Reports · Hairstylist (Red Seal)
TRADE REPORT · LAST VERIFIED 2026-07-10
Hairstylist (Red Seal) in Canada — Trade Report
What the hairstylist (red seal) trade actually pays, where the work is, how the certification path works, and how the exam is weighted — sourced and dated, all on one page. Nothing below is a guess.
The trade in 30 seconds
This trade employed about 90,500 people across Canada as of 2023 (NOC 63210 (group includes barbers and apprentices (barber, hairdresser, wig stylist titles); stats are not certified-hairstylists-only)) [2]. This trade has been Red Seal-designated since 1986 [6]. Trade certification is compulsory in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta; voluntary in Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut. [4]
What you'll earn
Job Bank's federal wage figures (reference period 2023-2024) show a national median of $19.88/hour, with a spread from $15.00 to $30.00 [1]. The published spread runs from $16.32/hour in Manitoba to $23.00/hour in British Columbia.
Median hourly wage by province/territory (low–high)
| Province / territory | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $23.00 | $18.25–$32.97 |
| Quebec | $21.63 | $16.60–$32.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $21.15 | $15.35–$33.17 |
| Prince Edward Island | $20.00 | $17.00–$23.08 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $19.93 | $16.35–$28.67 |
| Alberta | $19.23 | $15.00–$26.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $19.00 | $16.75–$25.00 |
| New Brunswick | $18.60 | $15.90–$29.48 |
| Ontario | $18.00 | $17.60–$28.57 |
| Manitoba | $16.32 | $16.00–$25.00 |
| Northwest Territories | — | no data published |
| Nunavut | — | no data published |
| Yukon | — | no data published |
Source: Job Bank wage report, NOC 63210, updated 2026-06-02 [1]. The same Job Bank page reports 47.8% of workers here also receive a non-wage benefit nationally.
Holding a Red Seal already pays off here: it moves with you across provinces, so the table above is a genuine reference for relocating or negotiating.
Where the jobs are
The official federal assessment for 2024–2033: labour demand and supply expected to be broadly in line, 2024-2033 — a balanced-market call, not a shortage [3] The workforce is 38% aged 50 or older, with a median retirement age of 65.0 [2]. expansion ~25%; replacement ~75% (retirements ~78% of replacement); annual growth 1.0%/yr vs 1.2% national avg. Most work is in repair, personal and household services 99% [3].
Job Bank 3-year employment outlook by province
| Rating | Provinces |
|---|---|
| Good | Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan |
| Moderate | Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia |
| Undetermined | Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut |
Source: Job Bank outlook report, NOC 63210, updated 2026-06-02 [2].
The path to Red Seal
~3,500-3,600 total hours in most offering jurisdictions (Ontario 3,500 = 3,020 on-job + 480 in-school, ~2 years, per Skilled Trades Ontario — matches Ellis; Alberta 2 periods of 1,450 work hours + 10 wks classroom each, ~3,500 total, per Tradesecrets — matches Ellis); PE 5,400; Quebec '1 to 2 years'; NS and NB don't publish standard hours — check the provincial apprenticeship site directly [4]
If you've been doing the work without formal certification: 8,100 PE; 5,400 NL/MB/SK/YT/NT/NU; 4,725 BC; 4,350 AB; 3,500 ON; NS hours not published (check the provincial site); n/a NB/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 DOES NOT OFFER THE RED SEAL ENDORSEMENT for this trade — the regulator's own wording: 'Hairstylist is an Interprovincial Red Seal trade, but Ontario does not currently offer a Red Seal Endorsement.' Ontario completers receive a provincial C of Q only, and it requires ANNUAL renewal (compulsory trade, 332A). [8]
- Barber is a separate provincially designated trade in Alberta (Tradesecrets profile 0425) — NOT a Red Seal trade [9]
- estheticians/electrologists are a different NOC group (63211)
The exam — and what to study most
The Red Seal exam for this trade is 120 questions, pass mark 70%, writing time four hours [5]. The exam isn't evenly split — the source's own weightings show exactly where to focus:
Official exam weightings
| Block | Share of exam | ≈ Questions |
|---|---|---|
| F — Alters hair colour | 21% | ~25 |
| C — Cuts hair | 20% | ~24 |
| E — Chemical texture services on hair | 14% | ~17 |
| D — Styles hair | 13% | ~16 |
| A — Common occupational skills | 12% | ~14 |
| B — Hair and scalp care | 9% | ~11 |
| H — Salon operations | 6% | ~7 |
| G — Specialized services | 5% | ~6 |
Source: Red Seal exam information [5].
The math that matters: Alters hair colour alone is 21% 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 Hairstylist page: designation history, standard, exam links.
- red-seal.ca — The exam's authoritative 120-question breakdown across 8 blocks.
- www.red-seal.ca — The full Red Seal Occupational Standard (2019) the exam is built from.
- 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.
- ellischart.ca — Ellis Chart (ESDC): hours, compulsory status, and challenge pathways per jurisdiction.
- www.skilledtradesontario.ca — Ontario's regulator page for 332A: compulsory, annual renewal, and the no-Red-Seal-endorsement note.
- tradesecrets.alberta.ca — Alberta's profile: compulsory, 2-period program, Red Seal exam on completion.
Practice against the same standard
This hairstylist (red seal) bank tracks the real exam's own block structure, so your practice results actually predict exam-day performance. Free to start. The full bank runs 600 questions.
Practice Hairstylist (Red Seal) free →
Sources
- Job Bank — Wages: Hairstylist (NOC 63210). Data period 2023-2024; updated 2026-06-02. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Job Bank — Outlook (NOC 63210). 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 Hairstylist page: designation history, standard, exam links. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- The full Red Seal Occupational Standard (2019) the exam is built from. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Ontario's regulator page for 332A: compulsory, annual renewal, and the no-Red-Seal-endorsement note. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Alberta's profile: compulsory, 2-period program, Red Seal exam on completion. 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.