Top median on this list
$45.96/hr (steamfitter)
Elevator mechanic top wage
$68/hr
Lineworker median
$45.00/hr
Dean’s warning
Pay isn’t everything
Ontario has plenty of trades where experienced workers earn well over $80,000 a year. But the highest-paying trades are also some of the hardest to get into, and the right choice depends on more than the wage. Here’s what Ontario’s official wage data shows, and what I’d tell someone chasing the biggest paycheque.
If pay were the only factor
From the dean’s desk
If you were only looking at pay, I would say elevator mechanic or lineman. The problem is that those are two really difficult careers to get into, and you may not like them.
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Trades, Transportation & Apprenticeship
Elevator mechanics work at heights and in shafts, and lineworkers climb poles and work on energized lines in every kind of weather, often on call for storms. Both have small, competitive apprenticeship intakes. They pay well because the work is demanding and the people who can do it are hard to find.
Ontario trade wages compared
Hourly wages from Canada’s Job Bank for Ontario, updated November 2025. The median is the middle wage; the high end shows what top earners make.
| Trade | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steamfitter-pipefitter (journeyperson) | $28.00 | $45.96 | $56.88 |
| Powerline technician / lineworker | $29.70 | $45.00 | $62.00 |
| Elevator constructor-mechanic | $20.00 | $43.50 | $68.00 |
| Mobile crane operator | $24.50 | $40.48 | $53.94 |
| Construction electrician (journeyperson) | $20.00 | $34.00 | $50.50 |
| Plumber | $20.00 | $32.50 | $50.38 |
What the numbers show
- Elevator mechanics have the highest top-end wage on this list, at $68 an hour.
- Steamfitters and lineworkers have the highest medians, both around $45 an hour.
- Benefits are common. Job Bank reports that 95.2% of Ontario elevator constructors and mechanics receive at least one non-wage benefit, such as a pension or health plan.
- Electricians and plumbers earn less at the median but have far more openings and more ways in.
How to choose a trade that pays well and fits you
1
Try the work before you commit
A pre-apprenticeship, college program or summer job will tell you whether you can handle heights, weather or confined spaces.
2
Look at how many people get in
Small trades with high pay often have long waitlists. Have a backup plan.
3
Think about the whole package
Pension, benefits, overtime and travel can matter as much as the hourly wage.
4
Pick a trade you can stick with
The best-paid tradespeople are the ones who stay long enough to reach the top of the scale.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest paying trade in Ontario?
By Job Bank median wage, journeyperson steamfitter-pipefitters ($45.96/hr) and powerline technicians ($45.00/hr) were near the top in November 2025. Elevator constructor-mechanics had the highest top-end wage at $68/hr.
Why don’t more people become elevator mechanics or lineworkers?
Both trades are physically demanding, involve real risk, and have limited apprenticeship spots, so they are hard to get into.
Which high-paying trade is easiest to get into?
None of the top-paying trades are easy to enter. Electricians and plumbers earn less at the median but have more openings and more training options.
Sources
- Job Bank: Elevator constructor-mechanic wages in Ontario
- Job Bank: High voltage lineworker wages in Ontario
- Job Bank: Journeyperson steamfitter-pipefitter wages in Ontario
- Job Bank: Crane operator wages in Ontario
- Job Bank: Journeyperson construction electrician wages in Ontario
- Job Bank: Plumber wages in Ontario
Related: Top 10 Trade Schools in Ontario · Ontario Apprenticeship Programs Explained · How to Become an Elevator Mechanic
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