This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of 420B Ironworker wages across Canada in 2026.
Most pay figures on this page are Government of Canada Job Bank data for everyone working in the occupation, not only certified tradespeople. The 420B exam is 120 questions in 4 hours and the pass mark is 70%, which is 84 correct.
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Ironworker Wages by Province (2026)
Union wages for Ironworkers are negotiated through collective agreements between the Iron Workers union locals and employer associations. The ranges below are Job Bank low–high hourly wages for all ironworkers (NOC 72105, 2023–2024 data, updated November 19, 2025), not union scale. For comparison, the Alberta Structural Ironworkers collective agreement sets the industrial journeyperson base rate at $53.80/hr from May 3, 2026 ($45.36/hr on commercial and institutional work), and vacation and holiday pay plus benefit, pension and other fund contributions bring the industrial total to $70.78/hr.
Alberta
Alberta has the highest top-end ironworker wage of any province in Job Bank's data ($51.00/hr), but its median ($40.60/hr) is below Ontario ($44.34), Quebec ($44.23), and Newfoundland and Labrador ($41.09) (NOC 72105, 2023–24 wages). Under the Alberta Structural Ironworkers collective agreement, the industrial journeyperson base rate is $53.80/hr from May 3, 2026. Work comes from oil sands industrial construction, pipeline projects, and Calgary/Edmonton urban development, and remote locations and shift work can add premium pay.
British Columbia
Job Bank’s 2025–2027 employment outlook for ironworkers (NOC 72105) in British Columbia is Very limited.
Ontario
Toronto's construction boom has sustained demand for structural steel erectors, while major infrastructure work (bridges, transit, highways) provides stable employment.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan wages are strong for journeypersons working in potash mining projects and infrastructure. Smaller overall market than Alberta but fewer ironworkers competing for positions.
Manitoba
Manitoba wages are slightly below the western average. Job Bank’s 2025–2027 employment outlook for ironworkers in Manitoba is Very limited.
Quebec
Quebec Ironworkers work under the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ) system, where every construction worker must join one of five recognized union associations, with distinct collective agreements. Job Bank’s 2025–2027 employment outlook for ironworkers in Quebec is Very limited.
Atlantic Provinces (NB, NS, PEI, NL)
Atlantic wages are lower than the national average, reflecting smaller markets and lower cost of living. Newfoundland is an exception during major offshore oil and gas construction cycles, where rates can approach Alberta levels.
Apprentice Wage Scale
Ironworker apprentices earn a percentage of the journeyperson rate that increases each period. Alberta sets legal minimums for Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental) apprentices of 60%, 70% and 80% of the journeyperson rate over 3 periods (Alberta Tradesecrets, checked September 2026), and the Alberta Structural Ironworkers collective agreement pays union apprentices 65%, 75% and 90%. The Alberta column applies the legal minimums to Job Bank's $40.60/hr Alberta median (NOC 72105, 2023–24 wages):
| Apprenticeship Year | Alberta Minimum % of Journeyperson Rate | Estimated Hourly (AB) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (Apprentice Level 1) | 60% | ~$24.36 |
| Year 2 (Apprentice Level 2) | 70% | ~$28.42 |
| Year 3 (Apprentice Level 3) | 80% | ~$32.48 |
| Journeyperson | 100% | $27.00–$51.00 (median $40.60) |
Red Seal Premium
Whether a Red Seal endorsement carries a wage premium depends on the employer or collective agreement; Job Bank does not publish a separate Red Seal rate, so check the agreement that applies to you.
Supervisory roles carry their own premium: the Alberta Structural Ironworkers agreement pays forepersons $5.50/hr above the journeyperson rate on industrial work.
Union vs. Non-Union Wages
| Factor | Union Ironworker | Non-Union Ironworker |
|---|---|---|
| Base wage (journeyperson) | Set by collective agreement (Alberta industrial: $53.80/hr from May 3, 2026) | Set by employer (Job Bank range for all ironworkers: $29.00–$49.80/hr, 2023–24) |
| Benefits (health, dental) | Comprehensive union benefits | Varies by employer |
| Pension | Defined benefit or RRSP matching | Rarely offered |
| Vacation pay | 10% of wages under the Ontario ICI and Alberta agreements (Alberta: 6% vacation plus 4% holiday pay) | 4–6% typically |
| Overtime rules | Strictly enforced by agreement | Varies; often less favourable |
| Access to large projects | Major industrial/infrastructure | Often smaller commercial/residential |
| Total compensation | Base wage plus agreement vacation pay, benefits and pension (Alberta industrial total: $70.78/hr from May 3, 2026) | Base wage plus whatever the employer offers |
Overtime, Shift Premiums, and Remote Pay
Total annual earnings for Ironworkers often significantly exceed what base hourly rates suggest, because of several premium pay categories:
- Overtime: under the Alberta Structural Ironworkers agreement, the first two hours of overtime after the regular day (Monday to Friday) are paid at 1.5× and later hours at 2×, and Saturday and Sunday hours on industrial work at 2×. Structural steel erection projects frequently run extended shifts.
- Shift differentials: Afternoon and night shifts may attract a premium set by the collective agreement or employer (for example, $4.50/hr from May 3, 2026 under the Alberta Structural Ironworkers agreement)
- Remote camp allowances: Projects in remote locations (oil sands, mining, hydro) pay room-and-board or daily living allowances in addition to wages; amounts vary by project and agreement
- Travel allowances: Union agreements often include travel time pay and mileage for projects beyond a certain radius from the union hall
Annual Earnings Outlook
Estimating annual earnings requires accounting for typical employment patterns — construction is seasonal in most of Canada, and even the busiest markets have slow periods. Paid hours vary with the market and the project.
- Apprentice Year 1 (Ontario, union): starts at 60% of the journeyperson rate, $31.11/hr (Thunder Bay, Local 759) to $31.91/hr (Toronto, Local 721) under the Ontario ICI structural ironworker agreements from May 2026, so annual pay depends on hours worked and progress through the apprenticeship periods
- Journeyperson (Ontario, union): approximately $103,700 (Thunder Bay) to $106,380 (Toronto) for 2,000 straight-time hours at the Ontario ICI structural ironworker base rates from May 2026 ($51.85/hr to $53.19/hr), before vacation pay and overtime
- Journeyperson (Alberta, union): approximately $90,720 (commercial) to $107,600 (industrial) for 2,000 straight-time hours at the collective-agreement base rates from May 3, 2026, before vacation and holiday pay and overtime
- Remote industrial projects (Alberta): can exceed the 2,000-hour estimate with overtime and living allowances, which vary by project and agreement
- Foreman/General Foreman: paid above the journeyperson rate — under the Alberta Structural Ironworkers agreement, forepersons receive $5.50/hr more on industrial work and $4.75/hr more on commercial and institutional work
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