Skilled trades
Get paid while you learn. Every trade from electrician to welder to crane operator.
85 careers
Construction
21BricklayerLay brick, block and stone on new buildings and restore old ones. A 3-year paid apprenticeship.$83kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandBuilding InspectorCheck that new buildings follow the code before people move in. A trade or diploma, then a municipal job with a pension.$80kTypical pay4 to 8 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandCabinetmakerBuild custom kitchens, cabinets and furniture in a shop. A 4-year paid apprenticeship, quieter and steadier than site work, with lower pay.$50kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandCarpenterFrame houses, form concrete towers or finish trim. The broadest trade on any site, paid from day one.$67kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandConcrete FinisherPlace, level and finish concrete floors, sidewalks and slabs. Early mornings, because concrete waits for no one.$71kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandConstruction EstimatorWork out what a building will cost before anyone pours concrete. A two-year diploma or a trade ticket, then an office job with site visits.$79kTypical pay2 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandCrane OperatorLift steel, concrete and machinery on construction sites. A licensed trade with high pay and enormous responsibility.$89kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandDrywall InstallerHang, tape and finish the walls inside almost every building. Fast to enter, often paid by the sheet.$69kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandFloor Covering InstallerInstall hardwood, laminate, vinyl and carpet in homes and offices. A 3 to 4 year paid apprenticeship and a fast route to your own business.$54kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandGeneral ContractorRun the whole build: hire the trades, keep the schedule, carry the risk. Usually a trade first, then your own company.$101kTypical pay4 to 10 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandGlazierInstall the glass on towers, storefronts and homes, from a shower door to a 40-storey curtain wall.$63kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandHeavy Equipment OperatorRun excavators, dozers and graders that move earth for roads, pipelines and buildings. A short training path and a Job Bank median of about $68,000 a year, but seasonal.$68kTypical pay1 to 2 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandHome InspectorCheck a house from roof to basement before someone buys it. Short training, mostly self-employed, licensed in BC (British Columbia) and Alberta, and in Quebec from 2027.$80kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandInsulatorWrap pipes, ducts, tanks and boilers so heat stays where it belongs. A 3 to 4 year paid apprenticeship, much of it through the union.$78kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandIronworkerBolt up the steel skeleton of towers and bridges, or tie the rebar inside concrete. Paid from day one, high risk, 2 to 4 years to certify.$89kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandPainter and DecoratorPaint, stain and coat the inside and outside of buildings. A 3-year paid apprenticeship, and outside Quebec no licence is needed to start.$58kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandPlastererSmooth walls, ornate ceilings and exterior stucco. A three-year Red Seal apprenticeship with almost no tuition.$69kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandRooferShingle houses and seal flat commercial roofs. Quick to enter, hot and high.$64kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandScaffolderBuild the temporary steel structures every other trade stands on. Start as a labourer, learn on the job, no trade licence needed outside Quebec.$52kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandStonemasonCut, shape and set natural stone on walls, monuments and century-old buildings. A craft trade with a paid apprenticeship.$83kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandTile SetterLay ceramic, porcelain and stone tile on floors, walls and showers. A 3 to 4 year paid apprenticeship that rewards fast, precise hands.$72kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
Electrical and energy
12ElectricianWire homes, buildings and industry. Earn a paycheque from your first year of training.$73kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandElectronics Service TechnicianDiagnose and repair the circuit boards inside machines, medical gear and industrial equipment.$55kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandIndustrial ElectricianKeep the motors, robots and control systems of factories, mines and mills running. A Red Seal apprenticeship with indoor, year-round work.$87kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandInstrumentation TechnicianCalibrate and fix the sensors and controls that run refineries, plants and water treatment. The brains side of the trades.$96kTypical pay4 to 6 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandPower EngineerRun the boilers, turbines and refrigeration plants that keep hospitals, refineries and cities working. Six figures with a two-year diploma.$102kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandPower System ElectricianMaintain the generators, substations and protection systems behind the grid. A four-year utility apprenticeship, with a higher Job Bank median than construction or industrial electricians.$97kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandPowerline TechnicianBuild and repair the high-voltage lines that carry electricity across Canada. Well paid, dangerous, outdoors in every storm.