How to Become a Carpenter in Ontario
Build the frame of a house, the forms for a foundation, the stairs and the finishing touches.
To become a carpenter in Ontario, find an employer to sponsor you and register your General Carpenter (403A) apprenticeship with Skilled Trades Ontario. You need Grade 10 to start. The apprenticeship is 7,200 hours — about 4 years — mostly paid work on the job, with 3 in-school levels. It is a voluntary trade, so certification is optional, and a Red Seal trade. Job Bank puts the median wage in Ontario at $32.00 an hour (2023–2024).
Facts checked against the official sources listed at the bottom of this page. Rules and fees change — confirm with the organization before you rely on them.
What the work involves
- Prepares work sites and lays out, builds and installs formwork and concrete foundations.
- Frames floors, walls, ceilings and roofs, and builds heavy framing.
- Builds stairs, posts and handrails, and installs doors and windows.
- Finishes interiors and exteriors, and does renovations.
Summarized from Skilled Trades Ontario’s description of the trade(opens in a new tab).
A day as an apprentice
- Arrive on site, gear up and go over the day’s plan with your crew lead.
- Measure, cut and fasten — framing walls, setting forms or hanging doors.
- Check your work is level, square and to the drawings before it gets covered up.
- Pack up the tools, and log the skills you practised in your training standard.
A typical picture — every employer and every job site is different.
The facts: General Carpenter (403A)
Each line links to the official page it came from.
| Trade name and code | General Carpenter (403A) source (opens in a new tab) |
|---|---|
| Compulsory or voluntary | Voluntary — certification is available, not required source (opens in a new tab) |
| Apprenticeship hours | 7,200 hours (about 4 years): 6,480 on the job + 720 in school source (opens in a new tab) |
| In-school levels | |
| Red Seal | Yes — Red Seal title: Carpenter source (opens in a new tab) |
| Certificate of Qualification exam | Yes source (opens in a new tab)A voluntary trade: the exam and certificate are available but not required to work. |
| Minimum schooling to start | Grade 10 source (opens in a new tab) |
| Certificates of Qualification issued in 2025 | |
| Wages in Ontario (Job Bank) | Median $32.00/hour · low $22.00 · high $48.00 source (opens in a new tab)Job Bank “Carpenter”, NOC 72310 (Carpenters). Reference period 2023–2024; source: Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada; updated 2025-11-19. |
| Job outlook in Ontario (Job Bank) | Moderate (2025–2027) source (opens in a new tab)Job Bank’s 3-year outlook; updated 2025-12-10. |
| Apprentice pay | No legal pay scale — see what apprentices earn Ontario law sets no apprentice pay scale — the old government percentage schedules ended in 2013. Apprentices must be paid at least the general minimum wage ($17.95 an hour since October 1, 2026; any yearly change takes effect October 1). Above that, the employer sets the rate — or, for union members, the collective agreement. |
What apprentices earn in Ontario
The law first, then what people in the trade earn where you live, then what one real agreement pays.
The rule
Ontario law sets no apprentice pay scale. The floor is the general minimum wage — $17.95 an hour since October 1, 2026 — and it applies to apprentices like anyone else. Above that, your employer sets your pay, or, if you are a union member, the collective agreement does.
- The old government schedules that set apprentice pay as a percentage of a journeyperson’s rate ended in 2013 (revoked April 8, 2013 by O. Reg. 426/12). The current law, the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021, has no apprentice pay provision. e-Laws(opens in a new tab)
- The minimum wage was $17.60 before October 1, 2026. Any yearly change is published by April 1 and takes effect October 1. Ontario’s minimum wage page(opens in a new tab)
- The lower $16.90 student rate applies only to students under 18 working 28 hours a week or less while school is in session, or during school breaks — not to an adult apprentice. Ontario’s minimum-wage rules have no apprentice exemption.
- Ask what you will be paid — and how it goes up as you progress — before you sign your training agreement.
What carpenters earn, by region
Hourly wages from Job Bank (Government of Canada) for “Carpenter” (NOC 72310), updated November 19, 2025. Job Bank publishes one set of figures for the whole occupation, apprentices included — so the low end is not an apprentice rate, and the median is not a pure journeyperson rate. Regions use different survey data; each row says which.
