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This page covers base pay ranges for Construction Labourers working in Toronto, ON across non-union and union (LiUNA) roles, from entry-level site work to experienced ICI labourers. It is designed for workers benchmarking a job offer, newcomers entering the Ontario trades, and out-of-province applicants evaluating a move to the GTA. Ranges vary by union status, sector (residential, ICI, civil/infrastructure), employer size, and whether the worker holds required safety tickets.
Pay climbs steeply once a worker obtains union membership or moves into the ICI sector, where collective agreement rates apply.
$36K - $46K CAD
Mostly residential or small-contractor work paying near Ontario minimum wage, with take-home shaped by hours available and seasonal slowdowns.
$46K - $62K CAD
Workers with a growing ticket portfolio and 2-6 years of documented site experience start accessing union dispatch or negotiating above-average non-union rates.
$62K - $74K CAD
Union ICI journeypersons in this band receive collective agreement base rates plus pension and benefit fund contributions that significantly raise total compensation.
$74K - $85K CAD
Forepersons, long-tenure union members, and workers in transit or infrastructure projects reach this band, especially when overtime and shift premiums are included.
Many labourers plateau in the $40K-$48K range because they stay with the same non-union residential employer and never pursue union dispatch or ICI sector access. Moving to union work or a larger civil contractor is typically the single biggest wage lever available.
A resume that clearly documents project types, ticket portfolio, and sector experience is the difference between a dispatcher or contractor calling you back and not. Optimize your resume to reflect union-ready and ICI-ready language before your next application.
Higher-paying candidates typically show:
The largest construction market in Canada with major transit, condo, and infrastructure activity; LiUNA Local 183 is one of the largest labour locals in North America and sets a strong wage floor for ICI work.
Comparable union density to Toronto with BC Building Trades setting competitive rates; cost of living is the highest in Canada, so nominal wages must be weighed carefully against housing costs.
Alberta has no mandatory union dispatch in the ICI sector but strong non-union wages, especially on oil-and-gas-adjacent industrial projects; demand fluctuates with energy sector activity.
Federal government construction and LRT expansion projects sustain steady demand; LiUNA Local 527 covers the National Capital Region and sets rates effective May 2025 across road, sewer, and ICI sectors.
Quebec requires workers on most commercial and public construction sites to hold a CCQ (Commission de la construction du Quebec) competency card; newcomers and out-of-province applicants must apply through CCQ before accessing the formal market.
A smaller and less unionized market than Toronto; demand has grown due to federal housing investment and major infrastructure projects, but top-of-band rates are lower than central-Canadian cities.
Union collective agreements (LiUNA ICI Ontario) add vacation pay, pension fund contributions, and health and welfare fund contributions on top of the hourly base rate. For experienced union members, these can add $6-$10 or more per hour in total compensation value. Non-union employers may offer none of these. Always ask for the total compensation package, not just the hourly base.
Ontario does not require a provincial licence or Red Seal for a General Construction Labourer (NOC 75110), which makes it one of the more accessible trades for newcomers. However, WHMIS 2015, Working at Heights (approved by Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer), and valid First Aid are effectively required by most employers and must be obtained in Canada. Foreign safety certifications are generally not accepted. Language barriers may affect safety comprehension on site - WSIB and Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act place full duty-of-care obligations on employers to communicate hazards in a language workers understand.
Construction Labourer (NOC 75110) is not a Red Seal designated trade in Canada, so there is no interprovincial certification process to navigate. Workers moving from Quebec must obtain Ontario-equivalent safety tickets; CCQ cards are not recognized in Ontario. Alberta workers do not need to re-certify labourers, but WHMIS 2015 and Working at Heights Ontario must be completed before starting on most Toronto sites.
Use this checklist to prepare before you walk into a job interview or respond to a contractor offer.
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Answers to the most common questions about Construction Labourer compensation in Toronto, ON.
Based on data from the Government of Canada Job Bank (updated November 2025), Indeed Toronto (updated February 2026), and PayScale Toronto (updated July 2025), base pay ranges from approximately $36,000 to $85,000 CAD annually. The lower end reflects entry-level non-union residential work; the upper end reflects experienced union ICI or infrastructure labourers. Figures are base salary only and exclude vacation pay, pension contributions, and overtime.
The Government of Canada Job Bank reports a national hourly range of approximately $18.25 to $40.00 for NOC 75110 Construction Workers (updated November 2025). PayScale cites a Toronto median of roughly $22/hr for non-union roles. Union (LiUNA) ICI rates in Ontario are governed by collective agreements and are generally above these medians, especially for experienced journeypersons.
Union membership is not legally required to work as a construction labourer in Toronto. However, the City of Toronto recognized LiUNA as the bargaining agent for ICI-sector labourers on City-procured projects effective November 2023, which means many large public contracts require LiUNA members. Non-union roles are common in residential construction and with smaller general contractors.
