Reports · Carpenter (Red Seal)
TRADE REPORT · LAST VERIFIED 2026-07-10
Carpenter (Red Seal) in Canada — Trade Report
One page of verified facts about the carpenter (red seal) trade in Canada: what it pays in each province, where the work is, how the apprenticeship and Red Seal path actually works, and how the exam is structured. Every figure below links to its source and states the period it covers. Nothing is estimated.
The trade in 30 seconds
This trade employed about 132,000 people across Canada as of 2023 (NOC 72310 (group includes apprentices and metal-framing carpenters; stats are not journeypersons-only)) [2]. Trade certification is compulsory in Quebec; voluntary in Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut. [4]
What you'll earn
According to Job Bank's own wage data (reference period 2023-2024), the national median sits at $32.12/hour, with a spread from $22.00 to $44.23 [1]. The published spread runs from $24.00/hour in New Brunswick to $36.84/hour in Quebec.
Median hourly wage by province/territory (low–high)
| Province / territory | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec | $36.84 | $24.61–$44.00 |
| Yukon | $35.00 | $25.00–$45.00 |
| Nunavut | $34.35 | $20.46–$51.99 |
| Alberta | $34.00 | $22.22–$42.00 |
| Northwest Territories | $33.33 | $22.50–$50.00 |
| British Columbia | $32.00 | $23.00–$43.71 |
| Ontario | $32.00 | $22.00–$48.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $30.00 | $19.00–$40.00 |
| Manitoba | $27.00 | $20.00–$38.99 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $27.00 | $20.00–$39.27 |
| Nova Scotia | $25.00 | $20.00–$33.80 |
| Prince Edward Island | $25.00 | $20.00–$35.00 |
| New Brunswick | $24.00 | $18.00–$34.00 |
Source: Job Bank wage report, NOC 72310, updated 2025-11-19 [1]. Nationally, at least one non-wage benefit reaches 81.9% of workers in this occupation.
Already certified? The Red Seal was built to move with you between provinces — use the table above to see where the same ticket pays more.
Where the jobs are
The government's 10-year outlook for this occupation: STRONG risk of labour shortage, 2024-2033 (COPS; confirmed identically on both .gc.ca pages) [3] The workforce is 24% aged 50 or older, with a median retirement age of 64.0 [2]. expansion demand ~35%; replacement ~65% (retirements ~74% of replacement). Most work is in construction 91% of employment (2023) [3].
Job Bank 3-year employment outlook by province
| Rating | Provinces |
|---|---|
| Very good | Prince Edward Island |
| Good | Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Nunavut |
| Moderate | Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta, Yukon |
| Limited | Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia |
Source: Job Bank outlook report, NOC 72310, updated 2026-06-02 [2].
The path to Red Seal
7,200 total hours in most jurisdictions (Ontario: 6,480 on-job + 720 in-school, ~4 years, 3 levels; most others 4 levels); Quebec 7,350; Yukon 6,400; Alberta runs 4 periods of 1,560 on-job hours + 8 weeks classroom each [4]
For those already in the trade but not yet certified: 10,800 in NL/NS/PE/NB/MB/SK; 9,600 YT; 9,540 BC; 9,360 AB (Tradesecrets: 72 months + 9,360 verifiable hours + theory and practical exams); 9,000 NT/NU; 7,200 ON; no challenge path in QC [4]
Money on the table: the federal Team Canada Strong package includes: $6B plan to recruit 80,000-100,000 new Red Seal trades workers over five years; $400/week Apprenticeship Training Grant during in-class technical training, worth up to $16,000 per apprentice, in addition to EI; one-time $5,000 Red Seal completion bonus. amounts are 'up to' figures; first payments expected no earlier than fall 2026; core funding starts 2026-27 [10]
- Ontario (General Carpenter 403A, non-compulsory): the C of Q does not have to be renewed, and holders do not appear on Skilled Trades Ontario's Public Register [9]
- Alberta total-hours nuance: Ellis Chart lists 7,200 total (verified); Tradesecrets describes the program structure (4 x 1,560 on-job hours + 8 wks classroom per period) without stating a single total — cite each figure to its own source, never blend them
The exam — and what to study most
The interprovincial exam for this trade is 100 questions, pass mark 70%, writing time four hours [5]. Study time should follow the actual weightings, not a guess — here's the official split:
Official exam weightings
| Block | Share of exam | ≈ Questions |
|---|---|---|
| D — Framing | 20% | ~20 |
| C — Concrete work | 16% | ~16 |
| B — Planning and layout | 14% | ~14 |
| E — Exterior finishing | 14% | ~14 |
| F — Interior finishing | 14% | ~14 |
| A — Common occupational skills | 12% | ~12 |
| G — Renovations | 10% | ~10 |
Source: Red Seal exam information [5].
The math that matters: Framing alone is 20% of your score. A per-block diagnostic run is the fastest way to find real gaps.
The best links
- red-seal.ca — Official Red Seal Carpenter hub: the full occupational standard PDF and trade profile.
- red-seal.ca — The exact 100-question block breakdown, sample questions, and the formula sheet provided at the sitting.
- red-seal.ca — The official exam guide: 70% pass mark, four-hour writing time, question style.
- www.jobbank.gc.ca — Government of Canada wage data by province (2023-2024 LFS).
- www.jobbank.gc.ca — Job Bank: 3-year prospects by province + the 10-year national outlook.
- occupations.esdc.gc.ca — ESDC's 2024-2033 projection behind the 'strong risk of shortage' assessment.
- ellischart.ca — Ellis Chart (ESDC): hours, levels, ratios, and certification status across all 13 jurisdictions.
- www.skilledtradesontario.ca — Ontario's authority page for General Carpenter 403A: registration, hours, C of Q.
Practice against the same standard
Question Bank Hub's carpenter (red seal) bank is written to the same Red Seal standard the exam draws from, organized by the same blocks — so your practice scores map to the weightings above. The first questions are free, full explanations included, no account needed. The full bank runs 600 questions.
Practice Carpenter (Red Seal) free →
Sources
- Job Bank — Wages: Carpenter (NOC 72310). Data period 2023-2024; updated 2025-11-19. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Job Bank — Outlook (NOC 72310). updated 2026-06-02. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- ESDC — Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) 2024-2033. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Ellis Chart (ESDC) — interjurisdictional apprenticeship comparison. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Red Seal — exam information. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Red Seal — exam weightings. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Official Red Seal Carpenter hub: the full occupational standard PDF and trade profile. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- The official exam guide: 70% pass mark, four-hour writing time, question style. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Ontario's authority page for General Carpenter 403A: registration, hours, C of Q. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Prime Minister's Office — Team Canada Strong announcement. updated 2026-04-29. Accessed 2026-07-10.
This page is informational only. The wage and outlook figures are Government of Canada data as of the periods stated, and they do change — follow the links above for the current numbers.