| Region | Low | Median | High | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $22.00 | $32.00 | $48.00 | 2023–2024 · Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada |
| Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula | $20.00 | $30.00 | $45.00 | 2023–2024 · Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada |
| Kingston–Pembroke | $20.00 | $26.00 | $42.79 | 2023–2024 · Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada |
| Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie | $23.50 | $32.50 | $48.00 | 2023–2024 · Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada |
| London | $24.00 | $32.00 | $44.00 | 2023–2024 · Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada |
| Muskoka–Kawarthas | $22.00 | $32.00 | $48.00 | 2023–2024 · Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada |
| Northeast | $23.05 | $31.99 | $45.32 | 2024 · Small Area Estimation |
| Northwest | $27.00 | $35.00 | $47.00 | 2023–2024 · Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada |
| Ottawa | $21.50 | $28.00 | $43.97 | 2023–2024 · Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada |
| Stratford–Bruce Peninsula | $19.00 | $30.00 | $57.00 | 2023–2024 · Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada |
| Toronto | $22.00 | $36.00 | $48.43 | 2023–2024 · Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada |
| Windsor-Sarnia | $22.00 | $30.00 | $38.00 | 2023–2024 · Labour Force Survey - Statistics Canada |
Source: Job Bank — Carpenter wages in Ontario (opens in a new tab). The minimum wage ($17.95 since October 1, 2026) is the same everywhere in Ontario.
The minimum wage is 56.1% of this median (calculated: $17.95 divided by the median). Hourly, before deductions. Both figures are in the table.
A real example: union apprentice pay
Ontario’s carpenters’ agreement sets a different ladder for each local. Here are the two that print both a percentage and a dollar rate, exactly as printed. Toronto’s Local 27 prints dollar amounts per term with no percentage and does not say whether they are hourly rates, so we do not show them.
Local 18 — Hamilton (Zone 1)
| Step | % of journeyperson | From May 4, 2025 | From May 3, 2026in effect now | From May 2, 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-apprentice0–450 hours | 55% | $26.28 | $26.96 | $27.64 |
| 1st term451–1800 hours | 60% | $28.67 | $29.41 | $30.16 |
| 2nd term1801–3150 hours | 65% | $31.06 | — | — |
| 3rd term3151–4500 hours | 70% | $33.45 | — | — |
| 4th term4501–5850 hours | 80% | $38.22 | — | — |
| 5th term5851–7200 hours | 85% | $40.61 | — | — |
| Journeyperson | full rate | $47.78 | $49.02 | $50.26 |
— : a figure we did not capture from the schedule. Check the agreement.
Local 93 — Ottawa (Zone 1)
| Step | % of journeyperson | From May 4, 2025 | From May 3, 2026in effect now | From May 2, 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st year | 50% | $23.60 | $24.27 | $24.93 |
| 2nd year | 65% | $30.68 | $31.54 | $32.41 |
| 3rd year | 80% | $37.76 | $38.82 | $39.89 |
| 4th year | 90% | $42.48 | $43.68 | $44.87 |
| Journeyperson | full rate | $47.20 | $48.53 | $49.86 |
- You move up a step only after completing the required in-school training (Article 17) — hours alone are not enough.
These rates bind only employers who signed this agreement — union contractors on industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) construction. They are not typical pay for non-union or residential jobs.
Agreement: Provincial Collective Agreement between Carpenters' Employer Bargaining Agency (E.B.A.) and Carpenters' Regional Council, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (C.R.C.) (ICI), in effect May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2028. Read the agreement (PDF)(opens in a new tab) · Ontario’s Collective Agreements e-Library(opens in a new tab)
How to start
- Find a sponsor. An employer (or union, or group) agrees to train you. This is the step that starts everything.
- Register as an apprentice. Sign a Training Agreement with your sponsor and register it with Skilled Trades Ontario.
- Do the training. Log your on-the-job hours and complete each in-school level.
- Get certified. Write the Certificate of Qualification exam; in a Red Seal trade you can earn the Red Seal too.
The exam costs $150 + HST; the first attempt is free when you complete an Ontario apprenticeship.
Where to train
Colleges and training providers (2)
In-school training is delivered by colleges and other approved training providers. A few with a 403A program:
Running your own business later
Building or selling NEW homes in Ontario needs a licence from the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA); that licence is not for renovation work. For any other business licence, check with your municipality.
Trade associations
Looking for a sponsor?
Contractors who may hire apprentices
Apprentices are sponsored by employers in the trade. Browse local general contractors and renovators by city on ProScore and contact them directly — not every business sponsors apprentices, so ask.
General contractors on ProScoreUpcoming events to meet the trade
Career fairs and industry events in Ontario where you can meet people in the trade. Dates checked against each organizer.
