What does a Red Seal 309A Construction Electrician actually earn — from first-year apprentice to industrial journeyperson? Here's the real data.
Job Bank lists electricians (NOC 72200, which includes construction electricians) at $20.00–$48.00/hr in Canada, with a median of $35.00/hr (wages updated November 2025). This page sets those figures out by province and next to related occupations, with Alberta's legal minimums for apprentices.
Most pay figures on this page are Government of Canada Job Bank data for everyone working in the occupation, not only certified tradespeople. The 309A exam is 100 questions in 4 hours and the pass mark is 70%, which is 70 correct.
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The construction electrician apprenticeship runs about four years in BC and Alberta and about five in Ontario, and Alberta sets apprentice minimum wages as a percentage of journeyperson rates.
| Apprenticeship Level | Legal minimum in Alberta (Electrician program; Alberta Tradesecrets, checked September 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Year Apprentice | 50% of journeyperson rate | Period 1; percentage of the lowest-paid Electrician journeyperson rate at the same company |
| 2nd Year Apprentice | 60% of journeyperson rate | Period 2 |
| 3rd Year Apprentice | 70% of journeyperson rate | Period 3 |
| 4th Year Apprentice | 80% of journeyperson rate | Period 4 |
| 5th Year Apprentice | Not applicable in Alberta | Alberta's program is 4 periods; Ontario's 309A is about 5 years (7,950 on-the-job hours). Sources: Alberta Tradesecrets and Skilled Trades Ontario, checked September 2026 |
Job Bank's figures cover the whole occupation, apprentices included, and do not separate certified from non-certified workers. Construction Electrician is designated Red Seal in all ten provinces and three territories, and Red Seal says the endorsement facilitates labour mobility.
| Role | Typical Hourly Range | Annual Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians, NOC 72200 (Job Bank, wages updated November 2025) | $20.00 – $48.00/hr (median $35.00) | ~$41,600 – $99,840 at 40 hrs/wk (median ~$72,800) |
| Industrial electricians, NOC 72201 (Job Bank, wages updated November 2025) | $28.00 – $54.00/hr (median $42.00) | ~$58,240 – $112,320 at 40 hrs/wk (median ~$87,360) |
| Electrician foreperson / supervisor, NOC 72011 (Job Bank, wages updated November 2025) | $30.00 – $64.00/hr (median $44.79) | ~$62,400 – $133,120 at 40 hrs/wk (median ~$93,160) |
| Construction site superintendent (management track), NOC 70010 (Job Bank, wages updated November 2025) | $31.25 – $83.76/hr (median $48.72) | ~$65,000 – $174,220 at 40 hrs/wk (median ~$101,340) |
On Job Bank's figures (wages updated November 2025), Quebec has the highest provincial median for electricians ($41.30/hr) and Ontario the highest provincial upper figure ($50.50/hr); Alberta's median is $38.00/hr and BC's $34.00/hr.
| Province | Job Bank low – high, NOC 72200 (wages updated November 2025) | Job Bank outlook 2025–2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | $21.50 – $46.00/hr (median $38.00) | Moderate |
| British Columbia | $20.00 – $47.49/hr (median $34.00) | Limited |
| Saskatchewan | $19.00 – $48.00/hr (median $37.50) | Moderate |
| Manitoba | $17.15 – $46.00/hr (median $35.00) | Limited |
| Ontario | $20.00 – $50.50/hr (median $34.00) | Moderate |
| Quebec | $22.40 – $44.79/hr (median $41.30) | Limited |
| Atlantic Canada | NL $18.70 – $45.40 (median $31.00); NS $19.00 – $42.00 ($31.00); PE $19.84 – $40.00 ($26.44); NB $18.00 – $35.00 ($28.00) | NL limited; NS and PE good; NB moderate |
Job Bank does not publish electricians' wages by sector or employer type, so the notes below describe the work rather than rank its pay.
Industrial shutdowns are scheduled maintenance periods at refineries, pulp mills, mines and chemical plants; pay, overtime and any travel or camp allowances depend on the employer and agreement. For reference, Job Bank's Alberta range for industrial electricians (NOC 72201) is $25.00–$68.00/hr, median $44.00 (wages updated November 2025). The work may require extended away-from-home periods.
Large commercial and industrial projects include data centres, LNG facilities, hospitals and transit infrastructure. Pay varies by employer, project and whether the job is covered by a collective agreement.
Municipal utilities, school boards, universities, and government facilities hire permanent staff electricians. NOC 72200 lists maintenance departments of buildings and other establishments among electricians' employers; wages, benefits and pensions are set by each employer or agreement.
Smaller residential electrical contractors can be a place to build broad residential skills early in your career; pay is set by each employer.
| Trade | Canada low – high (Job Bank, wages updated November 2025) | Highest provincial high |
|---|---|---|
| 309A — Construction Electrician (NOC 72200) | $20.00 – $48.00/hr (median $35.00) | $50.50/hr (Ontario) |
| 421A — Heavy Duty Equipment Technician (NOC 72401) | $23.87 – $55.00/hr (median $37.12) | $65.00/hr (Alberta) |
| 310T — Truck & Transport Mechanic (NOC 72410, shared with 310S) | $19.00 – $43.27/hr (median $29.89) | $49.00/hr (BC) |
| 310S — Automotive Service Technician (NOC 72410, shared with 310T) | $19.00 – $43.27/hr (median $29.89) | $49.00/hr (BC) |
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Start 309A Practice Questions →Job Bank lists electricians (NOC 72200, which includes construction electricians) at a median of $35.00/hr across Canada, with a low of $20.00/hr and a high of $48.00/hr (wages updated November 2025). In Alberta, for example, apprentices must be paid at least 50%, 60%, 70% and 80% of the lowest-paid journeyperson rate at the same company in periods 1 to 4 (Alberta Tradesecrets, checked September 2026).
Job Bank does not split electricians' wages by union status: it publishes wages for electricians (NOC 72200, apprentices included) by region only — $20.00–$48.00/hr nationally, median $35.00 — so it gives no figure for the union gap. Union wage rates are set in collective agreements, so compare the current agreement for your area with the non-union offers you have.
On Job Bank's figures (wages updated November 2025), Quebec has the highest provincial median for electricians (NOC 72200) at $41.30/hr, followed by Alberta at $38.00/hr and Saskatchewan at $37.50/hr. Ontario has the highest provincial upper figure at $50.50/hr. British Columbia's median is $34.00/hr.
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