Three RoutesCompare · Ontario figures · updated 2 November 2026
Electrician vs HVAC / refrigeration mechanic
Same columns, no opinion about which is better for you. On typical Ontario figures, HVAC / refrigeration mechanic is ahead by year 10 ($656k against $602k), because it pays more per year once you are working. The gap is before tax, rent and loan interest, which hit both routes. HVAC / refrigeration mechanic costs $500 less to get into. Job Bank rates demand higher for HVAC / refrigeration mechanic in Ontario right now.
| Measure | Electrician | HVAC / refrigeration mechanic |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Apprenticeship | Apprenticeship |
| Credential | Certificate of Qualification (309A) | Certificate of Qualification (313A) |
| Years to finish | 5 | 5 |
| First real paycheque | Month one | Month one |
| Cost (tuition and fees) | $2,000 | $1,500 |
| Typical debt if you borrow | $0 | $0 |
| Earnings, first years | $39,000 | $42,000 |
| Earnings by year 5 | $66,000 | $72,000 |
| Net by year 10 (typical) | $602k | $656k |
| Demand in Ontario | Steady | High |
| 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.
Electrician
A day looks like: You spend roughly four days a week on site with a journeyperson and eight weeks a year in trade school, paid throughout. Work ranges from wiring new houses to industrial panels.
What stops people: Finding an employer to sponsor you. The schooling is the easy part.
Downside: Two to six months of job-hunting before you start is normal. Construction work is cyclical and the first year is a lot of carrying things.
HVAC / refrigeration mechanic
A day looks like: Installing and servicing heating, cooling and refrigeration systems. Increasingly technical as heat pumps and controls become standard.
What stops people: Sponsoring employer.
Downside: Attics in July and rooftops in January. Demand is high partly because the work is uncomfortable.
Quick answers
Which pays more, electrician or hvac / refrigeration mechanic?
By year five, Electrician is about $66,000 and HVAC / refrigeration mechanic about $72,000 (Ontario medians, before tax). By year ten, counting what each cost, Electrician nets roughly $602k and HVAC / refrigeration mechanic roughly $656k.
Which is faster to a real paycheque?
Electrician: month one. HVAC / refrigeration mechanic: month one.
What does each cost?
Electrician: $2,000 in tuition and fees, typical debt $0. HVAC / refrigeration mechanic: $1,500, typical debt $0.
What is the downside of each?
Electrician: Two to six months of job-hunting before you start is normal. Construction work is cyclical and the first year is a lot of carrying things. HVAC / refrigeration mechanic: Attics in July and rooftops in January. Demand is high partly because the work is uncomfortable.
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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.