Part-Time Jobs in Canada for Indian Students: Wages, On and off Campus Roles

Veda Burman Study Abroad Content Specialist

Study Abroad Content Specialist

Canada offers a range of part-time jobs for Indian students, both on and off campus. Currently, the average salary of part-time jobs in Canada is CAD 19 per hour (INR 1,158). Students are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week during sessions and full time during vacations.

Understanding the minimum wage structure across Canadian provinces and territories is essential for Indian students planning to work part-time while studying. Students working in higher-wage territories such as the Northwest Territories or Nunavut could earn significantly more. Students in lower-wage regions may need to adjust their work hours and budgeting strategies accordingly.

Table of Contents

Best Part-Time Jobs in Canada: On-Campus
Best Part-Time Jobs in Canada: Off-Campus
How to Find Part-Time Jobs in Canada?
Part-Time Jobs in Canada Eligibility Criteria
Paying Taxes as an International Student in Canada
Part-Time Jobs in Canada: Government Regulations
FAQs

Part-Time Jobs in Canada: Minimum Wages

The minimum wage for part-time jobs in Canada varies across provinces and territories, making it essential to understand the regional differences in pay. On average, part-time workers earn around CAD 19 per hour (1,158 INR) across the country. The total hours in a typical year amount to 1,950, giving insight into annual earnings based on the hourly wage. Here is a breakdown of part-time wages by region:

Province/Territory	Hourly Salary (CAD)	Annual Salary (CAD)
Northwest Territories	24.72	48,216
Nunavut	22.43	43,762
Quebec	21.80	42,514
British Columbia	20.94	40,842
Alberta	20.56	40,097
Ontario	20.53	40,031
Nova Scotia	20.16	39,309
Manitoba	20.00	39,000
Saskatchewan	20.00	39,000
New Brunswick	18.99	37,050
Prince Edward Island	17.33	33,788

Best Part-Time Jobs in Canada: On-Campus

On-campus jobs are the most convenient way to work part-time in Canada. This will undoubtedly save time and money when traveling. Students can easily maintain a balance between academic and professional life.

On-Campus Positions	Average Wage Per Hour (CAD)	Job Description
Teaching Assistant	18	Assist professors with a variety of tasks during the semesters
Library Assistant	22	Assist librarians with daily tasks like library cards creation, check in, check out, late charge collection, training volunteers
Laboratory Assistant/ Technician	23	Helping professors and scientists in laboratory research work
Personal Support Assistant	22.48	Mobility support, schedule creation among others
Career Center Student Assistant	21.36	Assisting students with career education, CV making, networking and others
Student Cashier	15.53	Counting, balancing and data entry of daily sale, depositing revenue from daily cash and troubleshooting
Housekeeper	17.35	Cleaning and decoration
Food Service Worker	17.61	Cleaning, adhering to food safety regulations, assisting in cooking, and doing dishes among other related work
Food Store Clerk	17	Checking product availability, serving food, and drinks
Grocery Clerk	16.24	Data entry of available products, checking demands, ordering for resources
Laundry Aide	16	Sorting, washing, drying, ironing and folding clothes and other textile products
Bus Monitor	19.76	A bridge between the students and transport services, supervising students on buses, and maintaining safety rules among others

Best Part-Time Jobs in Canada: Off-Campus

Off-campus, part-time jobs in Canada are the best alternatives to on-campus jobs. The finest part time jobs available in Canada while studying are tabulated below:

Off-Campus Positions	Average Wage Per Hour (CAD)	Job Description
Private Tutor	30.94	Providing tuition to juniors
Driver	22	Driving someone’s private car or Uber/Lyft driver
Waiter/ Bartender	16.43	Welcoming guests, recommending menu, taking orders, serving food and drinks
Babysitter	18.12	Taking care of babies and infants, feeding, dressing, and tutoring
Freelancer	22.87	A variety of job options in content, graphics, web design, and development
Cashier	15.62	Keeping account of sales, revenue, counter duties, and troubleshooting
Dog Walker	15	Picking up dogs using Google, taking them for walks, once or multiple times a day
Café Worker	16.61	Preparing and selling food and beverages at cafés, canteens, and other outlets
Translator	27	Polylingual students can read, understand, and transliterate contents
Data Entry Operator	19.57	Entering source data within a limited time

How to Find Part-Time Jobs in Canada?

Students can find part-time jobs in Canada through a variety of resources. A few methods to how to find part time jobs in Canada are as follows:

Check job search websites: Job search websites such as Indeed, Glassdoor, and Monster are great resources for finding part-time job opportunities. You can search for jobs by keyword, location, and other criteria. Many websites also allow you to set up job alerts so that you can be notified when new jobs that match your criteria are posted.
Use social media: Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook can be useful for finding job opportunities. Follow companies and organizations that interest you and keep an eye out for job postings.
Check with your school's career center: Many colleges and universities have career centers that can help students find part-time job opportunities. They may have job listings, career fairs, and other resources to help you find work.
Network: Networking can be a powerful tool for finding job opportunities. Let your friends, family, and acquaintances know that you are looking for work. Attend networking events and industry conferences to meet new people and make connections.
Visit local businesses: Visit local businesses in person and ask if they are hiring. Even if they aren't currently hiring, they may keep your resume on file for future job openings.

