What HVAC technicians actually earn in Ontario in 2026

Introduction

“What does an HVAC tech make in Ontario?” sounds like a single-number question. It is not. The answer depends on four variables at once: your certification (apprentice, then 313A journeyperson, then 313A and G2), your sector (residential service, commercial / refrigeration, new construction, union vs non-union), your city (GTA, Ottawa, Hamilton vs. smaller markets), and your shift mix (overtime, on-call, weekends). The official wage data captures the headline. The levers underneath move you within it.

Here is what the federal Job Bank reports, what apprentices earn at each level, where the high end actually lives, and the three levers that compress or stretch your pay the most.

The official Job Bank number

The Government of Canada Job Bank publishes wage data for NOC 7516, Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) mechanics at the provincial level. As of the most recent Ontario report, the band runs from $21.00 per hour at the 10th percentile to $58.00 per hour at the 90th percentile, with a median sitting in the $30.94 to $40.28 per hour range [1].

• 10th percentile (entry / pre-apprentice): about $21 per hour
• Median: about $35 per hour
• 90th percentile (senior journeyperson, specialist): about $58 per hour

That is a $75,000 to $120,000 annual swing on a 40-hour week, before overtime and on-call premiums. The next sections break down where in the band different career stages sit.

The apprentice ladder, by level

Apprentices in Ontario are paid as a percentage of the shop’s journeyperson wage. The convention is not legislated, but it tracks closely across the trade [2]:

• Pre-apprentice / helper: $17 to $22 per hour. Often before formal registration.
• Level 1 (0 to 1,800 OJT hours): $20 to $26 per hour. About 55 to 65% of journeyperson.
• Level 2 (1,800 to 4,800 hours): $24 to $32 per hour. About 70 to 80%.
• Level 3 (4,800+ hours, pre-C of Q): $28 to $38 per hour. About 85 to 95%.

A union apprentice is generally at the top of these bands. Collective agreements explicitly key apprentice rates to a fixed percentage of the journeyperson rate. A small residential shop apprentice sits at the bottom, sometimes well below if you are still building skills.

Journeyperson with 313A: the working tier

Once you hold a 313A Certificate of Qualification (see our breakdown of how to get an HVAC license in Ontario), wages step up sharply:

• New 313A journeyperson: $32 to $45 per hour. Annualizes to roughly $65k to $90k base on a 40-hour week.
• 313A and TSSA G2: $40 to $52 per hour. The G2 lets you work independently on gas equipment up to 400,000 BTU/h [3], which unlocks furnace and water-heater scope most shops need. Mid-career journeypeople in this bracket commonly annualize at $58k to $78k base, with overtime and on-call pushing total comp well past $90k [4].
• 313A and G2, plus commercial / refrigeration experience: $45 to $58 per hour. Posted job ads in Ontario regularly hit $59 per hour with G2 and $63 per hour with G1 for senior refrigeration mechanics [4].

The single biggest jump in the whole career is from Level 3 apprentice to licensed 313A + G2 holder. That transition is roughly $8 to $12 per hour, or $16k to $24k a year on straight time.

City variation: where the GTA premium shows up

Job Bank reports at the provincial level. City-level data from posted ads on Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and SalaryExpert shows a consistent GTA premium of 10 to 18% over rural Ontario for the same certification level [5][6]:

• Toronto / GTA: Highest median. Premium driven by demand for commercial / institutional refrigeration, new construction volume, and cost-of-living pressure on the wage floor.
• Ottawa: Close behind GTA. Government and institutional buildings keep commercial demand steady.
• Hamilton, Niagara, Kitchener-Waterloo: About 5 to 10% below GTA. Strong industrial base.
• Smaller markets (Trenton, Cobourg, Lindsay, Sudbury): Often 15 to 25% below GTA on the journeyperson band, but cost of living compensates, and on-call premiums tend to be higher per call because of distance.

The three levers that move pay the most

Certification tier, sector, and union membership are the three variables that decide where you sit in the band at any given experience level [7].

