How long does it take?

About 3 years, with a first real paycheque in about 3 years.

What does it cost and how much debt is typical?

About $13,500 in tuition and fees, and $16,700 of debt is typical for those who borrow.

College diploma

Civil engineering technology

Q: How much does a civil engineering technology earn in Ontario?

Roughly $43,000 in the first years and $63,500 by year five (Ontario median, before tax). Verified against Job Bank NOC 22300, wages Nov 2025 (median $32.60/hr), outlook 2025–27 Moderate; cost = Conestoga 2026–27 $4,731/yr × 3 (Seneca-rate $13,255); StatCan NGS 2020 college debt.

Ontario College Advanced Diploma

Numbers for 33 of 52 pathways verified, the rest partly · How we verify

Years to credential3

First real paycheque~3 years

Time in a classroom65%

Total cost$13,500

Typical debt after$16,700

Demand in OntarioSteady

The first ten years

schoolschoolschoolearnearnearnearnearnearnearn

Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

Ontario median before tax. Overtime, location and specialisation change this a lot. Net by year 10 after program cost: $390k, low to high $327k to $452k.

What's in "net by year 10"

Earnings, years 1 to 10	$404k	3 years at $0 while in school, then $43,000 rising to $63,500 by year five, flat after
Program cost	−$14k	tuition and fees
Typical (medians)	$390k	the number on the card
Low to high	$327k to $452k	pay 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 Ontario median before tax from the sources on this page.

The picture

What the day-to-day isSurveying, materials testing, CAD, site inspection for roads, bridges and buildings.

What actually stops peopleMath. Students who scraped through Advanced Functions struggle in first year.

The downsideYou do the field and drafting work engineers sign off on; the P.Eng ceiling requires going back for a degree.

If you're the parentInfrastructure spending in Ontario means steady hiring. A practical, outdoors-and-office mix with a clear path to a degree later.

Local opportunities in Ontario

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

Courses: Advanced Functions, Physics
Average around 65+

Deadlines in Ontario

OCAS: apply by February 1 for equal consideration; many programs stay open after
OSAP opens in spring

Next steps

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✓ Verified 2026-10-26 Sources: Job Bank NOC 22300, wages Nov 2025 (median $32.60/hr), outlook 2025–27 Moderate; cost = Conestoga 2026–27 $4,731/yr × 3 (Seneca-rate $13,255); StatCan NGS 2020 college debt

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