How much do electricians make in Canada?

Licensed electricians in Canada earn $60,000-$100,000+ per year depending on province, specialization, and whether they work union or non-union. Journeyperson electricians average $35-$50/hour. Self-employed master electricians can earn $80,000-$150,000+.

How much do plumbers make in Canada?

Licensed plumbers earn $60,000-$100,000+ per year. Journeyperson plumbers average $34-$48/hour. Plumbers who run their own businesses can earn $80,000-$150,000+. Service plumbers (residential repairs) often earn more than construction plumbers due to overtime and emergency rates.

Is it worth becoming an electrician or plumber in Canada?

Yes. Skilled trades offer competitive salaries ($60,000-$100,000+), no student debt (apprentices earn while learning), strong job security due to chronic labour shortages, and the opportunity to become self-employed. Apprenticeships take 4-5 years and are paid from day one.

How long does it take to become a licensed electrician or plumber?

Typically 4-5 years through an apprenticeship program. Apprentices complete 8,000-9,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 6-8 weeks of technical training per year. They earn 50-90% of journeyperson wages during the apprenticeship.

How Much Do Electricians & Plumbers Make in Canada 2026

Electricians and plumbers are two of the most in-demand and well-compensated skilled trades in Canada. Licensed journeypersons routinely earn $70,000-$100,000+, and those in union positions or specialized industrial roles can exceed $130,000 with overtime. Perhaps the biggest financial advantage of these trades is the apprenticeship model: unlike university-educated professionals who graduate with $30,000-$60,000 in debt, apprentice electricians and plumbers earn a wage from day one while their schooling costs just $2,000-$8,000 total. By the time a university graduate starts their career, a same-age tradesperson has already earned $180,000-$300,000.

Verified Against Statistics Canada Data

The figures below come directly from Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census (employment income reported for 2020), the most detailed occupation-level income data StatCan publishes. Because the Census figures are from 2020, they are shown alongside an inflation-adjusted equivalent so the numbers reflect today’s purchasing power. These are base employment income figures and do not include overtime or self-employment income, which many tradespeople use to boost earnings above these numbers.

Occupation	Median (2020 Census)	Median (Today, Inflation-Adjusted)	Average (Today, Inflation-Adjusted)
Electricians	$68,000	$84,400	$85,500
Plumbers	$63,600	$78,900	$79,400

Electrician Income by Province (StatCan Verified)

Province	Median (2020 Census)	Median (Today, Inflation-Adjusted)	Average (Today, Inflation-Adjusted)
Canada	$68,000	$84,400	$85,500
Newfoundland and Labrador	$60,000	$74,400	$87,300
PEI	$52,800	$65,500	$62,500
Nova Scotia	$57,600	$71,500	$70,800
New Brunswick	$55,200	$68,500	$69,100
Quebec	$67,500	$83,700	$83,400
Ontario	$69,000	$85,600	$86,300
Manitoba	$72,500	$89,900	$85,500
Saskatchewan	$72,000	$89,300	$89,600
Alberta	$75,000	$93,000	$94,000
British Columbia	$65,500	$81,300	$82,900

Plumber Income by Province (StatCan Verified)

Province	Median (2020 Census)	Median (Today, Inflation-Adjusted)	Average (Today, Inflation-Adjusted)
Canada	$63,600	$78,900	$79,400
Newfoundland and Labrador	$58,800	$72,900	$75,900
PEI	$49,200	$61,000	$63,000
Nova Scotia	$55,200	$68,500	$67,900
New Brunswick	$51,600	$64,000	$61,000
Quebec	$60,800	$75,400	$75,400
Ontario	$65,500	$81,300	$82,500
Manitoba	$63,200	$78,400	$77,800
Saskatchewan	$62,800	$77,900	$77,800
Alberta	$71,500	$88,700	$84,900
British Columbia	$62,000	$76,900	$77,000

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population, Table 98-10-0586-01. Figures are for those who worked full year, full time in 2020, and are inflation-adjusted to today’s dollars using the Consumer Price Index. *Some province/occupation combinations show “too few workers to report” because StatCan suppresses Census income cells with too few respondents to protect individual privacy — the data isn’t missing, it’s withheld for confidentiality.

