Three RoutesCompare · Ontario figures · updated 2 November 2026
HVAC / refrigeration mechanic vs Steamfitter / pipefitter
Same columns, no opinion about which is better for you. On typical Ontario figures, Steamfitter / pipefitter is ahead by year 10 ($823k against $656k), because it pays more per year once you are working. The gap is before tax, rent and loan interest, which hit both routes. Job Bank rates demand higher for HVAC / refrigeration mechanic in Ontario right now.
| Measure | HVAC / refrigeration mechanic | Steamfitter / pipefitter |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Apprenticeship | Apprenticeship |
| Credential | Certificate of Qualification (313A) | Certificate of Qualification (307A) |
| Years to finish | 5 | 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 | $42,000 | $46,000 |
| Earnings by year 5 | $72,000 | $92,000 |
| Net by year 10 (typical) | $656k | $823k |
| Demand in Ontario | High | Steady |
| Time in a classroom | 15% | 10% |
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.
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.
Steamfitter / pipefitter
A day looks like: Welding, threading and fitting high-pressure pipe for heating, process and nuclear systems, mostly on industrial sites, with eight weeks a year in trade school, paid throughout.
What stops people: Getting into a UA Local 46 or 787 intake, or finding a non-union sponsor. Intakes open only a few times a year and are competitive.
Downside: Five years to the ticket. Industrial, refinery and nuclear sites mean travel, shutdown schedules and long stretches away from home.
Quick answers
Which pays more, hvac / refrigeration mechanic or steamfitter / pipefitter?
By year five, HVAC / refrigeration mechanic is about $72,000 and Steamfitter / pipefitter about $92,000 (Ontario medians, before tax). By year ten, counting what each cost, HVAC / refrigeration mechanic nets roughly $656k and Steamfitter / pipefitter roughly $823k.
Which is faster to a real paycheque?
HVAC / refrigeration mechanic: month one. Steamfitter / pipefitter: month one.
What does each cost?
HVAC / refrigeration mechanic: $1,500 in tuition and fees, typical debt $0. Steamfitter / pipefitter: $1,500, typical debt $0.
What is the downside of each?
HVAC / refrigeration mechanic: Attics in July and rooftops in January. Demand is high partly because the work is uncomfortable. Steamfitter / pipefitter: Five years to the ticket. Industrial, refinery and nuclear sites mean travel, shutdown schedules and long stretches away from home.
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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.