What a painter earns depends on certification, the coatings and settings they work in, and where they work. Because NOC 73112 spans apprentices to certified journeyperson painters, the band is wide, and Red Seal certification and commercial and industrial coatings lift the top end. The table below shows the official Job Bank wage band by province for 2026.
These are hourly low-to-high bands from Job Bank Canada, classified under NOC 73112 (Painters and decorators, except interior decorators), updated November 19, 2025. The national median is $28.00 per hour.
| Province | Hourly low to high |
|---|---|
| Quebec | $24.00 to $41.83 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $18.00 to $38.00 |
| British Columbia | $21.00 to $35.00 |
| Alberta | $20.00 to $34.82 |
| Ontario | $20.00 to $34.80 |
| Nova Scotia | $18.00 to $33.24 |
| Manitoba | $17.00 to $30.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $18.00 to $30.00 |
| New Brunswick | $18.00 to $29.12 |
| Prince Edward Island | $18.50 to $26.00 |
The three territories are not shown because Job Bank does not publish a wage band for this trade in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, or Yukon.
What drives the spread
- Red Seal certification and journeyperson status, which lift the floor and the ceiling
- Compulsory certification in Quebec, which supports one of the highest bands in the country
- Commercial and industrial coatings experience, which pays more than basic residential repaints
- Cost of living and construction and maintenance volume, which lift pay in the larger provinces
Reading the ranges
These bands cover NOC 73112, the building-painter trade. Apprentices and newer painters sit near the floor. Certified journeyperson painters with commercial and industrial experience sit toward the ceiling.
Sources: Job Bank Canada provincial wage data (NOC 73112, updated November 19, 2025) and Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey.
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