Reports · Painter & Decorator (Red Seal)
TRADE REPORT · LAST VERIFIED 2026-07-10
Painter & Decorator (Red Seal) in Canada — Trade Report
Here's the painter & decorator (red seal) trade in Canada without the filler: real pay data, real demand signals, the actual certification steps, and how the exam is built — every number sourced.
The trade in 30 seconds
This trade employed about 39,200 people across Canada as of 2023 (NOC 73112 (group includes apprentices + paperhangers + adjacent painter titles; excludes automotive painters (72411), industrial painters, interior decorators (52121))) [2]. This trade has been Red Seal-designated since 1964 [6]. 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
Government of Canada Job Bank wage data (reference period 2023-2024) puts the national median at $28.00/hour, with a spread from $20.00 to $40.99 [1]. The published spread runs from $22.00/hour in New Brunswick to $34.98/hour in Quebec.
Median hourly wage by province/territory (low–high)
| Province / territory | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Quebec | $34.98 | $24.00–$41.83 |
| British Columbia | $28.00 | $21.00–$35.00 |
| Alberta | $26.00 | $20.00–$34.82 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $25.00 | $18.00–$38.00 |
| Ontario | $25.00 | $20.00–$34.80 |
| Manitoba | $24.00 | $17.00–$30.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $23.00 | $18.00–$33.24 |
| Saskatchewan | $23.00 | $18.00–$30.00 |
| New Brunswick | $22.00 | $18.00–$29.12 |
| Prince Edward Island | $22.00 | $18.50–$26.00 |
| Northwest Territories | — | no data published |
| Nunavut | — | no data published |
| Yukon | — | no data published |
Source: Job Bank wage report, NOC 73112, updated 2026-06-02 [1]. Non-wage benefits reach 66.9% of workers in this occupation nationally, per the same source.
Because the Red Seal travels between provinces, the wage spread above is genuinely useful for anyone already certified and weighing a move.
Where the jobs are
Ottawa's shortage-risk call for this occupation: moderate risk of labour shortage, 2024-2033, per Job Bank [3] The workforce is 39% aged 50 or older, with a median retirement age of 66.0 [2]. expansion ~14% (well below the ~32% all-occupation average); replacement ~86% (retirements ~80% of replacement); annual growth 0.5%/yr vs 1.2% national avg. Most work is in construction 93% (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 | Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, Yukon |
| Limited | Alberta |
| Very limited | Quebec |
| Undetermined | Northwest Territories, Nunavut |
Source: Job Bank outlook report, NOC 73112, updated 2026-06-02 [2].
The path to Red Seal
5,400 total hours in NL (2 levels)/NS (3 levels)/MB (4,560 on-job + 840 technical, 3 levels)/SK (4,680 + 720, 3 levels)/BC (4,860 + 540, 3 levels)/NT (4,680 + 720, 3 levels)/NU (4,680 + 720, 3 levels — CORRECTED, see file header); Ontario 6,000 (5,280 on-job + 720 in-school, ~3 years, 3 levels, per Skilled Trades Ontario — matches Ellis); Quebec 6,900 (6,000 + 900 technical); Alberta 4,620 (3 periods of 1,300 work hours + 8 wks classroom each = 3,900 on-job, per Tradesecrets — matches Ellis); Yukon 4,800 (4,080 + 720, 3 levels); PE and NB list no apprenticeship program (trade-qualifier route only) [4]
For those already in the trade but not yet certified: 8,100 NL/NS; PE and NB offer a trade-qualifier route (exact hours not itemized on Ellis); 8,100 MB/SK; 7,290 BC; 7,200 YT/NT/NU; 6,000 ON; 5,850 AB (Tradesecrets: 54 months + 5,850 hours + theory exam + employer declaration — matches Ellis); no challenge route 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]
- trade-name variants: 'Painter and Decorator – Commercial and Residential' (Ontario, code 404C), 'Painter' (Quebec), 'Painter Decorator' (Nunavut) [6]
- Ontario also has a separate, NON-Red-Seal provincial trade 'Painter and Decorator — Industrial' (404D) distinct from the Red Seal 404C stream; industrial painters/coaters are excluded from this NOC group, yet the Red Seal exam still carries an industrial-coatings block (F, 29 questions) — a real scope nuance worth noting
The exam — and what to study most
This trade's Red Seal exam runs 130 questions, pass mark 70%, writing time four hours [5]. The blocks aren't equal weight — here's what the official breakdown says to focus on:
Official exam weightings
| Block | Share of exam | ≈ Questions |
|---|---|---|
| C — Prepares and applies residential, institutional and commercial paints, coatings and finishes | 24% | ~31 |
| B — Prepares surfaces | 23% | ~30 |
| F — Prepares and applies industrial paints and coatings | 22% | ~29 |
| A — Common occupational skills | 16% | ~20 |
| E — Prepares and applies wood finishes | 8% | ~11 |
| D — Prepares and applies wall coverings | 7% | ~9 |
Source: Red Seal exam information [5].
The takeaway: Prepares and applies residential, institutional and commercial paints, coatings and finishes makes up 24% 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 Painter and Decorator page: description, standard, sample questions, name variants.
- red-seal.ca — The exam's authoritative 130-question breakdown across 6 blocks.
- red-seal.ca — Red Seal's own free sample questions for this trade.
- 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, training, and certification rules per jurisdiction.
- www.skilledtradesontario.ca — Ontario's regulator page for 404C: the 6,000-hour program and C of Q.
- tradesecrets.alberta.ca — Alberta's profile: 3-period structure and the 54-month/5,850-hour challenge route.
Practice against the same standard
The painter & decorator (red seal) question bank here follows the same official standard as the real exam, block for block — so your practice results tell you something real. Start free, no account needed. The full bank runs 603 questions.
Practice Painter & Decorator (Red Seal) free →
Sources
- Job Bank — Wages: Painter Decorator (NOC 73112). Data period 2023-2024; updated 2026-06-02. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Job Bank — Outlook (NOC 73112). 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 Painter and Decorator page: description, standard, sample questions, name variants. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Red Seal's own free sample questions for this trade. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Ontario's regulator page for 404C: the 6,000-hour program and C of Q. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Alberta's profile: 3-period structure and the 54-month/5,850-hour challenge route. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Prime Minister's Office — Team Canada Strong announcement. updated 2026-04-29. Accessed 2026-07-10.
Take this as a dated, sourced snapshot, not advice. Wage and outlook numbers change over time — the linked government sources above always have today's figures.