Three RoutesCompare · Ontario figures · updated 2 November 2026
Electrician vs Plumber
Same columns, no opinion about which is better for you. On typical Ontario figures, Electrician is ahead by year 10 ($602k 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. Plumber costs $500 less to get into.
| Measure | Electrician | Plumber |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Apprenticeship | Apprenticeship |
| Credential | Certificate of Qualification (309A) | Certificate of Qualification (306A) |
| 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 | $39,000 |
| Earnings by year 5 | $66,000 | $63,000 |
| Net by year 10 (typical) | $602k | $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.
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.
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, electrician or plumber?
By year five, Electrician is about $66,000 and Plumber about $63,000 (Ontario medians, before tax). By year ten, counting what each cost, Electrician nets roughly $602k and Plumber roughly $578k.
Which is faster to a real paycheque?
Electrician: month one. Plumber: month one.
What does each cost?
Electrician: $2,000 in tuition and fees, typical debt $0. Plumber: $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. 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.