Three RoutesCompare · Ontario figures · updated 2 November 2026
Plumber vs Welder
Same columns, no opinion about which is better for you. On typical Ontario figures, Plumber is ahead by year 10 ($578k 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. Job Bank rates demand higher for Plumber in Ontario right now.
| Measure | Plumber | Welder |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Apprenticeship | Apprenticeship |
| Credential | Certificate of Qualification (306A) | Certificate of Qualification (456A) |
| Years to finish | 5 | 3 |
| 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 | $39,000 | $41,000 |
| Earnings by year 5 | $63,000 | $55,000 |
| Net by year 10 (typical) | $578k | $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.
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.
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, plumber or welder?
By year five, Plumber is about $63,000 and Welder about $55,000 (Ontario medians, before tax). By year ten, counting what each cost, Plumber nets roughly $578k and Welder roughly $519k.
Which is faster to a real paycheque?
Plumber: month one. Welder: month one.
What does each cost?
Plumber: $1,500 in tuition and fees, typical debt $0. Welder: $1,500, typical debt $0.
What is the downside of each?
Plumber: Physically hard on knees and back over decades. Emergency and weekend calls are part of the job. 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.