Fort McMurray wages by career
Fort McMurray is the centre of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, with Northern Lights Regional Health Centre as its hospital. The oil sands dominate the local economy, alongside the businesses, public services and healthcare that support the community. Job Bank groups the area with Cold Lake, Bonnyville and Lac La Biche in one economic region. Below are the Government of Canada Job Bank hourly wages for the Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake region for occupations related to Ucademy’s programs (reference period 2023–2024 or 2024, depending on occupation; updated November 19, 2025).
| Job title in Job Bank | NOC | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical administrative assistant | 13112 | $20.27 | $26.24 | $34.19 |
| Unit clerk | 14100 | $15.50 | $25.00 | $36.13 |
| Administrative assistant | 13110 | $21.00 | $30.77 | $45.05 |
| Procurement officer | 12102 | $28.30 | $43.27 | $69.71 |
Source: Job Bank wage pages for each occupation (Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake region). Low is roughly the lowest-paid 10% of workers and high the top 10%. Figures cover all experience levels, vary by employer and are not guaranteed.
Job Bank does not publish Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake region wages for the IT support technician, cybersecurity specialist, software developer and logistics coordinator occupations; see the Alberta-wide figures in our salary calculator.
Why Fort McMurray learners study online
Online, self-paced study means no commute and no fixed class timetable, so you can train where you live. It suits the way many people in Wood Buffalo work:
- Rotation workers can study on their days off and pause during their shifts, instead of following a fixed class calendar.
- Healthcare and public-service staff on rotating shifts can fit lessons around their schedule.
- Partners and parents of shift workers can study from home on their own timeline.
- Learners in smaller communities such as Anzac need only a reliable internet connection.
For practical tips, read studying while working full-time in Alberta.
Job outlook in the Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake region
Job Bank rates how easy or hard it is likely to be to find work in each occupation over 2025–2027. Here are its ratings for the Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake region:
| Occupation | NOC | Outlook 2025–2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Medical administrative assistant | 13112 | Very good |
| Unit clerk | 14100 | Very limited |
| Administrative assistant | 13110 | Limited |
| IT support technician | 22221 | Limited |
| Cybersecurity specialist | 21220 | Undetermined |
| Software developer | 21232 | Undetermined |
| Procurement officer | 12102 | Limited |
| Logistics coordinator | 13201 | Limited |
Healthcare administration stands out: Job Bank rates the outlook for medical administrative assistants as Very good in this region. Administrative assistants earn the highest median in Alberta here ($30.77), but the outlook is Limited, and for unit clerks it is Very limited. For technology and logistics roles Job Bank does not publish regional wages and rates the outlook as Limited or Undetermined, so these careers may mean working for employers elsewhere in Alberta or remotely.
Ucademy’s Medical Office Assistant & Unit Clerk Certificate covers both clinic and hospital administration, and includes a practicum — at a partner clinic where one is available, or a virtual practicum otherwise. Learn more in How to Become a Medical Office Assistant in Alberta and Medical Office Assistant vs Unit Clerk.
Ucademy programs for Fort McMurray careers
All programs are delivered online.
- Medical Office Assistant & Unit Clerk Certificate (516 hours): clinic front-desk and hospital unit administration.
- Administrative Assistant Diploma (806 hours): office administration, business communication and software.
- IT Professional Certificate (420 hours): IT support, networks, Windows and Linux administration, cloud.
- Security Analyst Certificate (420 hours): security monitoring, incident response, industrial control systems security.
- Cybersecurity Specialist Diploma (940 hours): the broad security path, from SOC work to cloud security and forensics.
- Software & Web Developer Diploma (960 hours): project-based software and web development.
- Business Administration – Supply Chain Diploma: business operations with a supply chain focus.
Not sure which fits? Try the one-minute program quiz or compare programs side by side.
Free help in Fort McMurray
- Alberta Supports — free career, education and employment advice and information about training funding: call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992 or visit an Alberta Supports Centre.
- Employer-funded training — if an employer hires you, the Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant can cover part of the cost of short, instructor-led training; the employer applies (a full diploma program usually does not qualify).
- Wood Buffalo Regional Library — free computers, internet and job search resources.
- Local immigrant-serving agencies offer free settlement and employment support for newcomers.
Other Alberta regions: Red Deer, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, Calgary, Edmonton and all of Alberta.