Career
Jobs in Kelowna
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Most jobs in Kelowna are in technology, healthcare, education, construction, agriculture and tourism, and the economy is more diversified than many newcomers expect. Over the past decade, tech and remote work have pushed the city well past its old image as a place to retire or vacation. This page is for job seekers, and it covers the main sectors, typical pay, where to look for work and what to know if you're moving here.
Major Employment Sectors
The biggest job sectors are technology (nearly 800 companies across the Okanagan), healthcare led by Kelowna General Hospital, and education. Construction and trades, agriculture and wine, and tourism round out the list.
Technology
Nearly 800 Okanagan tech companies work in software, cybersecurity, SaaS, digital marketing, AI and data analytics. Big employers include KF Aerospace, Bardel Entertainment and Yeti Farm Creative, along with many startups. Developers earn $60K–$120K, and senior and specialized roles (DevOps, AI/ML, cybersecurity) pay more than $130K. Product managers, UX designers and digital marketers are in high demand too.
Healthcare
Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) is the main hospital for BC's Interior. Interior Health employs thousands of people in nursing ($70K–$95K), medical technology, office and clinical roles. The Interior Heart and Surgical Centre, which opened in 2015, brought cardiac surgery to the hospital. Licensed practical nurses, registered nurses and health care assistants are always in demand.
Education
UBC Okanagan (11,000+ students), Okanagan College (15,900+ students) and SD23 (about 25,000 K-12 students) are all big employers. Teaching jobs ($55K–$95K), research roles, sessional instructors and office jobs come up often, and UBCO's growth has added research jobs in particular.
Construction & Trades
The city is growing fast, so electricians, plumbers, carpenters, HVAC techs and heavy equipment operators are always needed. Journeyperson trades pay well at $30–$45/hour ($62K–$94K a year), and foremen and supervisors earn $80K–$120K. Housing and road building aren't slowing down, so expect the sector to stay strong for years.
Agriculture & Wine
Wineries, orchards and farms employ thousands, both seasonally and all year. Winemaking ($50K–$80K), vineyard management, agri-tourism management ($45K–$70K) and farm tech roles are growing. Seasonal harvest and cellar work runs from August through November.
Tourism & Hospitality
Hotels, restaurants, wineries and outdoor businesses hire heavily from May–September. Big White Ski Resort is a major winter employer, and year-round management jobs ($45K–$70K) exist in hotels, food & beverage and tourism marketing. The sector is working to attract workers with better pay and benefits.
How Do Kelowna Salaries Compare to Vancouver?
Kelowna wages usually run 5–15% below Vancouver for the same job, but living costs are lower, so your money often goes just as far or further. Tech pay is rising fastest and is close to Vancouver levels in many specialties, and trades pay is as good as anywhere in BC. The biggest gaps are in corporate management and financial services. If you can keep a Vancouver or Toronto salary while working remotely from here, you come out well ahead.
Salary Tip: Many remote workers negotiate Vancouver or Toronto-level salaries and live in Kelowna. If your employer is open to remote work, a big-city salary on an Okanagan cost of living goes a long way.
Job Search Resources
The main places to look for work are Castanet Jobs, Indeed and LinkedIn, the Accelerate Okanagan Job Board, local networking and WorkBC.
Castanet Jobs
The most-used local job site. Castanet (castanet.net) is the city's biggest news site, and its busy jobs section is where local employers post directly, so local jobs often show up there first. New listings go up all the time, so check it daily.
Indeed & LinkedIn
National sites with plenty of local listings. Set the location filter to 'Kelowna, BC' and turn on email alerts. LinkedIn is the more useful of the two for professional and management roles.
Accelerate Okanagan Job Board
Tech jobs posted by Accelerate Okanagan member companies. If you want software, product management, design or marketing work in the local tech sector, start here.
Networking
Networking matters more in Kelowna than in a big city. The business community is close-knit, and many jobs are filled through referrals before they're ever posted. Go to Chamber of Commerce events, BNI groups, Startup Grind Okanagan and industry meetups.
WorkBC
The provincial government's job services, at workbc.ca. Local WorkBC offices help with job searches, resumes, training funding and links to employers, and they're especially useful for newcomers and people changing careers.
Tips for Relocating Job Seekers
If you're moving to Kelowna without a job lined up, plan on 2–4 months of searching. A local address, even a temporary one, gets you a lot more replies from local employers. Contract or freelance work early on is a good way to build local references and contacts.
Tech is the sector most open to hiring remotely, while healthcare and trades prefer local candidates. That said, demand for skilled trades is strong enough that landing a job before you move is often easy.