Knowing what fair labour costs in Ottawa helps you spot inflated quotes and lowball-then-upcharge contractors. Here are 2026 hourly and day-rate benchmarks across every major trade for Ottawa renovation work.
General contractor (project supervision): $65-$125/hour. Electrician (ESA-licensed): $85-$145/hour, journeyman + apprentice combo $135-$205/hour. Plumber (Ontario-licensed): $95-$155/hour. HVAC technician: $95-$165/hour. Gas fitter (TSSA): $105-$165/hour. Carpenter (rough framing): $55-$95/hour. Finish carpenter: $65-$115/hour. Drywaller: $55-$85/hour. Painter: $45-$85/hour. Tile setter: $65-$105/hour. Roofer (residential): $65-$95/hour. Landscaper labour: $45-$75/hour. Excavation operator + mac...
GC: $545-$1,050. Electrician: $720-$1,200. Plumber: $785-$1,275. HVAC tech: $785-$1,375. Carpenter: $465-$795. Finish carpenter: $545-$945. Drywaller: $465-$715. Painter: $385-$715. Tile setter: $545-$865. Most trades quote day rates as 7.5 productive hours within an 8-hour window (30 min unpaid lunch).
Skilled-trade shortage (electrician/plumber/HVAC apprenticeship completion in Ontario down 18% over 5 years), aging tradesperson demographics (45% of Ottawa licensed trades over age 50), high housing-market activity keeping demand strong, and unionized commercial work pulling skilled labour out of residential. Expect 4-7% annual increases through 2027.
When a GC sub-contracts a trade and bills you, expect 15-25% markup on the sub's labour cost. This is industry standard — it covers coordination, supervision, warranty, and risk. A plumber's $95/hour bills to you through the GC at $115-$120/hour. GCs who don't markup subs typically pad elsewhere; transparency about markup is the green flag.
Hourly best for: small repairs, undefined scope, troubleshooting, occasional handyman work. Flat-rate best for: known-quantity work (kitchen install, bathroom renovation, deck build, full repaint), anything taking more than 3 days, anything you'll want a fixed-price guarantee on. Mixed approach (T&M with cap) is best for older Ottawa homes where surprises are likely — caps protect you while allowing for honest discovery.
$85-$145/hour for an ESA-licensed Ottawa electrician in 2026. Below $75 is rare and usually means unlicensed or no insurance. Journeyman + apprentice teams: $135-$205/hour combined.
$95-$155/hour in 2026. Emergency call-out rates run $185-$285/hour for after-hours service. Day-rate jobs: $785-$1,275 (8 hours).
$65-$125/hour for project supervision. Most GCs bill total project markup (15-25%) instead of pure hourly — fixed-price contracts are more common than T&M for full renovations.
Skilled-trade shortage (Ontario apprenticeship completion down 18% over 5 years), aging workforce (45% over 50), high residential and commercial demand. Annual increases of 4-7% expected through 2027.
Industry standard: 15-25% GC markup on subcontractor labour. Covers coordination, warranty, supervision, and risk. Transparent GCs disclose this; opaque GCs hide it in lump-sum quotes.