TRADE REPORT · LAST VERIFIED 2026-07-10
Plumber (Red Seal) in Canada — Trade Report
A sourced reference on the plumber (red seal) trade in Canada covering pay by province, real demand, the road to certification, and the exam's actual structure.
The trade in 30 seconds
This trade employed about 59,900 people across Canada as of 2023 (NOC 72300 (group includes apprentices; stats are not journeypersons-only)) [2]. This trade has been Red Seal-designated since 1958 [6]. Trade certification is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta; voluntary in Newfoundland & Labrador, Manitoba, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut. [4]
What you'll earn
Per Job Bank (reference period 2023-2024), the national median hourly wage is $34.00/hour, with a spread from $21.00 to $46.00 [1]. The published spread runs from $26.00/hour in New Brunswick to $44.82/hour in Nunavut.
Median hourly wage by province/territory (low–high)
| Province / territory | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Nunavut | $44.82 | $25.28–$53.12 |
| Quebec | $40.00 | $24.50–$45.00 |
| Northwest Territories | $38.58 | $25.27–$49.54 |
| Saskatchewan | $35.00 | $22.00–$43.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $33.00 | $18.00–$38.38 |
| Ontario | $32.50 | $20.00–$50.38 |
| British Columbia | $32.00 | $23.00–$48.00 |
| Yukon | $31.02 | $20.44–$41.25 |
| Manitoba | $30.11 | $21.00–$43.00 |
| Alberta | $30.00 | $20.00–$43.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | $30.00 | $20.00–$38.00 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $27.50 | $18.50–$36.03 |
| New Brunswick | $26.00 | $16.50–$34.00 |
Source: Job Bank wage report, NOC 72300, updated 2026-06-02 [1]. Non-wage benefits reach 82.2% of workers in this occupation nationally, per the same source.
For certified holders, the Red Seal's portability is the point: the province-by-province spread above is worth checking before a relocation decision.
Where the jobs are
Ottawa's own labour-market projection rates this trade as: moderate risk of labour shortage, 2024-2033, per Job Bank — COPS separately describes 'moderate signs of shortage in recent years' [3] The workforce is 19% aged 50 or older, with a median retirement age of 65.0 [2]. job creation ~56% — a growth trade, not just replacement; replacement ~44%; occupational mobility net-negative. Most work is in construction ~92% of employment [3].
Job Bank 3-year employment outlook by province
| Rating | Provinces |
|---|---|
| Good | Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nunavut |
| Moderate | Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon |
| Limited | Newfoundland & Labrador, Manitoba, British Columbia |
| Very limited | Quebec |
Source: Job Bank outlook report, NOC 72300, updated 2026-06-02 [2].
The path to Red Seal
7,200 total hours (4 levels) in most jurisdictions (in-school ranges 870-1,225 hours; AB: 4 periods of 1,560 on-job hours + 8 wks technical each); Ontario 9,000 (8,280 on-job + 720 in-school, ~5 years, 3 levels, per Skilled Trades Ontario — matches Ellis); Quebec 9,680 (1,680 technical); Yukon 6,400 [4]
If you've been doing the work without formal certification: 10,800 NL/NS/PE/NB/MB/SK; 9,600 YT; 9,450 BC; 9,360 AB; 9,000 ON/NT/NU; 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]
- Alberta's Plumber apprenticeship has Gasfitter - Class B built in: completers receive two Alberta Journeyperson Certificates (Plumber + Gasfitter Class B) and write both interprovincial exams — Alberta only, do not generalize [9]
- titled 'Plumber' in every jurisdiction except Quebec ('Pipe Fitter (Plumber)'); Steamfitter/Pipefitter is a separate Red Seal trade (NOC 72301, designated 1966) [6]
The exam — and what to study most
The interprovincial exam for this trade is 125 questions, pass mark 70%, writing time four hours [5]. Not every block counts the same — here's the real, official breakdown of where marks live:
Official exam weightings
| Block | Share of exam | ≈ Questions |
|---|---|---|
| C — Sewers, sewage treatment systems and DWV systems | 26% | ~32 |
| D — Water service and distribution | 19% | ~24 |
| E — Fixtures, appliances and water treatment systems | 13% | ~17 |
| F — Low-pressure steam and hydronic systems | 13% | ~16 |
| A — Common occupational skills | 11% | ~14 |
| B — Prepares and assembles tube, tubing and pipe | 10% | ~13 |
| G — Specialized systems | 8% | ~9 |
Source: Red Seal exam information [5].
What this means for studying: Sewers, sewage treatment systems and DWV systems is worth 26% of the whole exam. A per-block diagnostic is the cheapest way to find your real weak spots.
The best links
- red-seal.ca — Official Red Seal Plumber page: the standard, exam info, and sample questions.
- red-seal.ca — The exam's actual structure from the source: 125 questions across 7 blocks.
- www.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 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 across all 13 jurisdictions.
- www.skilledtradesontario.ca — Ontario's regulator page for 306A: compulsory status, the 9,000-hour program, C of Q.
- tradesecrets.alberta.ca — Alberta's profile: compulsory status and the built-in Gasfitter Class B credential.
Practice against the same standard
Question Bank Hub's plumber (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 599 questions.
Practice Plumber (Red Seal) free →
Sources
- Job Bank — Wages: Plumber (NOC 72300). Data period 2023-2024; updated 2026-06-02. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Job Bank — Outlook (NOC 72300). 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 Plumber page: the standard, exam info, and sample questions. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Red Seal's own free sample questions for this trade. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Ontario's regulator page for 306A: compulsory status, the 9,000-hour program, C of Q. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Alberta's profile: compulsory status and the built-in Gasfitter Class B credential. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Prime Minister's Office — Team Canada Strong announcement. updated 2026-04-29. Accessed 2026-07-10.
This page reports, it doesn't advise. Government wage/outlook data shifts over time — the sources linked above carry the current numbers.