roughly **$10,000** gross (before tax). After rent and food, you might have nothing left for September.

To survive, you need a "Tuition Buster."

These are specific seasonal roles—often in government, heavy labour, or danger zones—that pay $25 to $35 per hour or offer massive overtime potential.

The catch? You usually have to apply in January or February. If you wait until exams are over in April, these jobs are gone.

Here are the best high-paying summer jobs for students in Canada for 2026.

1. Tree Planter (The "Rite of Passage")

• The Job: Living in a bush camp in Northern BC or Ontario, planting thousands of seedlings by hand, rain or shine.
• The Pay: Piecework (12¢ to 25¢ per tree).
  • Rookie: ~$150 – $200/day.
  • Highballer (Experienced): $400 – $600/day.
• The "Tuition Buster" Math: You have almost zero expenses (camp cost is low, food is provided). A motivated student can save $15,000 – $20,000 in a single summer.
• The Catch: It is physically brutal. You will deal with black flies, bears, and tendonitis. But it looks amazing on a resume because it proves you are tough.

2. Student Border Services Officer (SBSO)

• The Job: Working for the CBSA at airports or land border crossings, checking passports and screening luggage.
• The Pay: $18.00 – $38.00 per hour (Depends on your year of study).
• The Prestige: This is a federal law enforcement role. You wear a uniform and carry authority. It is the gold standard for Criminology or Law students.
• The Deadline: EXTREMELY EARLY. They often recruit in September/October for the following summer. Check the FSWEP site immediately.

3. Wildland Firefighter (Student Crew)

• The Job: Digging trenches and managing hoses to stop forest fires in BC, Alberta, or Ontario.
• The Pay: $25.00 – $34.00 per hour + Massive Overtime.
• The Danger Pay: When on a fire, you often work 14 days straight, 12 hours a day. The overtime pay (1.5x) means you can make $6,000 in two weeks.
• Requirements: You must pass the WFX-FIT test (a grueling physical circuit). Start training now.
• Related: See more dangerous roles in our Best Jobs for Men guide.

4. City Parks / Waste Labourer

• The Job: Mowing sports fields, collecting garbage, or watering city flower beds.
• The Pay: $22.00 – $28.00 per hour.
• Why it wins:
  • Union Rates: Even summer students often get the union rate (CUPE).
  • Consistent Hours: Guaranteed 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. No "on-call" stress.
• Where to Apply: Check your City's website (Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver) in February. Look for "Summer Student - Parks" or "Public Works."

5. Construction Flagger (Traffic Control)

• The Job: Holding the "Stop/Slow" sign at road construction sites.
• The Pay: $20.00 – $26.00 per hour.
• The Secret: It looks boring (and it is), but construction season peaks in the summer. Flaggers often work 60+ hours a week.
• The Math: 60 hours x $22/hr = **$1,320/week**.
• Related: This is often the entry point for our Women in Trades Guide.

6. Corporate Intern (Finance/Tech)

• The Job: "Summer Analyst" at a bank (RBC, TD) or Software Intern at a tech company (Shopify).
• The Pay: $25.00 – $40.00 per hour (Pro-rated salary).
• Why it wins:
  • Air Conditioning: Unlike the other jobs on this list, you are inside.
  • The Offer: If you do well, they often give you a full-time job offer for when you graduate.
• The Deadline: Banks hire in January. Do not wait.

7. High-End Server / Bartender (Patio Season)

• The Job: Serving on a busy patio in a tourist district (e.g., The ByWard Market in Ottawa or King West in Toronto).
• The Pay: $16.55/hr + TIPS.
• The Real Math: Summer is "Patio Season." A good server can pull in $200 - $300 a night in tips on top of wages.
• The Cash Flow: You walk home with cash every night. It is the best job for maintaining a social life while earning.

Comparison Table: The "Tuition Buster" Scale

Practical Questions Answered

"Is FSWEP worth it?"

YES. Create a profile TODAY.

• What is it? The Federal Student Work Experience Program.
• How it works: It is a lottery. You upload your resume into a massive database. Managers in the government pull resumes randomly based on keywords.
• The Trick: Update your profile every 30 days to stay "Active" in the system. Use keywords like "Customer Service," "Research," and "Bilingual."

"Can I plant trees with no experience?"

Yes, but choose a 'Rookie Mill'.

• The Companies: Companies like Folklore, Summit, or Brinkman hire hundreds of rookies every year.
• The Warning: Do not quit in Week 1. Week 1 is hell. You will lose money. By Week 4, you will be making profit. You have to push through the "Rookie Wall."

"Do these jobs count for Co-op?"

Usually.

• The Paperwork: If your university has a Co-op requirement, most Government (FSWEP), City, and Corporate jobs qualify. Tree Planting usually does not (unless you are in Forestry). Check with your Co-op office before accepting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can international students work these jobs?

It depends.

• Government/Border: usually requires Canadian Citizenship or Permanent Residency.
• Tree Planting/Construction/Service: Fully open to International Students (as long as your Study Permit allows full-time work during scheduled breaks).

When should I start applying?

Now.

If you are reading this in January, you are on time. If you are reading this in April, you are late for the "Big Money" jobs and should focus on Construction Flagger or Serving, which hire closer to the summer.

Do I need a driver's license?

For City and Labour jobs, Yes.

Jobs like "Park Labourer" often require a G2 or G license to drive the city trucks. Without it, your application is often auto-rejected.

About the author

Jeff Calixte (MC Yow-Z) is a Canadian career researcher and digital entrepreneur. He tracks real-time labour market data, government hiring trends, and entry-level opportunities to help newcomers and students navigate the Canadian job market.

Sources

• Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP): https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/recruitment/students/federal-student-work-program.html
• Tree-Planter.com (Job Board): https://www.tree-planter.com/
• City of Toronto Summer Jobs: https://jobs.toronto.ca/

Note:

Job availability, wages, and hiring conditions can vary widely by province, employer, season, and experience level. All salary ranges and job examples in this guide are estimates based on current labour market data. Always confirm details directly with the employer before applying.