Three RoutesCompare · Ontario figures · updated 2 November 2026
General carpenter vs Plumber
Same columns, no opinion about which is better for you. On typical Ontario figures, General carpenter is ahead by year 10 ($579k against $578k), because it pays more per year once you are working. The gap is before tax, rent and loan interest, which hit both routes.
| Measure | General carpenter | Plumber |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Apprenticeship | Apprenticeship |
| Credential | Certificate of Qualification (403A) | Certificate of Qualification (306A) |
| Years to finish | 4 | 5 |
| First real paycheque | Month one | Month one |
| Cost (tuition and fees) | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Typical debt if you borrow | $0 | $0 |
| Earnings, first years | $43,000 | $39,000 |
| Earnings by year 5 | $62,000 | $63,000 |
| Net by year 10 (typical) | $579k | $578k |
| Demand in Ontario | Steady | Steady |
| Time in a classroom | 15% | 15% |
Earnings by year, roughly
Before tax. Years in school show as "school". Medians rise from the starting figure to the year-5 figure, then stay flat.
General carpenter
A day looks like: Framing, formwork, finishing; residential and commercial sites. Very hands-on, visible results daily.
What stops people: Easy to start, harder to reach top pay without specialising or going union.
Downside: Pay ceiling is lower than electrical or plumbing unless you move into site supervision or your own company. Outdoor work in every season.
Plumber
A day looks like: Installing and repairing water, drainage and gas systems in homes and commercial buildings; paid on-the-job hours plus in-school blocks.
What stops people: Sponsoring employer, same as most construction trades.
Downside: Physically hard on knees and back over decades. Emergency and weekend calls are part of the job.
Quick answers
Which pays more, general carpenter or plumber?
By year five, General carpenter is about $62,000 and Plumber about $63,000 (Ontario medians, before tax). By year ten, counting what each cost, General carpenter nets roughly $579k and Plumber roughly $578k.
Which is faster to a real paycheque?
General carpenter: month one. Plumber: month one.
What does each cost?
General carpenter: $1,500 in tuition and fees, typical debt $0. Plumber: $1,500, typical debt $0.
What is the downside of each?
General carpenter: Pay ceiling is lower than electrical or plumbing unless you move into site supervision or your own company. Outdoor work in every season. Plumber: Physically hard on knees and back over decades. Emergency and weekend calls are part of the job.
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Figures are Ontario medians and typical costs from Job Bank, Statistics Canada, Skilled Trades Ontario and institution fee pages; the data page lists every source and date. Switch province on either pathway page for BC, Alberta or Quebec figures.