Reports · Steamfitter / Pipefitter (Red Seal)
TRADE REPORT · LAST VERIFIED 2026-07-10
Steamfitter / Pipefitter (Red Seal) in Canada — Trade Report
The real numbers behind the steamfitter / pipefitter (red seal) trade in Canada, in one place: pay, outlook, certification, and exam structure, each one linked to a primary source.
The trade in 30 seconds
This trade employed about 25,800 people across Canada as of 2023 (NOC 72301 (group includes apprentices + sprinkler system installers/fire-sprinkler fitters + marine pipefitters; stats blend all of these, not steamfitter/pipefitter journeypersons alone)) [2]. This trade has been Red Seal-designated since 1966 [6]. Trade certification is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia; voluntary in Newfoundland & Labrador, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut. 8 of 13 jurisdictions compulsory per the live Ellis Chart; a dated StatCan/NOC snippet's compulsory list omits BC — Ellis (fetched, current) treated as authoritative, not independently re-corroborated on skilledtradesbc.ca this pass. [4]
What you'll earn
Federal wage data (Job Bank, reference period 2023-2024) puts the country-wide median at $43.89/hour, with a spread from $27.00 to $55.59 [1]. The published spread runs from $41.93/hour in Manitoba to $46.02/hour in Saskatchewan.
Median hourly wage by province/territory (low–high)
| Province / territory | Median | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Saskatchewan | $46.02 | $25.00–$54.29 |
| Ontario | $45.96 | $28.00–$56.88 |
| Nova Scotia | $45.00 | $27.50–$60.00 |
| Alberta | $44.90 | $26.94–$56.77 |
| Quebec | $43.88 | $26.87–$47.40 |
| New Brunswick | $43.00 | $29.84–$53.17 |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $42.65 | $28.26–$53.00 |
| British Columbia | $42.05 | $26.00–$59.98 |
| Manitoba | $41.93 | $23.20–$53.00 |
| 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 72301, updated 2026-06-02 [1]. Nationally, at least one non-wage benefit reaches 93.1% of workers in this occupation.
The Red Seal was designed to be portable — if you have one, the numbers above are a real basis for comparing what a move could be worth.
Where the jobs are
The federal labour-market model rates this occupation as: labour demand and supply expected to be broadly in line, 2024-2033 — a balanced-market call, not a shortage [3] The workforce is 22% aged 50 or older, with a median retirement age of 65.0 [2]. expansion ~36%; replacement ~64% (primarily retirement-driven); annual growth ~0.9%/yr vs 1.2% national avg (COPS server was flaky — split re-confirmable). Most work is in construction ~76%; oil and gas extraction ~6% (declining ~0.2%/yr) — top-2 partial breakdown, does not sum to 100% [3].
Job Bank 3-year employment outlook by province
| Rating | Provinces |
|---|---|
| Good | Nova Scotia |
| Moderate | New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta |
| Limited | Newfoundland & Labrador, Quebec |
| Very limited | Manitoba, British Columbia |
| Undetermined | Prince Edward Island, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut |
Source: Job Bank outlook report, NOC 72301, updated 2026-06-02 [2].
The path to Red Seal
7,200 total hours (4 levels) in NL/PE/NB/SK/BC/NT/NU (e.g. NL 6,300 on-job + 900 in-school); NS 7,200 (30 wks, 4 levels, split not itemized); MB 7,200 (5,975 + 1,225, 35 wks); Alberta 7,200 (6,240 on-job + 32 wks, per Tradesecrets — matches Ellis); Ontario 9,000 (8,280 + 720, ~5 years, 3 levels, per Skilled Trades Ontario — matches Ellis exactly); Quebec 9,680 (8,000 + 1,680); Yukon 6,400 [4]
For experienced workers who never went through an apprenticeship: 10,800 NL/NS/PE/NB/MB/SK; 9,360 AB (Tradesecrets: 72 months + 9,360 hours + theory exam — matches Ellis exactly); 9,450 BC; 9,600 YT; 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]
- trade-name variants: 'Steamfitter/Pipefitter' (BC/NB/NL/NS/NU/PE/YT), 'Steamfitter' (Ontario, 307A compulsory), 'Pipe Fitter (Heating Systems Installer)' and 'Steamfitter/Pipefitter (non-construction)' (Quebec), 'Steamfitter-Pipefitter' (MB/AB/SK) [6]
- Sprinkler Fitter is a separate Red Seal trade — sprinkler system installers are counted inside NOC 72301 for statistics but hold their own designated ticket [9]
The exam — and what to study most
The Red Seal exam for this trade is 130 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 |
|---|---|---|
| B — Layout, fabrication and piping installation | 22% | ~29 |
| E — Heating, cooling and process piping systems | 21% | ~27 |
| D — Low and high pressure steam and condensate systems | 18% | ~24 |
| A — Common occupational skills | 13% | ~16 |
| C — Rigging, hoisting, lifting and positioning | 12% | ~15 |
| G — Commissioning, start-up and turnover | 8% | ~11 |
| F — Renewable energy systems | 6% | ~8 |
Source: Red Seal exam information [5].
The practical read: Layout, fabrication and piping installation alone is 22% of the exam. A diagnostic-style practice run that scores you per block is the fastest way to find out which blocks are actually costing you marks.
The best links
- red-seal.ca — Official Red Seal trade page: name variants, standard, sample questions.
- red-seal.ca — The exam's authoritative 130-question breakdown across 7 blocks.
- www.jobbank.gc.ca — Government of Canada wage data by province (2023-2024) — the highest median in the store's trades trades so far.
- www.jobbank.gc.ca — Job Bank: 3-year prospects by province + the 10-year national outlook.
- ellischart.ca — Ellis Chart (ESDC): hours, ratios, and compulsory status per jurisdiction.
- www.skilledtradesontario.ca — Ontario's regulator page for 307A: compulsory, 9,000-hour program.
- tradesecrets.alberta.ca — Alberta's compulsory profile: 4-period structure, 72-month/9,360-hour challenge route.
- www23.statcan.gc.ca — The formal NOC 72301 definition: what the group includes and excludes.
Practice against the same standard
This steamfitter / pipefitter (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 601 questions.
Practice Steamfitter / Pipefitter (Red Seal) free →
Sources
- Job Bank — Wages: Steamfitter Pipefitter (NOC 72301). Data period 2023-2024; updated 2026-06-02. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Job Bank — Outlook (NOC 72301). 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: name variants, standard, sample questions. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Ontario's regulator page for 307A: compulsory, 9,000-hour program. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Alberta's compulsory profile: 4-period structure, 72-month/9,360-hour challenge route. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- The formal NOC 72301 definition: what the group includes and excludes. Accessed 2026-07-10.
- Prime Minister's Office — Team Canada Strong announcement. updated 2026-04-29. Accessed 2026-07-10.
Nothing on this page is financial or career advice. Figures are Government of Canada data for the stated periods and will move over time — check the links above for the latest.