Health Care Assistant Jobs in BC and What They Pay

If you trained as a personal support worker outside British Columbia, health care assistant is a useful term to search when looking for work in BC. The roles can overlap, but a familiar job title does not establish that you meet a particular employer's requirements or qualify for BC registration.

What health care assistants earn in BC

Job Bank reports a median hourly wage of $27.89 for health care assistants in British Columbia, with low and high figures of $22.37 and $29.83. The profile covers NOC 33102, nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates.

The wage release was updated on November 19, 2025, using a 2023–2024 reference period. We checked it on October 12, 2026. These figures are occupational estimates, not a current employer pay grid or rates guaranteed through Staffy.

Source: Job Bank — health care assistant wages in BC

For illustration, $27.89 × 37.5 paid hours × 52 weeks is $54,385.50 before deductions. This assumes 1,950 paid hours at the same rate. It is not an independently reported average annual salary.

Does PSW training qualify you to work in BC?

The BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry lists personal support worker programs among the equivalent program names used elsewhere in Canada. Out-of-province graduates must still meet the requirements of the appropriate registration pathway. Do not assume an Ontario qualification transfers automatically.

Check the Registry's pathways for Canadian graduates outside BC

The Registry says HCAs must be registered to work in health care organizations receiving public funds in BC. Check the requirements of the specific organization and position when considering other settings.

Source: BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry — about the Registry

What to check in an opportunity

Read the duties, required training and credentials, location, hours and payment terms. Similar job titles can cover different work. Check whether the quoted amount is hourly and whether any premiums or expenses are included.

Casual work is worth assessing against your own schedule, but neither a higher rate nor a steady supply of shifts should be assumed. Base your decision on the opportunities actually available to you.

Getting started with Staffy

Review Staffy's care-role information and the requirements shown in the app. Confirm which roles your qualifications cover and check current opportunities before making plans around them. A public role page is not a guarantee of available work in your city.

Explore care opportunities with Staffy

Common questions

Is HCA simply another name for every PSW job? No. Titles overlap, but duties, training and registration requirements need to be checked.

Which BC city pays the most? The sources used here do not establish a single highest-paying city. Compare the relevant regional estimates and the actual offer rather than relying on an unsupported city ranking.