$96kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandSecurity Systems TechnicianInstall and fix alarms, cameras and door access systems. Learn on the job, no degree needed.$70kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandSolar Panel InstallerPut solar panels on roofs and fields. Fast to start, outdoors, and growing every year.$54kTypical payup to 2 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandTelecommunications TechnicianInstall and fix the fibre, cable and cell equipment that keeps Canada online. A college diploma or on-the-job training, then a company van.$70kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandWater Treatment OperatorMake a town's tap water safe and clean its wastewater. A municipal job with a pension, entered with a high school diploma.$75kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandWind Turbine TechnicianClimb tall towers to service wind turbines. One or two years of college, then a lot of ladders.$77kTypical pay1 to 2 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
Plumbing, pipes and HVAC
5GasfitterConnect and service furnaces, water heaters and gas lines. A short licence ladder that many plumbers and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) techs add on.$83kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandHVAC (Heating and Cooling) TechnicianInstall and fix furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps and refrigeration. Busy in every heat wave and cold snap.$78kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandPlumberWater, gas and drainage in every building. Paid apprenticeship, licensed in about 5 years.$71kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyGoodDemandSprinkler FitterInstall and test the fire sprinklers every new building needs. Paid apprenticeship, about 4 years.$91kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandSteamfitter and PipefitterHigh-pressure pipe in power plants, refineries and hospitals. A paid apprenticeship of 4 to 5 years.$91kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemand
Metal and machining
8BoilermakerBuild and repair the boilers, tanks and pressure vessels inside refineries and power plants. Intense shutdown weeks, big overtime, then time off.$102kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandCNC MachinistProgram and run CNC (computer numerical control) machines that cut metal to a hundredth of a millimetre.$62kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandMachinistCut metal into exact parts on lathes, mills and computer-controlled machines. Indoors, precise, and steady.$62kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandMetal FabricatorCut, shape and fit steel into bridges, tanks and buildings. A Red Seal trade you earn while you work.$60kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandNon-Destructive TesterUse ultrasound and X-rays to find cracks in pipelines, bridges and aircraft without cutting them open.$75kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandSheet Metal WorkerCut, bend and install the ducts, roofing and metal that make buildings breathe. A licensed trade in Ontario with a 5-year apprenticeship.$71kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandTool and Die MakerBuild the moulds and dies that stamp and shape every car part. The most precise trade in the shop.$71kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandWelderJoin metal with heat. A quick trade to start earning in, and the tickets matter more than the diploma.$62kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemand
Industrial and mechanical
7Appliance Repair TechnicianFix fridges, washers, dryers and stoves in people's homes. A Red Seal trade with a van and steady calls.$59kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandElevator MechanicInstall and maintain elevators and escalators. Job Bank's median of $45 an hour is one of the highest of any trade, and it is one of the hardest to get into.$94kTypical pay4 to 6 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandLocksmithLocks, keys, safes and access systems. A hands-on trade that is quietly going electronic.$72kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandMillwrightInstall, fix and keep running the machines inside mines, mills and factories. The Red Seal name is Industrial Mechanic (Millwright).$77kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandPest Control TechnicianBed bugs, mice, wasps and termites. Licensed in months, hired fast, never boring.$54kTypical payup to 1 yearTo qualifyModerateDemandPrinting Press OperatorRun the machines that print packaging, labels, books and flyers. Learn on the floor, no licence needed.$52kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandSmall Engine MechanicMowers, chainsaws, generators and snowblowers. A short apprenticeship and a busy spring.$50kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
Vehicles and equipment
