Three Routes Start
Apprenticeship

General carpenter

Certificate of Qualification + Red Seal (SkilledTradesBC)

24 of 30 verified for BC; "start something" routes use national figures · How we verify
Trades go through SkilledTradesBC (4 levels, Youth Train in Trades lets you start Level 1 in high school). Numbers from WorkBC and Job Bank BC, BCIT, VCC and UBC.
Years to credential4
First real paycheque~a month
Time in a classroom15%
Total cost$4,700
Typical debt after$0
Demand in BCSteady

The first ten years

earnearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearn
Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

What's in "net by year 10"
Earnings, years 1 to 10$627k$47,840 rising to $66,560 by year five, flat after
Program cost−$5ktuition and fees
Typical (medians)$622kthe number on the card
Low to high$527k to $716kpay 15% under or over the median, cost 15% more or 10% less

Not counted: income tax, rent, food, loan interest, inflation, and unemployment gaps. They apply to every route, so they change the size of each number more than the order. Pay is the British Columbia median before tax from the sources on this page.

The picture

What the day-to-day isFraming, formwork, finishing; residential and commercial sites. Very hands-on, visible results daily.
What actually stops peopleEasy to start, harder to reach top pay without specialising or going union.
The downsidePay ceiling is lower than electrical or plumbing unless you move into site supervision or your own company. Outdoor work in every season.
If you're the parentQuick start, no debt, and housing construction needs people for the next decade. Earnings plateau earlier than other trades.
Local opportunities in British Columbia

Ready to explore this for real?

Eight quick questions about whether this route fits your life, not just your grades. You'll get a readiness check, and if you want, we'll introduce you to employers, unions or programs in your region.

Check my readiness

How to enter

What you need
  • No specific courses or average; Grade 12 (or equivalent) and a willingness to show up
Deadlines in BC
  • No deadline: find a sponsor, register with SkilledTradesBC
  • Grade 10 to 12: Youth Train in Trades (Level 1 in school) and Youth Work in Trades

Next steps in British Columbia

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

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In British ColumbiaLargest number of openings of any trade in BC (10,400 to 2035) but follows the construction cycle.
www.workbc.ca · www.bcit.ca

✓ Verified 2026-10-09 for BC Sources: WorkBC NOC 72310 (Job Bank BC wages 2025); BCIT Carpentry Apprenticeship

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