Reports · Drywall Finisher & Plasterer (Red Seal)
TRADE REPORT · LAST VERIFIED 2026-07-10
Drywall Finisher & Plasterer (Red Seal) in Canada — Trade Report
A no-filler look at the drywall finisher & plasterer (red seal) trade in Canada — pay, outlook, certification, and exam structure, each fact traced to its government or regulator source.
The trade in 30 seconds
This trade employed about 27,500 people across Canada as of 2023 (NOC 73102 (group covers plasterers + drywall installers + lathers + apprentices; far broader than certified Drywall Finisher and Plasterer journeypersons)) [2]. This trade has been Red Seal-designated since 2012 [6]. Trade certification is compulsory in Quebec; voluntary in Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, British Columbia; not offered in New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut. red-seal.ca's landing page lists 'Designated Red Seal in: NL, NS, ON, PE, QC' (BC absent), but Ellis marks BC Red Seal=yes AND SkilledTradesBC documents a Harmonized Red Seal Program (primary pathway from 2026-04-01) with a Red Seal Endorsement route — the regulator's word carried; the red-seal.ca list appears stale. [4]
What you'll earn
According to Job Bank's own wage data (reference period 2023-2024), the national median sits at $33.00/hour, with a spread from $23.00 to $43.75 [1]. The published spread runs from $25.00/hour in Newfoundland & Labrador to $38.00/hour in Quebec.
Median hourly wage by province/territory (low–high)
| Province / territory | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec | $38.00 | $25.00–$43.34 |
| Ontario | $35.48 | $24.00–$48.73 |
| British Columbia | $30.00 | $22.00–$39.84 |
| Alberta | $28.65 | $20.00–$37.00 |
| New Brunswick | $28.00 | $21.00–$34.28 |
| Nova Scotia | $28.00 | $18.88–$35.13 |
| Manitoba | $26.52 | $19.00–$34.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $26.50 | $20.00–$35.00 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $25.00 | $20.00–$33.00 |
| Northwest Territories | — | no data published |
| Nunavut | — | no data published |
| Prince Edward Island | — | no data published |
| Yukon | — | no data published |
Source: Job Bank wage report, NOC 73102, updated 2026-06-02 [1]. 84.7% of workers in this occupation nationally also get at least one non-wage benefit, per the same page.
If you already hold your Red Seal: it's interprovincially portable by design — the table above is your negotiation and mobility benchmark.
Where the jobs are
The government's 10-year outlook for this occupation: labour demand and supply expected to be broadly in line, 2024-2033 — a balanced-market call, not a shortage [3] The workforce is 28% aged 50 or older, with a median retirement age of 67 [2]. expansion ~21% (below the ~32% all-occupation average); replacement ~79% (retirements ~71% of replacement); annual growth 0.6%/yr vs 1.2% national avg. Most work is in construction 100% — works exclusively in construction (industry growing 1.5%/yr per COPS) [3].
Job Bank 3-year employment outlook by province
| Rating | Provinces |
|---|---|
| Good | Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan |
| Moderate | New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta |
| Limited | Manitoba, British Columbia |
| Very limited | Quebec |
| Undetermined | Newfoundland & Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut |
Source: Job Bank outlook report, NOC 73102, updated 2026-06-02 [2].
The path to Red Seal
5,400 total hours in NS (1 level)/ON (4,920 on-job + 480 in-school, ~3 years, 1 level, per Skilled Trades Ontario — matches Ellis)/BC (SkilledTradesBC: 5,040 work-based + 12 weeks technical over 2 years — the regulator's split is authoritative); Quebec 6,810 (810 technical); NL and PE designate the trade but list no apprenticeship program hours [4]
Been doing the work for years without a certificate? 8,100 NL/NS; 7,560 BC; 6,000 PE; 5,400 ON; no challenge route in QC; n/a in the 7 non-designating jurisdictions [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]
- Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic) is a separate Red Seal trade (ceiling-system framework, steel studs, lath); there is NO separate 'Plasterer' Red Seal trade
- trade titled 'Plasterer' / 'Jointoyeur et plâtrier' in Quebec [6]
The exam — and what to study most
The interprovincial exam for this trade is 100 questions, pass mark 70%, writing time four hours [5]. It is not weighted evenly — the official block weightings tell you where your study time should go:
Official exam weightings
| Block | Share of exam | ≈ Questions |
|---|---|---|
| A — Common occupational skills | — | ~15 |
| B — Taping | — | ~45 |
| C — Texturing | — | ~7 |
| D — Plastering, special coatings and systems | — | ~9 |
| E — Moulding | — | ~5 |
| F — Repairs and restoration | — | ~19 |
Source: Red Seal exam information [5].
The takeaway: Taping makes up 45% of the exam by itself. Don't guess where you're weak — a block-scored diagnostic run will tell you.
The best links
- red-seal.ca — Official Red Seal trade page: designation list, standards, and exam links.
- red-seal.ca — The CURRENT exam's authoritative 100-question block/task breakdown.
- red-seal.ca — The incoming RSOS-based exam structure — worth watching for the changeover.
- www.jobbank.gc.ca — Government of Canada wage data by province (2023-2024).
- www.jobbank.gc.ca — Job Bank: 3-year prospects by province + the 10-year national outlook.
- ellischart.ca — Ellis Chart (ESDC): hours, ratios, and challenge pathways for the 6 designating jurisdictions.
- www.skilledtradesontario.ca — Ontario's regulator page for 453A: the 5,400-hour program and C of Q.
- skilledtradesbc.ca — SkilledTradesBC: the Harmonized Red Seal Program (primary pathway from 2026-04-01).
Practice against the same standard
Every drywall finisher & plasterer (red seal) question here is written to the same official standard the exam uses, block by block. Try it free, no account required. The full bank runs 602 questions.
Practice Drywall Finisher & Plasterer (Red Seal) free →
Sources
- Job Bank — Wages: Drywall Finisher And Plasterer (NOC 73102). Data period 2023-2024; updated 2026-06-02. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Job Bank — Outlook (NOC 73102). 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.
- Official Red Seal trade page: designation list, standards, and exam links. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- The incoming RSOS-based exam structure — worth watching for the changeover. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Ontario's regulator page for 453A: the 5,400-hour program and C of Q. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- SkilledTradesBC: the Harmonized Red Seal Program (primary pathway from 2026-04-01). Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Prime Minister's Office — Team Canada Strong announcement. updated 2026-04-29. Accessed 2026-07-10.
This is a sourced reference page, not advice of any kind. The wage/outlook figures are dated government data and will shift — the source links above stay current.