Three RoutesCompare · Ontario figures · updated 2 November 2026
Truck and coach technician vs Welder
Same columns, no opinion about which is better for you. On typical Ontario figures, Truck and coach technician is ahead by year 10 ($542k 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 Truck and coach technician in Ontario right now.
| Measure | Truck and coach technician | Welder |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Apprenticeship | Apprenticeship |
| Credential | Certificate of Qualification (310T) | Certificate of Qualification (456A) |
| Years to finish | 4 | 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 | $33,000 | $41,000 |
| Earnings by year 5 | $60,000 | $55,000 |
| Net by year 10 (typical) | $542k | $519k |
| Demand in Ontario | Steady | Limited |
| Time in a classroom | 12% | 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.
Truck and coach technician
A day looks like: Diagnosing and repairing trucks, buses and coaches in a fleet or dealer shop: brakes, air systems, diesel and increasingly electric drivetrains, with eight weeks a year in trade school.
What stops people: Landing a sponsoring shop (fleet, transit agency, dealer) before you can register. A G licence and a Grade 12 math credit help.
Downside: Heavy, dirty and often shift work. You buy your own tools. Diesel and electric drivetrains are both changing fast, so the learning never stops.
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, truck and coach technician or welder?
By year five, Truck and coach technician is about $60,000 and Welder about $55,000 (Ontario medians, before tax). By year ten, counting what each cost, Truck and coach technician nets roughly $542k and Welder roughly $519k.
Which is faster to a real paycheque?
Truck and coach technician: month one. Welder: month one.
What does each cost?
Truck and coach technician: $1,500 in tuition and fees, typical debt $0. Welder: $1,500, typical debt $0.
What is the downside of each?
Truck and coach technician: Heavy, dirty and often shift work. You buy your own tools. Diesel and electric drivetrains are both changing fast, so the learning never stops. 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.