Electrician Salary by Province

Province	Apprentice (Avg)	Journeyperson	Union Journeyperson
Alberta	$24-$30/hr	$38-$48/hr ($76K-$96K)	$42-$52/hr ($84K-$104K)
Ontario	$20-$28/hr	$35-$46/hr ($70K-$92K)	$42-$50/hr ($84K-$100K)
British Columbia	$22-$28/hr	$36-$46/hr ($72K-$92K)	$40-$48/hr ($80K-$96K)
Saskatchewan	$22-$28/hr	$36-$44/hr ($72K-$88K)	$40-$48/hr ($80K-$96K)
Manitoba	$19-$25/hr	$32-$40/hr ($64K-$80K)	$38-$44/hr ($76K-$88K)
Quebec	$18-$24/hr	$30-$38/hr ($60K-$76K)	$38-$44/hr ($76K-$88K)
Nova Scotia	$18-$24/hr	$30-$38/hr ($60K-$76K)	$35-$42/hr ($70K-$84K)
New Brunswick	$17-$23/hr	$28-$36/hr ($56K-$72K)	$34-$40/hr ($68K-$80K)
NWT/Nunavut	$28-$35/hr	$45-$60/hr ($90K-$120K)	$50-$65/hr ($100K-$130K)

Plumber Salary by Province

Province	Apprentice (Avg)	Journeyperson	Union Journeyperson
Alberta	$22-$28/hr	$36-$46/hr ($72K-$92K)	$40-$50/hr ($80K-$100K)
Ontario	$19-$26/hr	$34-$44/hr ($68K-$88K)	$40-$48/hr ($80K-$96K)
British Columbia	$20-$27/hr	$35-$45/hr ($70K-$90K)	$40-$48/hr ($80K-$96K)
Saskatchewan	$20-$26/hr	$34-$42/hr ($68K-$84K)	$38-$46/hr ($76K-$92K)
Manitoba	$18-$24/hr	$30-$38/hr ($60K-$76K)	$36-$42/hr ($72K-$84K)
Quebec	$17-$23/hr	$28-$36/hr ($56K-$72K)	$36-$42/hr ($72K-$84K)
Nova Scotia	$17-$23/hr	$28-$36/hr ($56K-$72K)	$34-$40/hr ($68K-$80K)
NWT/Nunavut	$26-$33/hr	$42-$55/hr ($84K-$110K)	$48-$60/hr ($96K-$120K)

Salary by Specialization

Electrician Specializations

Specialization	Salary Range	Notes
Construction electrician	$70,000-$96,000	Commercial and residential new builds
Industrial electrician	$75,000-$105,000	Factories, plants, mining
Fire alarm technician	$65,000-$90,000	Specialized certification
Instrumentation tech	$80,000-$120,000	Oil & gas, processing plants
High-voltage lineperson	$85,000-$130,000	Power utilities, premium pay
Elevator mechanic	$90,000-$130,000	Specialized trade, very high demand
HVAC/R electrician	$65,000-$95,000	Heating/cooling systems
Marine electrician	$70,000-$100,000	Ports, shipyards
Self-employed master electrician	$80,000-$150,000+	Sets own rates

Plumber Specializations

Specialization	Salary Range	Notes
Service plumber (residential)	$70,000-$100,000	Repairs, emergencies, higher OT
Construction plumber	$68,000-$92,000	New builds, commercial
Steamfitter/pipefitter	$75,000-$110,000	Industrial piping systems
Sprinkler fitter	$70,000-$100,000	Fire suppression systems
Gas fitter	$65,000-$95,000	Gas line installation/repair
Backflow prevention tech	$60,000-$85,000	Testing and certification
Refrigeration mechanic	$70,000-$100,000	Commercial cooling
Self-employed master plumber	$80,000-$150,000+	Residential service, sets own rates

Union vs Non-Union

The union wage premium for electricians and plumbers is among the largest of any profession in Canada, typically 25-40% higher than non-union equivalents. Beyond the hourly rate, union tradespeople receive comprehensive benefits and pension contributions that add another 15-25% to total compensation. The primary trade-offs are less scheduling flexibility and the requirement to work on assigned job sites. For electricians and plumbers early in their careers, joining a union is one of the most impactful financial decisions they can make.