- Career fairLevel Up! Skilled Trades Career Fair – Windsor Nov 11–12, 2026 LaSalle (Windsor)
- Career fairLevel Up! Skilled Trades Career Fair – London Nov 17–19, 2026 London
- Career fairLevel Up! Skilled Trades Career Fair – Ottawa Nov 24–26, 2026 Ottawa
- Trade showThe Buildings Show Dec 2–4, 2026 Toronto
- Trade showIDS Toronto (Interior Design Show) Jan 21–24, 2027 Toronto
- Trade showLBMAO Buying Show Mar 31 – Apr 1, 2027 Toronto
Frequently asked questions
How do I become a carpenter in Ontario?
Find a sponsor (usually an employer) and register an apprenticeship in General Carpenter (403A) with Skilled Trades Ontario. The entry requirement is Grade 10. You then log on-the-job hours, complete the in-school levels, and can write the Certificate of Qualification exam.
How long does it take to become a carpenter in Ontario?
Skilled Trades Ontario sets the apprenticeship at 7,200 hours, about 4 years: 6,480 hours on the job and 720 hours of in-school training over 3 levels.
Do you need a certificate to work as a carpenter in Ontario?
No. General Carpenter is a voluntary trade in Ontario: you can work in it without a certificate, but an apprenticeship and a Certificate of Qualification are available.
How much do carpenters make in Ontario?
Job Bank puts the median wage for carpenters in Ontario (NOC 72310) at $32.00 an hour, with a low of $22.00 and a high of $48.00 (2023–2024). Job Bank publishes one figure for the whole occupation, apprentices included, so it is not an apprentice rate.
How much do apprentice carpenters earn in Ontario?
Ontario law sets no apprentice pay scale — the old government percentage schedules ended in 2013. Apprentices must be paid at least the general minimum wage ($17.95 an hour since October 1, 2026; any yearly change takes effect October 1). Above that, the employer sets the rate — or, for union members, the collective agreement. For example, the 2025–2028 carpenters' ICI agreement sets a ladder for each local: in Hamilton (Local 18) from 55% of the journeyperson rate as a pre-apprentice to 85% in the 5th term; in Ottawa (Local 93) from 50% in the 1st year to 90% in the 4th year. These rates bind only employers who signed that agreement; they are not typical pay for non-union jobs.
Is General Carpenter a Red Seal trade?
Yes — its Red Seal title is Carpenter. Passing the Red Seal exam adds a Red Seal endorsement to your provincial certificate.
Compare other trades
Each page covers the work, the apprenticeship, the pay, where to train and what to do first.
- ElectricianWire, power and light homes and buildings — and find out why something isn’t working.309ACompulsoryabout 5 yearsRed Seal
- PlumberBring clean water in and take waste water away — in homes, businesses and industry.306ACompulsoryabout 5 yearsRed Seal
- HVAC TechnicianKeep homes and buildings cool, warm and comfortable — refrigeration, air conditioning and heating.313ACompulsoryabout 5 yearsRed Seal
- CarpenterBuild the frame of a house, the forms for a foundation, the stairs and the finishing touches.403AVoluntaryabout 4 yearsRed Seal
- RooferInstall and repair the roofs that keep everything else dry — flat, sloped, shingle and membrane.449AVoluntaryabout 2 yearsRed Seal
- Horticultural TechnicianGrow plants, build landscapes and care for lawns, gardens, golf courses and irrigation.441CVoluntaryabout 3 yearsRed Seal
Facts checked
Every number on this page comes from one of these official pages, read on that date. Where two official sources disagree, we show both. Where nothing official is published, we say so instead of estimating. ProScore is not affiliated with these organizations.
The 17 official sources
- Skilled Trades Ontario — 2025 trade report, 403A(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — General Carpenter (403A)(opens in a new tab)
- Job Bank — Carpenter wages in Ontario(opens in a new tab)
- Job Bank — Carpenter job outlook in Ontario(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — Starting your apprenticeship(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — Finishing an apprenticeship(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — Exam scheduling(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — Certificate of Qualification(opens in a new tab)
- Red Seal Program — About the program(opens in a new tab)
- Home Construction Regulatory Authority — Do I need a licence?(opens in a new tab)
- Government of Ontario — Your guide to the Employment Standards Act: Minimum wage(opens in a new tab)
- Ontario e-Laws — O. Reg. 285/01, Exemptions, special rules and establishment of minimum wage(opens in a new tab)
- Ontario e-Laws — Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021(opens in a new tab)
- Ontario e-Laws — O. Reg. 426/12, Revoking various regulations(opens in a new tab)
- Skilled Trades Ontario — Sponsor an apprentice(opens in a new tab)
- Government of Ontario — Collective Agreements e-Library(opens in a new tab)
- Collective Agreements e-Library — Carpenters’ Employer Bargaining Agency / Carpenters’ Regional Council ICI agreement, 2025–2028(opens in a new tab)