Health Care Assistant Jobs in BC and What They Pay

If you trained as a PSW and you are looking for work in British Columbia, search for Health Care Assistant. It is the same role under a different name. BC calls it Health Care Assistant, or HCA, and the province is short of them right now. That shortage is good news if you want steady work and flexible hours.

Here is what the role pays, where the demand sits, and how to pick up shifts on your own schedule.

PSW and Health Care Assistant are the same job

Ontario uses Personal Support Worker. British Columbia uses Health Care Assistant. Some employers also say care aide or community health worker. The work is the same: helping clients with daily living, mobility, personal care, and safety in long-term care, home care, assisted living, and hospitals.

To work in BC you register with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry. If you trained outside the province, check whether your credential maps to the BC standard before you start applying.

Are HCAs in demand in BC?

Yes. British Columbia has a sustained shortage of care aides across health authorities, in both urban and rural communities. Demand is strongest in home care and long-term care, where the aging population keeps pushing need higher. For a worker, that means you can be selective about where, when, and how often you work.

What HCAs earn in British Columbia

Pay is solid and rising. Average hourly rates in BC run roughly $27.52 to $29.83 per hour, which works out to about $50,000 to $58,000 a year full time (Source: aggregated BC pay data, 2026, confirm against your health authority scale).

City rates vary:

• Vancouver: about $29.06 per hour

• Victoria: about $28.93 per hour

• Kamloops: about $28.53 per hour

• Surrey: toward the higher end, about $33.81 per hour

Casual and on-demand shifts often pay at or above these rates, because you are filling a gap the employer needs covered now.

Where the work is

Four settings drive most HCA demand in BC:

• Long-term care and assisted living, where staffing runs around the clock

• Home and community care, the fastest-growing segment

• Hospitals, for support roles on busy units

• Respite and private care, often arranged shift by shift

Each setting has a different rhythm. Long-term care wants reliable recurring shifts. Home care rewards workers who can travel between clients. Hospitals need cover at short notice.

How casual and flexible HCA work pays off

A permanent line gives you a fixed schedule. Casual and on-demand work gives you control. You choose the days, the locations, and the number of hours, and you can take more when you want to earn more and less when you need a break.

The trade-off used to be that flexible work meant chasing employers and waiting to hear back. On an on-demand marketplace, that flips. Shifts are posted, you see the rate before you accept, and you pick the ones that fit.

How to pick up HCA shifts on Staffy in BC

Staffy is an on-demand marketplace that connects independent health care assistants with facilities that need shifts covered. You set your own schedule, see the hourly rate up front, and get paid for the work you choose.

To get started, you create a profile and verify your credentials. You will need your HCA certification current, plus the standard health and background checks BC facilities require. You see exactly what is needed as you build your profile. Once you are verified, you can see shifts available near you, accept the ones that fit, and get paid.

Common questions

Is PSW the same as HCA in British Columbia? Yes. BC uses Health Care Assistant for the role Ontario calls Personal Support Worker. Some employers also say care aide or community health worker.

Do I need BC registration to work as an HCA? Yes. Employers require registration with the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry. If you trained in another province, confirm your credential maps to the BC standard first.

Can I work casual HCA shifts without a permanent job? Yes. On an on-demand marketplace you pick up shifts without a permanent line, choosing your own days, locations, and hours.

Where in BC is HCA pay highest? Surrey has been reported toward the top, around $33.81 per hour, with Vancouver near $29.06. Casual shifts often pay at or above these rates.

If you are an HCA in Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria, or anywhere the demand is high, flexible work is there for the taking. Create your profile and start picking up shifts on your terms.