Factor	Union	Non-Union
Hourly rate (journeyperson)	$40-$52/hr	$30-$45/hr
Benefits	Comprehensive (health, dental, pension)	Varies widely
Pension	Defined benefit or contribution	None or RRSP match only
Job security	Strong (seniority-based)	Less structured
Overtime rules	Strict time-and-a-half/double	Varies
Training/apprenticeship	Structured, well-funded	Varies
Annual earnings	$80,000-$110,000	$60,000-$90,000

Overtime and Extra Earnings

Pay Type	Rate
Regular rate (journeyperson)	$34-$50/hour
Overtime (1.5×)	$51-$75/hour
Double time (weekends, some)	$68-$100/hour
Emergency/after-hours call-out	2-3 hour minimum at OT rate
Travel/living-out allowance	$100-$180/day (remote jobs)
Shutdown/turnaround work	Premium rates ($50-$80/hr+)

Annual Earnings Scenarios

Scenario	Electric	Plumb
40 hrs/week, no overtime	$75,000-$95,000	$70,000-$90,000
Regular overtime (10 hrs/week)	$95,000-$120,000	$90,000-$115,000
Shutdown/turnaround work	$100,000-$140,000	$95,000-$130,000
Self-employed (busy)	$100,000-$160,000+	$100,000-$160,000+

Apprenticeship Earnings

Year	% of Journeyperson Rate	Approximate Hourly	Annual (40hr)
Year 1	50-60%	$18-$27	$36,000-$54,000
Year 2	60-70%	$22-$32	$44,000-$64,000
Year 3	70-80%	$25-$36	$50,000-$72,000
Year 4	80-90%	$28-$41	$56,000-$82,000
Journeyperson (licensed)	100%	$34-$50	$68,000-$100,000

How to Become a Licensed Tradesperson

Step	Details
1. Find an employer/sponsor	Apply to contractors or unions
2. Register as apprentice	Through provincial apprenticeship board
3. On-the-job training	8,000-9,000 hours over 4-5 years
4. Technical/classroom training	6-8 weeks per year (usually paid)
5. Interprovincial (Red Seal) exam	One exam valid in all provinces
Red Seal pass rate	~60-70% first attempt
Red Seal benefit	Work in any province without re-certification

Cost vs University Route

Path	Education Cost	Earnings During Training	Debt at Completion
Trades apprenticeship (4-5yr)	$2,000-$8,000 total	$180,000-$300,000	$0
University degree (4yr)	$30,000-$60,000 tuition	$0-$20,000 (part-time work)	$20,000-$50,000

Job Outlook

Canada is facing a severe shortage of electricians and plumbers, with 20-25% of the current workforce over age 55 and approaching retirement. This structural gap is pushing wages higher and creating near-guaranteed employment for licensed tradespeople in most provinces. The growing emphasis on renewable energy, EV charging infrastructure, and residential construction adds further demand for electricians specifically. Plumbers are benefiting from aging infrastructure and the ongoing housing crisis driving new residential construction across Alberta, BC, and Ontario.

Factor	Electricians	Plumbers
Overall demand	Very high	Very high
Projected shortages (by 2030)	Severe in most provinces	Severe in most provinces
Best prospects	Alberta, BC, Ontario	Alberta, BC, Ontario
Top sectors	Construction, renewable energy, EV	Infrastructure, housing, renovation
Retirement wave	20-25% of workforce over 55	20-25% of workforce over 55
Average age in trade	42	44
Women in trade	~3% (growing)	~2% (growing)

Tips to Maximize Earnings

Strategy	Impact
Get Red Seal certification	Work anywhere in Canada, higher credibility
Join a union	15-25% higher wages + pension + benefits
Work on megaprojects	$100,000-$140,000+/year with LOA
Start your own business	$100,000-$160,000+ (or more)
Add specializations (gas fitting, instrumentation)	Extra certifications = higher rates
Work in Northern/remote areas	$10,000-$30,000+ premiums
Get foreman/supervisor experience	$5-$15/hr more than journeyperson
Pursue industrial work	Oil & gas, mining pay premiums

Similar-Paying Professions

At a StatCan-verified median of $84,400/year (inflation-adjusted to today’s dollars), electricians earn about the same as several other professions covered on this site:

Journalists — $83,100/year
Financial Advisors — $92,400/year
Social Workers — $93,000/year

Based on the same Statistics Canada 2021 Census occupation income data (Table 98-10-0586-01) used throughout this page, inflation-adjusted to today’s dollars.

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