Students who have completed their study program can still pursue part-time jobs in Canada through the following ways:

If the student is pursuing a new study program and has a valid student visa duration for that program, they can look for part-time jobs in Canada.
If the student has applied for a work permit, before the expiration of the study permit, they can continue working in their present job or pursue a new part-time job in Canada.

Part-Time Jobs in Canada Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for international student part-time job in Canada may vary depending on the employer, industry, and job requirements. However, some general requirements that employers may look for when hiring part-time workers in Canada include:

Valid Study Permit: International students must have a valid study permit in order to work part-time in Canada. The Canada study permit must explicitly state that the student is authorized to work off-campus.
Enrollment Status: International students must be enrolled in a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. DLIs are schools approved by the Canadian government to host international students.
Academic Standing: Students must be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress in their program.
Work Limits: Students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions, and full-time during scheduled breaks, such as winter or summer holidays.
Social Insurance Number: International students must have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada. They can apply for a SIN at a Service Canada office.
Language Proficiency: Students must be proficient in English or French, depending on the language requirements of the job.
Job Offer: Students must have a valid job offer from an employer that meets the requirements set by the Canadian government.

Part-time students can work while studying in Canada for the following special conditions:

The student is in the last semester of their program and does not need a full course load to complete the program
The student was a full-time student in Canada, up until the last semester of the program.

Eligibility for On-Campus Part-time Jobs in Canada for Indian Students

You must adhere to the following conditions if you want to work in an On-Campus a part-time job in Canada for Indian-

A valid study permit
A Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Enrolled as a full-time post-secondary student at a:
Public or private secondary college, university, trade or technical school, or CEGEP in Quebec
Canadian private schools are eligible to award degrees under provisional law in a study program authorized by the province.
A public or private secondary or post-secondary institution in Quebec that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer.

Eligibility for Off-Campus Part-time Jobs in Canada for Indian Students

To be eligible for an Off-Campus Part-time job, you need to be

Enrolled as a full-time student at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
Enrolled in a post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional training program or a secondary-level vocational training program in Quebec.
The duration of your program is at least 6 months and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
A Social Insurance Number (SIN).
The program must have commenced before you started working.

Paying Taxes as an International Student in Canada

If you are an Indian student, you may have to pay Canadian income tax on the income earned from teaching, research assistantships, employment, investment, and business income. Any income earned from outside of Canada must also be reported for tax purposes. Income tax is payable if your taxable income is INR 30,00,000 or more.

You will need the following documents to file your tax return:

You will need either a Social Insurance Number (SIN) or an Individual Tax Number (ITN).
Income tax slips like T4 or T4A for employment income and scholarships, awards, and bursaries.
T2202 i.e. receipt of tuition fees paid for the current tax year.
Receipt of rent from your landlord.
Medical receipts showing your expenditure on medicine.
Receipts of any donation made to Canadian charity.
Any other relevant receipts for expenses that may be eligible for deductions.

Part-Time Jobs in Canada: Government Regulations

Typically, students can work up to 20 hours per week during academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks. To work part-time without a work permit, students must meet the following criteria:

You must be enrolled in a full-time course at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
The institution must be a public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or a private school authorized to grant degrees.
You should be receiving at least 50% of funding from government sources or institutional scholarships.

However, students are not permitted to work on campus under certain circumstances:

Part-time or Online Courses: Students enrolled in part-time or online courses do not qualify for on-campus work privileges.
Unenrolled Transfer Students: Students who are between institutions or not currently enrolled cannot work on campus.
Expired Study Permit: A valid study permit is essential. Students with expired permits cannot legally work on campus.
Academic Session Already Started: If the academic session has commenced, but the student is not actively attending, they cannot work.

These regulations ensure that international students remain focused on their studies while allowing them to gain valuable work experience in Canada. Compliance with these rules is necessary to maintain study permits and employment rights.

FAQs

Ques. Can international students work part-time while studying in Canada?

Ans. Yes, international students with a valid study permit are allowed to work part-time in Canada. Students can work up to 20 hours per week during academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks, such as winter and summer holidays, without needing a separate work permit.

Ques. What is the average hourly wage for part-time jobs in Canada?

Ans. On average, part-time jobs in Canada pay around CAD 19 per hour. However, this varies by province and territory, with wages ranging from CAD 17.33 in Prince Edward Island to CAD 24.72 in the Northwest Territories.

Ques. Are there restrictions on where international students can work part-time?

Ans. Yes, students can work both on and off campus if their study permit allows it. On-campus jobs are typically more convenient but may have fewer openings. Off-campus work is available if students are enrolled full-time at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and meet other eligibility criteria.

Ques. Do I need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work part-time in Canada?

Ans. Yes, international students must obtain a Social Insurance Number (SIN) from the Canadian government to legally work part-time. The SIN is required for employment and to ensure that the student complies with tax regulations.