How long does it take?

About 5 years, with a first real paycheque within about a month.

What does it cost and how much debt is typical?

About $1,500 in tuition and fees, and usually no debt.

Apprenticeship

Steamfitter / pipefitter

Q: How much does a steamfitter / pipefitter earn in Ontario?

Roughly $46,000 in the first years and $92,000 by year five (Ontario median, before tax). Verified against Job Bank NOC 72301, wages Nov 2025 (Ontario median $45.96/hr), outlook 2025–27 Moderate; STO 2025 trade report: 8,280 h on the job + 720 h in school, Red Seal, wage band $35–65/hr. Start = about half the journeyperson rate. Classroom fee $10/day, Level 1 free from Jan 2026.

Certificate of Qualification (307A)

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

Years to credential5

First real paycheque~a month

Time in a classroom10%

Total cost$1,500

Typical debt after$0

Demand in OntarioSteady

The first ten years

earnearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearn

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: $823k, low to high $699k to $946k.

What's in "net by year 10"

Earnings, years 1 to 10	$824k	$46,000 rising to $92,000 by year five, flat after
Program cost	−$2k	tuition and fees
Typical (medians)	$823k	the number on the card
Low to high	$699k to $946k	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 isWelding, threading and fitting high-pressure pipe for heating, process and nuclear systems, mostly on industrial sites, with eight weeks a year in trade school, paid throughout.

What actually stops peopleGetting into a UA Local 46 or 787 intake, or finding a non-union sponsor. Intakes open only a few times a year and are competitive.

The downsideFive years to the ticket. Industrial, refinery and nuclear sites mean travel, shutdown schedules and long stretches away from home.

If you're the parentOne of the best-paid tickets in Ontario, earning from month one with no tuition, feeding the nuclear refurbishments and industrial work of the next decade. The catch is getting in: union intakes are the gate.

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

No specific courses or average; Grade 12 (or equivalent) and a willingness to show up

Deadlines in Ontario

No application deadline: you need an employer to sponsor you, then register with Skilled Trades Ontario
Grade 11 and 12: ask guidance about OYAP (start the apprenticeship in school, for credit)

Next steps

Save or share this pathway

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✓ Verified 2026-10-26 Sources: Job Bank NOC 72301, wages Nov 2025 (Ontario median $45.96/hr), outlook 2025–27 Moderate; STO 2025 trade report: 8,280 h on the job + 720 h in school, Red Seal, wage band $35–65/hr. Start = about half the journeyperson rate. Classroom fee $10/day, Level 1 free from Jan 2026

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