Three RoutesCompare · Ontario figures · updated 2 November 2026
Electrician vs Welder
Same columns, no opinion about which is better for you. On typical Ontario figures, Electrician is ahead by year 10 ($602k against $519k), because it pays more per year once you are working. The gap is before tax, rent and loan interest, which hit both routes. Welder costs $500 less to get into. Job Bank rates demand higher for Electrician in Ontario right now.
| Measure | Electrician | Welder |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Apprenticeship | Apprenticeship |
| Credential | Certificate of Qualification (309A) | Certificate of Qualification (456A) |
| Years to finish | 5 | 3 |
| 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 | $41,000 |
| Earnings by year 5 | $66,000 | $55,000 |
| Net by year 10 (typical) | $602k | $519k |
| Demand in Ontario | Steady | Limited |
| Time in a classroom | 15% | 20% |
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.
Welder
A day looks like: Fabrication shops, construction, manufacturing. Skill is visible and testable, so good welders move up fast.
What stops people: Certifications (CWB tickets) matter more than the apprenticeship itself.
Downside: Fumes, heat and eye strain; wages vary hugely by sector. Pipeline and shipyard pay is high but means travel.
Quick answers
Which pays more, electrician or welder?
By year five, Electrician is about $66,000 and Welder about $55,000 (Ontario medians, before tax). By year ten, counting what each cost, Electrician nets roughly $602k and Welder roughly $519k.
Which is faster to a real paycheque?
Electrician: month one. Welder: month one.
What does each cost?
Electrician: $2,000 in tuition and fees, typical debt $0. Welder: $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. Welder: Fumes, heat and eye strain; wages vary hugely by sector. Pipeline and shipyard pay is high but means travel.
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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.