Factory and warehouse work is one of the most common jobs for people without a degree. In Canada, factories, food plants and warehouses need people to pack, sort and move goods every day. This guide shows what the work is like, what it pays in Canada, which papers you need and the safe way to apply.
| Typical pay | About $22 an hour (Job Bank median for material handlers) |
|---|---|
| Pay range | About $16.55 to $30.29 an hour |
| Education | No degree needed |
| Experience | Little or none for many jobs |
| Language | Basic English or French |
What the work is like
In a factory you may work on a production line, pack products into boxes, check that goods have no faults, or clean machines at the end of a shift. In a warehouse you load and unload trucks, move boxes, pick orders with a hand scanner and keep the shelves in order. Some workers drive a forklift after training.
The work is physical and it repeats. You stand or walk for most of the day, and you may lift boxes many times an hour. Many sites run day and night, so shifts can start early in the morning, in the afternoon or late in the evening. Food plants can be cold and wet. Other plants can be loud, so you wear ear and eye protection.
Common job titles are warehouse worker, material handler, packer, picker, production worker, machine operator and general labourer.
Who can do this job
You do not need a degree, and many employers train new workers in the first days. What employers look for is simple:
- You are fit enough to stand, walk and lift for a full shift.
- You come on time, every day. This matters more than anything else.
- You can follow safety rules and understand simple instructions.
- You are ready to work shifts, nights or weekends.
Past work in a factory, a shop storeroom or a farm helps. A forklift licence or experience with machines can bring better pay. Men and women both do this work.
How much you can earn in Canada
Job Bank, the government job website, shows a middle wage of about $22.00 an hour for material handlers in Canada. Low pay is about $16.55 and high pay is about $30.29. Food and meat processing plants often pay close to these numbers too.
Each province sets its own minimum wage. In 2026 it goes from $15.00 an hour in Alberta to $19.75 in Nunavut. Ontario is $17.95 and British Columbia is $18.25. For jobs under federal rules it is $18.15. No employer can pay you less than the minimum wage of the province where you work.
At $22 an hour and 40 hours a week, pay is about $880 a week before tax. All amounts are in Canadian dollars.
Hours and shifts
A normal week is about 40 hours, often in shifts of eight hours. Busy seasons, such as the months before the end of the year, bring extra hours. Ask how overtime is paid before you sign. Also ask how you get to the site, because many factories and warehouses are outside the city and public transport may not run at night.
What you need before you can work in Canada
No degree is needed for this work. But you cannot simply fly to Canada and start. In most cases you need three things:
- A real job offer from a Canadian employer.
- A positive LMIA. This is a paper the employer gets from the Canadian government. It shows the employer could not find a worker in Canada. The employer applies and pays for it, not you.
- A work permit. You apply for it yourself on the official website, Canada.ca, with your job offer, the LMIA number and your passport.
Canada limits how many foreign workers come each year. The target for this program is 60,000 new workers in 2026, and many people apply. Most employers can fill only about 10% of their lower-paid jobs with foreign workers. In some big cities with high unemployment, the government does not accept requests for lower-paid foreign workers at all, so many offers come from smaller towns.
Since November 2026, a work permit for a lower-paid job can be given for up to two years. Before, it was one year. There is no maximum age in the work permit rules. You must be an adult, and the employer decides who to hire. Nobody can promise you a job or a visa.
Costs to plan for
Rent is the biggest cost in Canada. A room in a shared home costs much more in Toronto or Vancouver than in a small town. For lower-paid jobs under the foreign worker program, the employer is expected to pay your travel to Canada and back, and to help you find housing you can afford. Ask about both in writing. You also need warm clothes, because winters are very cold in most of the country. Bring enough money for your first weeks, until your first pay arrives.
How to apply safely
- Go to Job Bank (jobbank.gc.ca). It is the Canadian government’s free job website.
- Search for the job, then use the filter for employers who want to hire temporary foreign workers.
- Prepare a short CV in English or French: your name, phone, email, past jobs with dates, and your skills.
- Apply the way the job post says. Send the same clear CV each time.
- If an employer answers, ask for a written job offer and the LMIA number. Check both before you pay for any travel.
Mistakes to avoid
- Saying yes to a job without knowing the pay per hour and the hours per week.
- Hiding a health problem that makes lifting unsafe for you.
- Ignoring safety rules to work faster. Most injuries happen this way.
- Paying an agent who promises a factory job. Real employers do not sell jobs.
Your rights as a worker in Canada
- You must be paid at least the wage in your contract, and never less than the minimum wage.
- Your employer cannot take your passport or your work permit.
- Your employer cannot make you pay back the LMIA or recruitment costs.
- You have the right to a safe workplace and to say no to unsafe work.
- If an employer abuses you, Canada has a special open work permit for workers in that situation, so you can leave that employer.
Protect yourself from fake job offers
- Never pay for a job. In Canada, employers are not allowed to charge workers recruitment fees under the foreign worker program.
- Be careful with offers that arrive on WhatsApp or Telegram, or from a free email address.
- A real employer does not ask for money for a “visa file”, “medical booking” or “work permit processing”.
- If someone helps you with immigration papers for money, check that they are licensed. Consultants must be listed on the public register of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants.
Questions people ask
Do I need experience for factory work in Canada?
Often no. Many packing and warehouse jobs train you at the start. Experience and a forklift licence help you get hired faster and can raise your pay.
Is the work hard?
It is physical. You stand for hours and you may lift boxes all day. If you are healthy and used to manual work, you can do it.
Can I go to Canada first and look for work there?
Not on a visitor visa. You cannot work as a visitor. The safe way is to get the job offer and the work permit before you travel.
How long does it take?
It is different for each person and each country. The employer first needs the LMIA, then you apply for the permit. Plan for several months.
More guides for Canada
- Driver jobs in Canada
- Hotel and cleaning jobs in Canada
- Construction jobs in Canada
- All jobs in Canada for foreign workers
- How to apply for jobs in Canada
- Canada work permit guide
Last checked: November 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and pay change, so always confirm on the official websites before you decide. We are not a recruiter and we never ask for money.