Most Toronto employers and all ICI-sector contractors require at minimum WHMIS 2015, Working at Heights (Ontario Chief Prevention Officer approved provider), and Standard First Aid and CPR. Additional tickets such as Confined Space Entry, Trenching and Excavation, Traffic Control Person (TCP), and Hoisting or Rigging certification expand the assignments available to you and typically increase your hourly rate.
Construction Labourer (NOC 75110) does not require a Red Seal or provincial licence, which makes it accessible to newcomers. However, foreign safety certifications are generally not accepted in Ontario - WHMIS 2015 and Working at Heights must be obtained through Canadian-approved providers. Employers have a legal duty under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to communicate site hazards in a language workers understand, but practical English or French communication ability is expected on most sites.
A meaningful pay gap exists between union and non-union labourers in Toronto, driven by LiUNA ICI collective agreement rates that are set above typical non-union residential rates. Union packages also include pension fund contributions, health and welfare benefits, and vacation pay on top of the hourly base, which significantly raises total compensation. The exact gap varies by classification and project type.
No. Construction Labourer (NOC 75110) is not a Red Seal designated trade under the Interprovincial Standards Program. This means there is no interprovincial certification exam to write and no formal credential-recognition process required when moving between provinces, though provincial safety ticket requirements (e.g. Ontario Working at Heights) must still be met locally.
Vancouver's union labourer rates are broadly comparable to Toronto and in some classifications slightly higher, but the cost of living - particularly housing - is the highest in Canada, which compresses real purchasing power. Calgary non-union rates are competitive, particularly on industrial projects, but income is more cyclical and tied to energy sector conditions. Toronto generally offers the highest volume of stable ICI and transit work in Canada.
Compare Construction Labourer pay with other skilled trades and transportation roles in Toronto.
| Job title | Entry Level | Mid-Career | Senior | Owner-Operator / Specialist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truck Driver | $44K - $57K CAD | $57K - $78K CAD | $78K - $95K CAD | $95K - $115K+ CAD |
Explore additional guides to help you negotiate your construction labourer salary, build a strong trades resume, and understand the Toronto job market.
Learn how to structure your construction labourer resume with the right skills, certifications, and safety tickets that employers in Ontario actually look for.
Read article →Master proven negotiation strategies to ensure you secure a competitive salary that matches the union and non-union ranges for construction labourers in Toronto.
Read article →Get a broader understanding of hiring trends and employment conditions across Toronto to contextualize construction labourer opportunities within the GTA economy.
Read article →Identify common resume pitfalls that could prevent construction employers from contacting you, and learn how to correct them for better interview callbacks.
Read article →Salary ranges on this page were compiled from multiple public and third-party aggregated sources covering the period November 2024 to February 2026. Where sources conflicted, the Government of Canada Job Bank (an official federal source) was treated as the primary reference for the national wage floor, and PayScale and Indeed Toronto data were used for market positioning of experience tiers.
The following represents the tone and themes found in public online discussions on forums and job review sites for construction labourers in Ontario and the GTA, collected from posts active in 2024-2025. Quotes are representative paraphrases of community sentiment, not verbatim reproductions.
“Joined Local 183 last year - the hourly jump from my old non-union residential gig was significant, not counting the pension on top”
Reflects a widely reported experience among Toronto labourers who transition from residential non-union work to LiUNA ICI dispatch - the wage step-up plus benefits is frequently cited as a major life improvement.
“Got my Working at Heights done, applied to a couple of big GTA contractors, had an offer within two weeks - the tickets really do matter”
Safety certifications are consistently identified by GTA labourers as the fastest way to move from unemployed to employed or from lower to higher pay bands, particularly for newcomers.
“Pay is decent once you get union dispatch but the waiting list to get on the board can be frustrating if you're new to the city”
Dispatch list wait times for LiUNA Local 183 are a recurring theme in reviews; experienced out-of-province or newcomer workers note the queue as the main entry barrier rather than skill gaps.
“They told me my safety tickets from back home are not valid here - had to redo WHMIS and Working at Heights before I could start”
Newcomers frequently discover that Ontario requires Canadian-issued safety certifications regardless of prior international experience; this adds cost and time before first paycheck.
“Non-union residential pays just above minimum some weeks, especially when weather causes shutdowns - the seasonal gap really hurts the annual total”
Seasonal income variability is a key financial risk for non-union labourers in Toronto; wet or cold weather stoppages reduce effective annual income below the nominal hourly rate suggests.
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Government of Canada Job Bank - Construction Worker (NOC 75110) wage data for Ontario, updated November 2025 Job Bank NOC 75110 wages
PayScale - Construction Laborer hourly pay in Toronto, ON, updated July 2025 PayScale Toronto construction labourer
Indeed Canada - Construction Labourer salaries in Toronto, ON, updated February 2026 Indeed Toronto construction labourer
City of Toronto - Voluntary Recognition Agreement with LiUNA, effective November 1, 2023 City of Toronto LiUNA recognition
Statistics Canada - Construction Union Wage Rate Indexes (CUWRI), monthly data, January 2026 release StatCan construction union wage rates
SalaryExpert - Construction Worker salary in Toronto, Ontario, 2025-2026 SalaryExpert Toronto construction worker