Wages by province, experience level, union status, and Red Seal premium
Gas Fitters in Canada earn competitive wages that reward both technical skill and the responsibility that comes with working on potentially dangerous fuel-gas systems. Because gas fitting is a licensed trade with strict entry requirements, there is no race to the bottom on wages — the credential creates a wage floor. This guide covers current Gasfitter (Class A) compensation 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 Gasfitter exam is 100 questions in 4 hours and the pass mark is 70%, which is 70 correct.
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Gas Fitter wages vary significantly by province, reflecting differences in cost of living, union density, regulatory environment, and market demand. The bars below show Job Bank's low–high hourly wages for all gas fitters in each province shown — on top of base wages, Job Bank reports that 99.2% of gas fitters (NOC 72302) receive at least one type of non-wage benefit (checked September 2026).
Job Bank's 2024 figures for Alberta gas fitters are $28.20 (low), $42.27 (median) and $55.94 (high) per hour — the second-highest median among provinces with published figures, after Saskatchewan ($46.01, 2024). Union rates are set by United Association (UA) collective agreements, which Job Bank does not publish; industrial work on oil sands or LNG projects may add shift premiums and remote pay set by the employer or agreement.
BC wages are driven by the Lower Mainland construction market and strong union density. Technical Safety BC licensing requirements create a meaningful credential moat, keeping wages competitive. LNG Canada construction and industrial expansion in the northeast have created high-wage opportunities for Gas Fitters with industrial experience.
TSSA licensing requirements mean only qualified personnel can legally perform gas work. Union rates are set by each UA local's collective agreement; Job Bank does not publish them separately, and its Ontario range for all gas fitters is $26.00–$62.50/hr, with a median of $36.06/hr (2023–2024 wages).
Saskatchewan wages are strong relative to cost of living, particularly for gas fitters serving the agricultural and potash mining sectors. Industrial gas systems in large processing facilities pay at the top of the provincial range.
Manitoba wages reflect the smaller market size but remain solid. Winnipeg's residential and commercial construction provides consistent demand, and utility employment (Manitoba Hydro gas distribution) offers premium compensation with benefits.
In Quebec, gas work requires a certificate of qualification from the ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale.
Atlantic wages are lower than the national average but reflect lower cost of living. Job Bank medians are $35.24/hr in New Brunswick (2024) and $28.00/hr in Nova Scotia (2023–2024, range $26.44–$47.50/hr), versus $40.00/hr for Canada (2023–2024); Job Bank does not publish gas fitter wages for Newfoundland and Labrador or Prince Edward Island.
Gas Fitter apprentices earn a minimum rate that rises each period. Provinces set these minimums differently — Alberta as a percentage of the journeyperson rate, Manitoba as a percentage of the provincial minimum wage — and employers or collective agreements can pay more:
| Period / Level | Alberta Gasfitter – Class A (minimum % of the lowest-paid journeyperson rate at the same company) | Manitoba Gasfitter (minimum % of the provincial minimum wage) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50% | 165% |
| 2 | 60% | 195% |
| 3 | 80% | 235% |
| 4 | — (3-period program) | 265% |
Sources: Alberta Tradesecrets, Gasfitter – Class A trade profile (checked September 2026); Manitoba Apprenticeship and Certification — General Regulation, Schedule A.14 (checked September 2026). Manitoba levels 1 and 2 are the domestic gasfitter subcomponent. Manitoba's minimum wage is $16.40/hr effective October 1, 2026, up from $16.00/hr (Government of Manitoba).
Gas fitting has significant union representation through the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) and provincial equivalents. Here is how compensation structures compare:
| Factor | Union (UA) | Non-Union |
|---|---|---|
| Base hourly wage | Set by the UA local's collective agreement (not published by Job Bank) | Set by the employer; Job Bank's low–high range for all gas fitters in Canada is $26.44–$59.62/hr (2023–2024) |
| Benefits | Comprehensive (drug, dental, vision, pension) | Partial or none (varies by employer) |
| Pension | Defined benefit or strong RRSP matching | RRSP contribution (if any) |
| Apprenticeship training | Structured, union-funded training centres | Employer-dependent quality |
| Job security | Dispatch through local, consistent work | Employment contract, layoffs more common |
| Advancement | Seniority-based, slower in some locals | Merit-based, faster potential advancement |
The Red Seal designation (Gasfitter Class A) provides benefits beyond just provincial licensing. No official source publishes a standard hourly premium for Red Seal holders. What the Red Seal does provide:
The Red Seal endorsement is not a licence: it indicates only that you passed the Red Seal exam for the trade (red-seal.ca). A gas business can need its own licence as well — in Saskatchewan, for example, the Gas Contractor licence is what lets a business pull permits through TSASK, on top of each fitter's Gas Fitter licence.
| Trade (NOC 2021) | Job Bank low–high, Canada ($/hr) | Job Bank median, Canada ($/hr) |
|---|---|---|
| Gasfitter (Class A) — Gas fitters (72302) | $26.44–$59.62 | $40.00 |
| 306A Plumber — Plumbers (72300) | $21.00–$46.00 | $34.00 |
| 313A HVAC/R Technician — Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics (72402) | $22.00–$56.00 | $37.50 |
| 309A Construction Electrician — Electricians, except industrial and power system (72200) | $20.00–$48.00 | $35.00 |
| 420B Ironworker — Ironworkers (72105) | $29.00–$49.80 | $43.00 |
Source: Government of Canada Job Bank hourly wages, reference period 2023–2024, updated November 19, 2025 (checked September 2026). Low and high are, in most cases, Job Bank's 10th and 90th percentile wages. Job Bank does not publish union rates.
Some Gas Fitters combine their Gasfitter Class A with an Oil Burner Technician (OBT) ticket and/or HVAC certification. This makes them a one-stop heating specialist and widens the residential service work they can take on. In service rather than installation work, diagnostic skill and customer trust drive long-term income above the base rate.
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