How long does it take?

About 4 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

Truck and coach technician

Q: How much does a truck and coach technician earn in Ontario?

Roughly $33,000 in the first years and $60,000 by year five (Ontario median, before tax). Verified against Job Bank NOC 72410, wages Nov 2025 (Ontario median $30/hr), outlook 2025–27 Moderate; STO 2025 trade report: 6,000 h on the job + 720 h in school, compulsory, Red Seal, 436 Certificates of Qualification issued in 2025 (the most of any trade checked). Start = about 55% of the journeyperson rate. Classroom fee $10/day, Level 1 free from Jan 2026; tools $2,000–5,000 extra.

Certificate of Qualification (310T)

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

Years to credential4

First real paycheque~a month

Time in a classroom12%

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: $542k, low to high $460k to $624k.

What's in "net by year 10"

Earnings, years 1 to 10	$544k	$33,000 rising to $60,000 by year five, flat after
Program cost	−$2k	tuition and fees
Typical (medians)	$542k	the number on the card
Low to high	$460k to $624k	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 isDiagnosing 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 actually stops peopleLanding a sponsoring shop (fleet, transit agency, dealer) before you can register. A G licence and a Grade 12 math credit help.

The downsideHeavy, dirty and often shift work. You buy your own tools. Diesel and electric drivetrains are both changing fast, so the learning never stops.

If you're the parentTransit agencies, municipalities and fleets hire these technicians into jobs with pensions and benefits, and the licence is compulsory, so it holds its value. Earning from month one, no tuition, tools are the only real cost.

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

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✓ Verified 2026-10-26 Sources: Job Bank NOC 72410, wages Nov 2025 (Ontario median $30/hr), outlook 2025–27 Moderate; STO 2025 trade report: 6,000 h on the job + 720 h in school, compulsory, Red Seal, 436 Certificates of Qualification issued in 2025 (the most of any trade checked). Start = about 55% of the journeyperson rate. Classroom fee $10/day, Level 1 free from Jan 2026; tools $2,000–5,000 extra

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