What does a Red Seal 310T mechanic actually earn — from first-year apprentice to senior technician? Here's the real data.
The trucking industry is the backbone of Canada's economy — and the mechanics who keep those fleets running are increasingly hard to find. Job Bank's median wage for the occupation group rose from $25.00/hour in its 2020 release (2018-2019 data) to $29.89/hour in its November 2025 release (2023-2024 data), before adjusting for inflation. A Red Seal 310T Truck and Transport Mechanic today can expect strong pay, excellent job security, and benefits packages that were rare in the trade a decade ago.
Here's a clear, honest breakdown of what you can expect to earn at each stage of your career.
Job Bank pay figures on this page cover the whole occupation, apprentices included, not only certified tradespeople. The 310T exam is 135 questions in 4 hours and the pass mark is 70%, which is 95 correct answers; SkilledTradesBC rounds results up from 69.5%, so 94 correct also passes there.
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Apprentice pay varies by province and employer. Job Bank does not publish wages by apprenticeship year, so the table below shows Alberta's legal minimum rather than field estimates.
| Apprenticeship Level | Alberta Minimum (share of journeyperson rate) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Period 1 Apprentice | 60% | Alberta tradesecrets, checked October 2026 |
| Period 2 Apprentice | 70% | Alberta tradesecrets, checked October 2026 |
| Period 3 Apprentice | 80% | Alberta tradesecrets, checked October 2026 |
Alberta's percentages apply to the rate of the lowest-paid truck and transport mechanic journeyperson at the same company. Other provinces set their own rules.
Once you are certified as a journeyperson, your pay is no longer set by apprentice minimums. The trade is designated Red Seal in all ten provinces and three territories, and Red Seal says the endorsement facilitates labour mobility.
| Role | Hourly Wage | Annual Estimate (40 hrs/wk) |
|---|---|---|
| Truck and transport mechanics, all levels (Job Bank low – high) | $19.00 – $43.27/hr | ~$39,520 – $90,000 |
| Median (Job Bank) | $29.89/hr | ~$62,170 |
| Lead / Senior Technician, Field Service / Mobile Tech | No separate official figure | Job Bank's highest provincial top-end wages are $49.00/hr (BC) and $47.00/hr (AB) |
| Shop Foreman (mechanic-trade supervisors, NOC 72020) | $25.00 – $60.00/hr, median $40.00 | ~$83,200 at the median |
Source: Job Bank wages for NOC 72410 and NOC 72020, updated November 2025 (2023-2024 data). Job Bank groups truck and transport mechanics with automotive service technicians and includes apprentices.
Geography matters significantly in this trade. In Job Bank's data (NOC 72410, 2023-2024, updated November 2025), British Columbia has the highest provincial median ($35.00/hr) and top-end wage ($49.00/hr); Alberta is second on the top-end wage ($47.00/hr) and on the average ($32.10/hr vs BC's $34.62/hr), while its median ($30.00/hr) matches Ontario and Saskatchewan.
| Province | Job Bank Hourly Range (low – high) | Median |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $20.00 – $49.00/hr | $35.00/hr |
| Alberta | $19.84 – $47.00/hr | $30.00/hr |
| Saskatchewan | $18.00 – $43.50/hr | $30.00/hr |
| Ontario | $18.75 – $43.27/hr | $30.00/hr |
| Manitoba | $17.00 – $40.00/hr | $27.50/hr |
| Quebec | $20.00 – $40.00/hr | $28.00/hr |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $17.50 – $41.00/hr | $27.00/hr |
| Nova Scotia | $17.00 – $36.32/hr | $25.00/hr |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.30 – $32.00/hr | $25.50/hr |
| New Brunswick | $16.00 – $33.00/hr | $24.75/hr |
Source: Job Bank wages for NOC 72410 (automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers), updated November 2025 (2023-2024 data). Low and high are roughly the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Job Bank does not break 310T wages down by employer type, so the employer types below are not ranked by pay; compare offers one by one.
Dealerships can offer manufacturer training on the brands they sell. For reference, Job Bank's top-end wages for the occupation group are $47.00/hr in Alberta and $49.00/hr in British Columbia (2023-2024 data, updated November 2025); flat-rate bonuses can add to pay at some dealers.
Companies like Bison Transport, TFI International, Mullen Group, and similar large operators run their own in-house maintenance departments. Wages, shift schedules, shift premiums and pensions are set company by company.
Provincial highway departments, municipalities, and transit authorities (e.g., GO Transit, BC Transit) also maintain their own fleets. If an offer includes a defined benefit pension, count its value when you compare total compensation.
Smaller independent truck shops work on vehicles from many customers rather than one fleet or one brand. Pay and benefits vary shop by shop.
| Trade | Job Bank Canada Range (low – high) | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 310T — Truck & Transport Mechanic (NOC 72410) | $19.00 – $43.27/hr | $29.89/hr |
| 421A — Heavy Duty Equipment Technician (NOC 72401) | $23.87 – $55.00/hr | $37.12/hr |
| 310S — Automotive Service Technician (NOC 72410) | $19.00 – $43.27/hr | $29.89/hr |
| 309A — Construction Electrician (NOC 72200) | $20.00 – $48.00/hr | $35.00/hr |
Source: Job Bank wages, updated November 2025 (2023-2024 data). 310T and 310S share NOC 72410, so Job Bank shows the same figures for both.
Job Bank does not separate truck and transport mechanics from automotive service technicians — both fall under NOC 72410, median $29.89/hr — so it gives no figure showing 310T pay above 310S. The group's median is below heavy-duty equipment mechanics ($37.12/hr) and industrial electricians ($42.00/hr) (Job Bank, 2023-2024 data, updated November 2025).
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Start 310T Practice Questions →Job Bank reports $19.00 to $43.27/hour for truck and transport mechanics across Canada, with a median of $29.89/hour (NOC 72410; 2023-2024 data, updated November 2025). Top-end wages are $47.00/hour in Alberta and $49.00/hour in British Columbia. These figures combine truck mechanics with automotive service technicians and include apprentices. In Alberta, apprentices must be paid at least 60%, 70% and 80% of the rate of the lowest-paid journeyperson at the same company in periods 1 to 3 (Alberta tradesecrets, checked October 2026).
In Job Bank data (NOC 72410, 2023-2024, updated November 2025), British Columbia pays the most among provinces, with a median of $35.00/hour and a high of $49.00/hour. Alberta's median is $30.00/hour with a high of $47.00/hour.
Not necessarily. Journeyperson status comes from your provincial or territorial certificate of qualification, and the Red Seal is an endorsement on that certificate. Where the trade is compulsory, as in Ontario and Alberta, you must be a registered apprentice or hold a certificate the province accepts to practise it in Ontario, or to perform its restricted activities in Alberta; British Columbia does not list it as a compulsory trade. Most provinces and territories use the Red Seal exam as the final certification exam (red-seal.ca); in Alberta it is an option in the final period. The trade is designated Red Seal in all ten provinces and three territories, and Red Seal says the endorsement facilitates labour mobility.
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