Airport jobs in Canada cover far more than pilots and flight attendants in 2026. Screening officers, ramp crews, airline agents, cleaners, cooks and border officers all keep terminals running, and many roles need no degree. This guide explains the jobs, the security clearance most airside staff need, and what Job Bank reports for pay.
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The scale is large. Toronto Pearson says more than 52,000 people work at the airport for over 400 employers. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) reports 68.9 million screened passengers in 2024/25 and forecasts 71.1 million for 2025/26. Airport work suits people who like a fast pace, shift work and dealing with travellers.
To see current openings, use the button below. It takes you to Job Bank, the Government of Canada’s job board, where each posting explains how to apply directly with the employer. Many airport employers also post on their own careers pages. We don’t place people in jobs and we don’t take applications.
Types of airport jobs
An airport is a small city with dozens of separate employers. Knowing who hires for what helps you aim your applications.
Pre-board screening officers
Screening officers check passengers and bags at security. According to CATSA, they are employed by contracted security firms: Paladin Airport Security Services in the Pacific and Prairies regions, and GardaWorld in the Central and East regions. Every screening officer must be CATSA certified and security cleared.
Ramp and ground crew
Ramp attendants load and unload baggage and cargo, guide aircraft, and drive ground equipment. The work is outdoors in all weather and physically demanding. Airlines and ground handling companies hire for these roles.
Airline customer service agents
Agents check in passengers, handle boarding at the gate and help with delayed bags or rebooking. Strong customer service skills matter more than airline experience.
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Airport authority roles
Each major airport is run by an airport authority that hires its own staff in operations, maintenance, fire and rescue, IT and administration. These jobs are posted on the authority’s own careers site.
Border services officers
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) hires border services officers, many of whom work at airports. You must be at least 18 before training starts, hold a high school diploma or equivalent and a valid, unrestricted driver’s licence, and be willing to work anywhere in Canada.
Terminal shops, food and cleaning
Restaurants, cafés, shops, car rental desks and cleaning contractors hire entry-level staff year-round. Staff who work only in public areas may not need the same clearance as airside workers. Ask the employer.
Requirements for airport jobs
Each employer sets its own requirements, but some patterns repeat. You must be legally entitled to work in Canada, and many roles require a Transportation Security Clearance. Customer-facing jobs value clear English, and bilingual roles may test French.
A clean and well-documented personal history matters. Transport Canada checks the details you give, so gaps or errors can delay your file.
Security clearance and RAIC for airport jobs
A Transportation Security Clearance (TSC) is required for anyone who needs to enter restricted areas of an airport. It is also the prerequisite for a Restricted Area Identity Card (RAIC), the pass that uses iris and fingerprint biometrics to open restricted doors.
You can’t apply for a TSC on your own. Transport Canada says the process must be started by the employer, and only for people whose job requires access. A clearance is valid for up to five years.
| What you provide | What Transport Canada asks for |
|---|---|
| Identity and right to work | Originals such as a Canadian passport, birth or citizenship certificate, confirmation of permanent residence, or a current work permit |
| Where you lived | Every address in the past 5 years, with dates |
| Work and school | Every employer or school in the past 5 years, plus periods without work, with no gaps |
| Travel | Trips of 90 consecutive days or more outside Canada and the U.S.; extra documents if you spent 6 months or more outside them in the past 5 years |
| Spouse or ex-spouse | Name, date of birth and current address, if applicable in the past 5 years |
| Appointment | Fingerprints and a photo at the airport’s Pass Control Office or enrolment office |
Source: Transport Canada. Checks involve the RCMP and, where needed, CSIS and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Certain offences can make you ineligible for 5 or 10 years. You follow your file through your TSS account.
Some airports also have U.S. preclearance areas. Working there requires a separate Access Clearance, also valid for up to five years.
Airport jobs pay
Job Bank publishes median hourly wages by occupation. The figures below were updated on 19 November 2025 and mostly cover 2023–2024.
| Occupation | Canada | Ontario | British Columbia | Alberta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screening officer | $21.00 | $20.00 | $22.75 | $21.00 |
| Ramp attendant, air transport | $23.36 | $23.36 | $25.00 | $19.63 |
| Airline customer service agent | $21.00 | $19.50 | $22.75 | $21.25 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada, median hourly wages. The national figure includes all provinces and territories. Actual offers depend on the employer, any union agreement, shift premiums and your experience.
