Canada is in the middle of a skilled trades shortage that is not going away. The federal government estimates the country will need over 300,000 additional tradespeople by 2030, and the gap is widest in the provinces with the highest wages. For tradespeople already working in Canada â or those considering a move â understanding exactly what each province pays is the difference between a comfortable life and just getting by.
This guide breaks down verified 2026 salary data for the six most in-demand trades â plumber, electrician, welder, carpenter, heavy equipment operator, and HVAC technician â across every major Canadian province. The figures come from provincial labour market reports, union wage schedules, and the Government of Canada’s Job Bank database.
One important note before the numbers: these are employed wages, meaning what you earn as a full-time employee with a provincial employer. Self-employed tradespeople in high-demand provinces can earn 20 to 40 percent more than these figures, particularly in Alberta and British Columbia during peak construction season.
Ontario â Canada’s Largest Labour Market
Ontario employs more tradespeople than any other province. The Greater Toronto Area alone accounts for over $40 billion in active construction value, and the provincial government has committed to building 1.5 million new homes by 2031. That level of demand keeps wages consistently strong, particularly for union members working under the Provincial Building Trades agreement.
| Trade | Hourly (CAD) | Annual (CAD) | Union Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician (309A) | $42 â $58 | $87,000 â $120,000 | +18% |
| Plumber (306A) | $40 â $55 | $83,000 â $114,000 | +15% |
| Welder (456A) | $28 â $42 | $58,000 â $87,000 | +12% |
| Carpenter (403A) | $32 â $48 | $66,000 â $100,000 | +14% |
| HVAC Technician | $36 â $52 | $75,000 â $108,000 | +16% |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $35 â $50 | $73,000 â $104,000 | +13% |
Ontario notes: The 309A (electrician) and 306A (plumber) Red Seal certificates are the most valued in Ontario. Journeyperson wages in the ICI (Industrial, Commercial and Institutional) sector consistently sit at the top of these ranges. Residential trades pay 15 to 25 percent less than ICI for the same certification.
Toronto’s cost of living is the highest in Canada after Vancouver, so the gross wages are offset by housing and transportation costs. Tradespeople moving to Ontario from outside Canada most commonly settle in Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, or Barrie â where wages are similar to Toronto but housing costs are 30 to 40 percent lower.
British Columbia â Highest Wages, Highest Costs
British Columbia consistently posts the highest nominal wages for tradespeople in Canada, driven by the $36 billion Site C dam project, a decade of LNG construction on the northern coast, and Vancouver’s perpetually active housing market. The BC Building Trades Council negotiates some of the strongest union agreements in North America.
| Trade | Hourly (CAD) | Annual (CAD) | Camp Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | $48 â $68 | $100,000 â $141,000 | +$22/hr |
| Plumber | $46 â $65 | $96,000 â $135,000 | +$20/hr |
| Welder | $35 â $55 | $73,000 â $114,000 | +$18/hr |
| Carpenter | $38 â $58 | $79,000 â $120,000 | +$15/hr |
| HVAC Technician | $42 â $60 | $87,000 â $125,000 | +$14/hr |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $42 â $65 | $87,000 â $135,000 | +$25/hr |
BC notes: The “camp premium” column refers to the additional hourly rate paid to tradespeople working on remote or fly-in/fly-out projects in northern BC. A welder based in Prince George working a camp rotation earns considerably more than the base wages shown. The LNG Canada project near Kitimat is the single highest-paying industrial site in Canada for trades in 2026.
Vancouver’s housing costs are a significant factor. A tradesperson earning $100,000 in Vancouver takes home less disposable income than one earning $90,000 in Calgary, once housing, strata fees, and the provincial fuel tax are factored in. The Kelowna and Kamloops markets offer a compromise: BC wages with substantially lower costs of living.