1. Certification stack. 313A alone < 313A + G2 < 313A + G2 + G1. Each addition is a step-function in scope and wage, not a linear bump. The G2 specifically is the single highest-ROI ticket you can add. Most shops will pay for it.
2. Sector. Commercial / institutional refrigeration and industrial process cooling pay materially more than residential service. Supermarket refrigeration, cold-storage, and food-processing techs commonly clear $55+ per hour with experience. Residential service caps out lower but has more entry points.
3. Union vs. non-union. Union shops (such as UA Local 787 and IUOE 793 mechanical) pay a defined journeyperson scale, often $45 to $55 per hour straight time with benefits and pension on top. Non-union ranges wider. Top non-union shops match union scale. Smaller shops sit a few dollars under.

Two HVAC techs with the same five years of experience can be $20k to $30k apart on annual comp depending on how those three levers landed.

Overtime, on-call, and benefits

Headline hourly wage understates total HVAC tech compensation because almost every shop layers in:

• Overtime: Time-and-a-half over 44 hours per week in Ontario under the Employment Standards Act. In peak heating and cooling season, many techs run 50 to 60 hours per week.
• On-call premiums: Flat per-shift on-call pay ($75 to $200 per evening / weekend), plus minimum call-out hours at OT rate. A heavy on-call rotation can add $10k to $20k per year.
• Vehicle and tool allowance: Many shops provide the truck and tools (worth about $8k to $15k per year in equivalent value). Some pay a $50 to $150 per week tool allowance instead.
• Benefits: Health and dental run $3k to $6k per year in equivalent premiums. Union shops add pension contributions worth another 8 to 15% of wages.

Comparing two jobs by hourly wage alone is misleading. Total comp can be $10k to $25k apart between identical-looking offers.

What HVAC business owners take home

Tech wages cap somewhere around $120k for a senior union journeyperson with heavy overtime. To exceed that, the path is either specialization (commercial refrigeration consultant / controls integrator) or business ownership. A 2-truck Ontario HVAC contractor typically pays the owner $90k to $160k once the business is past year 3. That comes with the risk and unpaid hours of running the shop.

The economics of that bet, and the most expensive line item (the first-visit truck roll), is what our piece on why every HVAC quote should start with photos digs into.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average HVAC technician salary in Ontario?

The Government of Canada Job Bank's wage report for NOC 7516 (HVAC mechanics) in Ontario puts the band at $21 to $58 per hour, with a median in the $30.94 to $40.28 per hour range. On a 40-hour week, that annualizes to roughly $65,000 to $85,000 base for a working journeyperson, before overtime and on-call premiums.

Do HVAC techs in Toronto earn more than in smaller Ontario cities?

Yes, by roughly 10 to 18% for the same certification level. The GTA premium reflects demand for commercial and institutional work, new-construction volume, and cost-of-living pressure on wages. Ottawa runs close to Toronto. Smaller markets like Trenton, Cobourg, or Lindsay typically sit 15 to 25% below GTA on the journeyperson band.

How much more does a 313A and G2 earn compared to a 313A alone?

Adding a TSSA G2 typically raises hourly wage by $5 to $10 because the G2 unlocks natural gas work (furnaces, water heaters, light commercial) that pure refrigeration tickets cannot touch. Mid-career 313A and G2 holders commonly earn $40 to $52 per hour.

Do union HVAC techs in Ontario earn more than non-union?

Generally yes for journeypeople. Union shops (such as UA Local 787 and IUOE 793 mechanical) pay a defined scale, often $45 to $55 per hour straight time, with benefits and pension on top. Top non-union shops match union scale. Smaller residential shops typically sit a few dollars under.

How much does overtime add to total HVAC tech income in Ontario?

Ontario's Employment Standards Act requires time-and-a-half over 44 hours per week. In peak heating and cooling season, most techs run 50 to 60 hours per week, which adds 15 to 30% to base annual income. A heavy on-call rotation adds another $10,000 to $20,000 per year in shift premiums and minimum call-out hours.

How much do HVAC business owners in Ontario take home?

A typical 2-truck Ontario HVAC contractor pays the owner $90,000 to $160,000 once the business is past year 3, with the trade-off of risk and unpaid administrative hours. Senior union journeypeople with heavy overtime can clear $120,000 without owning a business.