Hours and shifts
Large airports such as Toronto Pearson operate 24/7, so schedules include early mornings, late nights, weekends and holidays. Early departures mean very early starts for check-in, screening and ramp staff.
Some employers hire part-time or seasonal staff, so read each posting for the hours offered. Plan your commute too, because public transit may not run when your shift starts.
How to apply for airport jobs, step by step
- Choose the type of job and the airport you can reach for every shift.
- Write down your full five-year history of addresses, jobs and long trips abroad.
- Search Job Bank with the button on this page and filter by your city.
- Check airport job boards, such as Toronto Pearson’s, and airport authority careers pages.
- For screening jobs, go to the careers page of the contractor for your region.
- Apply directly with the employer and prepare for an interview.
- When the employer is ready to hire you, it starts your TSC application. Bring original documents to the pass office appointment.
Training and certificates
Most airport employers train new hires on their own procedures. Screening officers go through CATSA’s training program, with classroom, on-the-job and online parts, and must be CATSA certified.
For border services officers, the CBSA describes an 18-week Officer Induction Training Program: 4 weeks online, then 14 weeks in residence at the CBSA College. Graduates then complete 12 to 18 months of paid on-the-job development. The CBSA says its selection process can take up to 18 months.
If you need training to change careers, Better Jobs Ontario funds up to $28,000 for programs of one year or less for eligible laid-off workers, and for people unemployed for 12 weeks or longer in low-income households. In other provinces, ask your local employment centre, such as WorkBC, about training supports.
Your rights at work
Air transportation, including airlines, airports, aerodromes and aircraft operations, is federally regulated. These employers follow the Canada Labour Code, not provincial employment standards.
- Federal minimum wage: $18.15 an hour since 1 April 2026. If your province’s minimum is higher, as in BC at $18.25, the higher rate applies.
- Overtime: standard hours are 8 a day and 40 a week, and overtime is paid at least 1.5 times your regular wage.
- Other employers: shops and restaurants in terminals may fall under provincial rules. Ontario’s minimum wage is $17.95 since 1 October 2026 and Alberta’s is $15.
Get your pay rate, hours and job duties in writing before you start, and keep every pay stub.
Résumé and interview tips
Show reliability first: past shift work, early starts and a clean attendance record. Mention customer service, languages you speak and any experience with baggage, warehouses or driving.
Interviewers may ask how you would handle an angry passenger or a safety concern on the ramp. Give short, real examples that show calm, rule-following and teamwork.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving gaps in your five-year history, which can slow your clearance.
- Applying to an airport you can’t reach for early shifts.
- Forgetting to list long trips outside Canada and the U.S.
- Quitting your current job before your clearance and start date are confirmed.
How to spot job scams
A clearance is started by your employer, and no one can sell you an “airport pass” or a faster clearance. Never pay to apply, and never send your SIN, passport or banking details by text, WhatsApp or social media before you have a real written offer.
Be wary of messages that use an airline’s name but come from a personal email address. Check the posting on the employer’s own careers page.
Similar jobs
Interested in security work outside airports? Our security guard licence guide explains provincial licensing in Ontario, BC and Alberta. Airports also hire for terminal cleaning, covered in cleaning jobs in Canada, and cargo areas use skills from forklift certification. You can also browse all jobs in Canada.
Frequently asked questions
Do all airport jobs need a security clearance?
No. A Transportation Security Clearance is required for people who need to enter restricted areas. Some jobs in public parts of the terminal may not need one, so check each posting.
Can I apply for a Transportation Security Clearance myself?
No. Transport Canada says the employer must start the application, and only for people whose job requires access to a restricted or preclearance area.
How long is a TSC valid?
Up to five years. The RAIC that lets you through restricted doors depends on holding a valid clearance.
Who hires screening officers for airport jobs?
Screening officers work for CATSA’s contracted security firms, not for CATSA itself. CATSA lists Paladin Airport Security Services in the west and GardaWorld in the Central and East regions.
What do airport jobs pay?
Job Bank reports national medians of $21.00 an hour for screening officers and airline customer service agents, and $23.36 for ramp attendants. Pay varies by airport and employer.
Where do I apply?
Apply directly with each employer, using the instructions in the Job Bank posting or on the employer’s careers page. Applying is free.
Sources
- Transport Canada: applying for transportation security clearances
- Transport Canada: required documents
- CATSA: working as a screening officer
- Job Bank: wages for ramp attendants
- Government of Canada: federal minimum wage 2026
- CBSA: qualifications for border services officers