13Agricultural Equipment TechnicianFix the combines, tractors and sprayers that feed the country. A Red Seal trade with a Job Bank median of about $77,000 a year.$77kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandAircraft Maintenance EngineerInspect and repair aircraft, then sign them safe to fly. A Transport Canada licence, not a university degree.$81kTypical pay4 to 6 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandAuto Body RepairerStraighten, weld and rebuild crashed vehicles. Compulsory trade in Ontario, paid by insurance work.$56kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandAuto Glass TechnicianWindshields, side glass and the cameras behind them. Trained in months, in demand every winter.$56kTypical pay1 to 2 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandAutomotive Service TechnicianDiagnose and fix cars and light trucks. Paid from day one, but you buy your own tools.$62kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandAvionics TechnicianThe electronics that fly the plane: radios, navigation, autopilot, wiring. A 2-year diploma and a Job Bank median of about $84,000 a year.$84kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandBicycle MechanicFix, build and tune bikes and e-bikes. No licence, a short course or shop training, and busy summers.$52kTypical payup to 2 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandHeavy-Duty Equipment TechnicianKeep excavators, haul trucks and loaders running at mines and job sites. Job Bank's median is about $77,000 a year.$77kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandMarine MechanicOutboards, sterndrives and boat systems. A short apprenticeship and a summer spent at the marina.$62kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandMotorcycle MechanicService and repair motorcycles, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles. A Red Seal trade with long summers and quiet winters.$62kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandParts TechnicianFind, order, stock and sell the parts that keep vehicles and machines running. A Red Seal trade you can do without getting greasy.$54kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandRecreation Vehicle TechnicianMotorhomes and trailers are houses on wheels. You fix the plumbing, propane, electrical and chassis, all in one trade.$62kTypical pay3 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandTruck and Coach TechnicianFix diesel trucks and buses for fleets and transit agencies, including pension jobs in transit.$62kTypical pay4 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
Personal, food and outdoor trades
16ArboristClimb, prune and remove trees, often with a chainsaw at height. Line clearing near power lines is a specialty of its own, and this is one of the more dangerous trades.$62kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandBakerBread, pastry and cakes before dawn. Start tomorrow with no schooling, or earn a Red Seal in 3 years.$36kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandBarberFades, beards and straight-razor shaves. Licensed under the hairstylist trade in some provinces, then it is all about your chair and your regulars.$41kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandButcherBreak down carcasses and cut meat for grocery stores and butcher shops. Learn on the job, and unionized at big chains.$42kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandEstheticianFacials, waxing, lashes and skin treatments. A short program, low starting pay, and your regulars decide your income.$42kTypical pay1 to 2 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandFarrierTrim hooves and forge horseshoes. Self-employed, physically brutal, and paid by the horse.$72kTypical pay1 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandFloristDesign bouquets, weddings and funeral flowers. Quick to start, with a Job Bank median of about $17 an hour.$36kTypical payup to 2 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandHairstylistCut, colour and style hair. Licensed in about 2 years, then it takes years more to build a clientele.$41kTypical pay2 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandJewellerMake, repair and set fine jewellery. A bench trade learned in college or under a goldsmith, with a slow climb to your own shop.$47kTypical pay2 to 5 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandLandscape HorticulturistDesign, plant and build outdoor spaces. Seasonal work, easy to start, and many end up owning the company.$62kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandMakeup ArtistBridal, editorial, film and special effects. A short diploma, a portfolio, and freelance income that swings with the season.$42kTypical payup to 1 yearTo qualifyLimitedDemandNail TechnicianManicures, gel, acrylics and nail art. A short course, cheap to start, and your regulars are your paycheque.$42kTypical payup to 1 yearTo qualifyLimitedDemandPet GroomerBathe, clip and style dogs and cats. No licence needed, learn in months, and mobile groomers set their own prices.$37kTypical payup to 1 yearTo qualifyModerateDemandTailorAlter, fit and make clothing by hand and machine. No licence, learn in a shop or at college, with a Job Bank median of about $40,000 a year.$40kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemandTattoo ArtistDraw on skin for a living. No licence, a long unpaid apprenticeship, and income that depends on your art and your following.$42kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandUpholstererRe-cover furniture, car seats and boat interiors. No licence, learned in a shop, and a hands-on craft.$47kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemand
Mining, oil and gas
3Driller and BlasterDrill the holes, load the explosives, fire the shot. A licensed job that breaks rock for quarries, mines and highways.$78kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemandOil Rig WorkerStart as a floorhand with no experience and climb to driller. Big money in 12-hour shifts, and no work when the rigs shut down.$83kTypical payup to 1 yearTo qualifyLimitedDemandUnderground MinerDrill, blast and haul ore a kilometre below ground. A Job Bank median of about $87,000 with no degree, in exchange for shift work in the dark.$87kTypical pay1 to 3 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemand