sweetnesspink

Hi, I'm going to Toronto in January to live and work for about 8 months. I'd like a simple job in retail as it leaves me enough time to see a bit of the country while I'm there.

I'm just worried about surviving on a retail wage as what I've seen so far seems pretty low.

Can anyone tell me (roughly of course) how much fashion stores in downtown Toronto pay?

And I'm I right in thinking when estimating tax etc it's best to take off around 30%?

Thanks everyone,
Lauren.

gleech

first determine your NOC number for Fashion retail and check the wage here
http://www.labourmarketinformation.c...v_main&lcode=e

Erick

sweetnesspink

That link doesn't work for me... is there anything missing from the address?

Thank you for your reply,
Lauren.

The TWs

Well minimum wage in Ontario is $8.00 an hour and most retail places pay minimum. I remember that places like the Bay used to pay more and obviously more upscale places pay a bit more.

I wouldn't want to live in T.O on a retail salary these days... it would be a struggle! (I lived in T.O about 10 years ago and struggled working in retail and living in a run down house with 4 guys! Not fun in the winter!!!)

sweetnesspink

Hmm. I was worried someone would say that.

Is Vancouver any easier? I want to live in a big city, and I really want to live in Toronto but I don't want to do any serious jobs. I have a degree but I just want to chill out in an easy job for 6 months.

Oh how much stress!

The TWs

Well I can't think that anything could be more stressful than living in a big city like Vancouver or Toronto and being that broke.

What about temp work? That will be a lot better paid and relatively chilled out.

Put it this way - if you stick to retail in either of those cities you will live there but you will never get to enjoy them. Would you try to live in London on a retail salary? If the answer is yes then you'll be fine... if not you might want to look at doing something else...

sweetnesspink

I live in Edinburgh, one of the most expensive cities in Britain on a retail wage but then again I don't do much, or live much because of a lack of money.

I wish I had a rich daddy like so many other ex students who go off globe trotting. Lol.

Piff Poff

Sears in Red Deer starts you off at around $8.50 per hour and 6% holiday pay depending experience. Apparently this is the same wage rate as Toronto. Zellers will start you off on around $10, McDonalds is around $11 if full time. Again this is Red Deer, but the wages in Alberta are supposed to be pretty close to those in Vancouver and Toronto due to the shortage of workers available to the employers.

Souvenir

Have you considered bar work, instead of retail? People in that business rely on tips for most of their income and don't declare them for tax.

sweetnesspink

I hadn't really thought about it, but it's definately an option!

dbd33

My two studenty bummish type offspring make/made a living from:

- lifeguard, two years ago the city paid $13 and up, private pools more and at one point, four years ago, she was getting $28 for coaching "bratty rich kids with no natural buoyancy". You have to be able to swim, of course.

- private vegetarian chef, that daughter is the part time cook for a family of film people who are on a raw food diet. It's cash money. You have to know a lot about vegetarianism, raw food diets and be an articulate bullshitter.

- officer on a sailing ship, summer only and generates barely any income but you can't spend any money while sailing and you get a fabulous tan. You have to know boats.

In short, they're building on their hobbies, they've turned whatever they're good at into jobs. Similarly, my OH couldn't work here legally until a couple of months ago, so she mucked stalls, trained horses, braided manes and tails; same thing, using what interests her to generate some cash.

What's your thing?

sweetnesspink

I have been thinking about using my interests (mainly drama and theatre type) and I have a degree in the area t help find a job. It's just that I cn get an international transfer with my company and have no hassle with finding a job etc. But this does create the problem of a low retail wage.

Funnily I earn a pretty good wage with them here (for retail) but that doesn't seem to be the same in Toronto.

Souvenir

I think a lot of retail jobs here are commission-based. I don't know if that's the case in the UK.

The TWs

I was an actress in TO its very difficult to get paid work, even teaching kids at community centres. There is very little drama in education by anyone other than teachers... And any work tended to be minimum wage only! (Unless you land that amazing film job!) Have you asked your company what they would pay you if you transferred?

I agree that waitressing and bartending can be a great way to make money in the short term - plus it will be really easy to meet people.

sweetnesspink

No most here is by a set salary.