Three RoutesGuides · 3 min read · updated 17 October 2026
Trades vs university: the same numbers side by side
Four real pairs families argue about, with identical columns, and what the table leaves out.
The comparison families actually have
It is rarely "trades vs university" in the abstract. It is "electrician or engineering", "plumber or business", one real option against another. So here are four of those pairs with the same columns. Net by year 10 means ten years of earnings minus the program cost, before tax and living costs; it is rough, and the shape matters more than the decimals.
| Pathway | Type | Cost | Typical debt if you borrow | First real paycheque | Earnings at start | Earnings at year 5 | Net by year 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrician | Trade | $2,000 | $0 | Month one | $39,000 | $66,000 | $602k |
| Engineering | Degree | $52,000 | $30,600 | 4 yrs | $79,100 | $95,000 | $486k |
| Plumber | Trade | $1,500 | $0 | Month one | $39,000 | $63,000 | $578k |
| Business / commerce | Degree | $40,000 | $30,600 | 4 yrs | $63,000 | $78,300 | $399k |
| HVAC / refrigeration mechanic | Trade | $1,500 | $0 | Month one | $42,000 | $72,000 | $656k |
| Computer science | Degree | $50,000 | $30,600 | 4 yrs | $77,900 | $94,100 | $482k |
| Industrial millwright | Trade | $1,500 | $0 | Month one | $45,000 | $69,000 | $638k |
| Psychology | Degree | $32,000 | $30,600 | 4 yrs | $50,300 | $62,900 | $320k |
Ontario medians. Debt is the StatCan average for graduates who borrowed; about half of graduates finish with no debt at all.
What the table does not show
Trades front-load the money and the physical cost. An apprentice is earning while an undergraduate is paying, which is why the net-by-year-10 line is so close even when the degree pays more at year five. The trade also puts your knees and back on the invoice; electricians and plumbers talk about this at 45, not 25.
Degrees back-load the money and the risk. Engineering and computer science catch up and pass most trades by the late twenties, if you finish, and if the hiring market at graduation is kind. Job Bank currently rates the Ontario outlook for developers as limited; BC and Quebec rate it a shortage. Check the province, not the headline.
Both have a bottleneck that is not the exam. For trades it is finding a sponsoring employer. For degrees it is the first job hunt, which commonly takes six months. The readiness check on each pathway page is built around exactly these.
A fair way to decide
- If you need real income within two years, or you dislike classrooms, the trade column wins and it is not close.
- If you want a specific professional job (engineer, nurse, accountant) the degree is the only door, so the question is which program and how to limit the debt, not whether.
- If you are choosing a general degree because it is expected, read the arts and psychology cards first. They are honest about what the first job looks like.
- Nobody is locked in. Trade ticket then business degree at 30 is common; the reverse is common too. The trade ticket to contracting company pathway is the version people forget.
Quick answers
Do trades pay more than university degrees in Canada?
In the first five years, usually yes: an Ontario electrician is near $66,000 by year five with no debt, while a general arts graduate is near $53,000 with debt. Engineering, computer science and nursing degrees overtake most trades by the late twenties. It depends on the specific pair, which is why the table above compares them one against one.
Is a trade a good career for my child?
If they prefer doing to sitting, need income soon, and can handle early starts and physical work, a Red Seal trade is one of the lowest-risk routes in Canada: earning from month one, no debt, licence recognised across provinces. The risk is the first job hunt and the body over decades, not the exam.
Can you go to university after an apprenticeship?
Yes. Many journeypersons add a business or engineering technology credential later, often part-time and sometimes employer-funded. The trade ticket keeps earning while you study.
What is net by year 10?
Ten years of estimated earnings minus the cost of the program, before tax and living costs. It shows the shape of each route (earn now vs earn later) rather than an exact figure.
See your own three options
Seven questions, five minutes, no sign-up. The same numbers as this page, ranked for your answers.
Figures are medians and typical costs from Job Bank, Statistics Canada, provincial wage surveys and institution fee pages, verified in 2026; the data page lists every source. Your own numbers will differ by employer, region and overtime.