24 General Contractor Statistics: Ontario Pay, Licences and Margins (2026)
Cited data on how many renovation contractors work in Ontario, what they earn, which licences and payment rules apply, and what US remodelers keep as profit.
About 65,800 people work as home building and renovation managers in Ontario, according to Job Bank, and 74% of them are self-employed. A general contractor is the firm that takes on a whole project, then hires, schedules and supervises the trades, permits and inspections. If your project needs several trades, such as a basement renovation, a general contractor coordinates them under one contract. The 24 statistics below cover the Ontario workforce, pay, licences, payment rules and US margins.
Job Bank, Statistics Canada and municipal figures are in CAD. BLS, NAHB, JCHS and HomeGuide figures are in USD. Sources were checked on October 14, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- About 65,800 Ontarians work as home building and renovation managers, and 74% are self-employed (Job Bank).
- The Ontario median is $43,200 a year, with a high of $109,000, from 2021 Census data (Job Bank wages).
- Toronto requires a Building Renovator licence for every business that repairs or renovates buildings, at a total fee of $495.12 (City of Toronto).
- Ontario holdback is 10 per cent of the value of services or materials supplied (Construction Act).
- US remodelers kept a 6.3% net profit margin in 2024, the highest since 1996 (NAHB).
- General contractor fees run 10% to 20% of construction cost on large projects (HomeGuide, USD).
How many general contractors work in Ontario?
Ontario has a large renovation contractor workforce, and most of it is self-employed. Job Bank groups renovation contractors with home builders under NOC 70011, home building and renovation managers. These are the owners and managers who run the firm, not the individual trades they hire.
1. About 65,800 people work in the occupation in Ontario
Job Bank says approximately 65,800 people work as home building and renovation managers in Ontario. More than 95% of them work in construction (NAICS 23) (Job Bank outlook).
2. 74% are self-employed
Self-employment runs at 74% for home building and renovation managers, against an average of 15% for all occupations. That means most renovation contractors run their own business (Job Bank outlook).
3. 83% work full time
Full-time work is 83% in this occupation, against 81% for all occupations. Part-time work is 17%, against 19% across the workforce (Job Bank outlook).
4. 55% work only part of the year
Job Bank says 45% work all year and 55% work only part of the year, against 63% and 37% for all occupations. Those who work part of the year average 39 weeks, against 43 weeks for all occupations (Job Bank outlook).
5. 94% of the workforce is men
Men make up 94% of home building and renovation managers in Ontario, against 52% for all occupations. Women make up 6% (Job Bank outlook).
6. Only 13% hold an apprenticeship or trades certificate
Educational attainment shows 13% with an apprenticeship or trades certificate, 22% with a college certificate or diploma and 11% with a bachelor's degree. Another 35% hold a high school diploma (Job Bank outlook).
7. The Ontario outlook for 2025 to 2027 is Good
Job Bank rates the employment outlook as Good for home building and renovation managers in Ontario for 2025 to 2027. It names steady demand for home renovations and investment in new housing as main trends. The Toronto Region is also rated Good (Job Bank outlook).
What do general contractors earn in Ontario?
Job Bank reports renovation contractor earnings as annual figures because so many are self-employed. The numbers come from the 2021 Census, so they show owner earnings, not what a homeowner pays for a project.
8. The Ontario median is $43,200 a year
Job Bank lists annual earnings for the occupation in Ontario at a low of $38,308, a median of $43,200 and a high of $109,000. The reference period is 2021, from the 2021 Census (Job Bank wages).
9. The Toronto Region median is $38,800
The Toronto Region median is $38,800 a year, with a high of $107,000. That is $4,400 below the Ontario median (Job Bank wages).
10. Kitchener to Waterloo to Barrie reaches $52,800
The Kitchener to Waterloo to Barrie Region posts a $52,800 median, the highest regional median in the Ontario table. Hamilton to Niagara is $46,800, Ottawa is $47,200 and the Canada-wide median is $46,800 (Job Bank wages).
Source: Job Bank, Renovation Manager wages in Ontario, updated November 19, 2025. CAD.
Which licences and legal rules apply to Ontario contractors?
Toronto and Mississauga license renovation businesses, and provincial law sets contract and payment rules. These rules protect you whether you hire a solo renovator or a full general contractor.
11. Toronto requires a Building Renovator licence
The City of Toronto says a Building Renovator licence is required for all businesses that provide services to repair or renovate buildings and structures, including any business that advertises renovation services (City of Toronto).
12. The Toronto licence costs $495.12 to start
Toronto lists a $234.62 application fee and a $260.50 licence fee, for a total of $495.12. The trade examination costs $79.65, and the annual renewal fee is $293.14 (City of Toronto).
13. Toronto renovators must pass a 30-minute trade exam
Applicants must pass an oral trade examination that takes around 30 minutes. It covers business acumen, bylaw knowledge and technical knowledge (City of Toronto).
14. Mississauga licenses five trade business types
Mississauga lists building renovation, drain laying, driveway paving, heating (HVAC) and plumbing as its trade business licences (City of Mississauga).
15. Contracts over $50 must be in writing
Ontario says any home renovation contract worth more than $50 must be in writing. If the estimate is part of the contract, the final price cannot be more than 10% over the estimate unless you agree to new work or a new price (Ontario).
16. Ontario recommends a deposit of no more than 10%
The province tells homeowners to keep down payments to a minimum, recommending no more than 10%, and to get written estimates from at least 3 contractors. Contracts signed at home carry a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period (Ontario).
17. Holdback is 10 per cent under the Construction Act
Ontario's Construction Act defines holdback as the 10 per cent of the value of services or materials supplied under a contract or subcontract that must be withheld from payment (Construction Act).
18. Owners pay a proper invoice within 28 days
The Act says an owner shall pay the amount payable under a proper invoice no later than 28 days after receiving it, unless the owner gives a notice of non-payment. Ask a lawyer how these rules apply to a large home project (Construction Act).
How big is the renovation market, and what do contractors keep?
Renovation spending stays large in both Canada and the US, even as growth slows. Margin data shows how much of your project price pays for the job itself and how much covers the contractor's overhead and profit.
19. Canadian building investment reached $23.2 billion in June 2026
Statistics Canada says total investment in building construction was $23.2 billion in June 2026, up 5.7% year over year. Residential building investment was $16.1 billion (Statistics Canada).
20. Canada tracks renovation prices across 37 projects in 15 cities
Statistics Canada's Residential Renovation Price Index covers 37 renovation projects across 15 census metropolitan areas. The contractor prices include materials, labour, equipment, overhead and profit (Statistics Canada).
21. US remodelers kept a 6.3% net profit margin in 2024
NAHB's Remodelers' Cost of Doing Business Study puts the 2024 average net profit margin at 6.3%, the highest since 1996. Average revenue was $2.7 million, and the gross profit margin was 29.9% (NAHB).
22. US homeowner remodeling spending is projected at $519 billion
Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies projects homeowner improvement and repair spending at $519 billion through mid-2027. Year-over-year growth slows to just 0.5% in the second quarter of 2027 (JCHS).
23. US construction managers earn a median $114,990
BLS says construction managers, often called general contractors, earned a median $114,990 in May 2025. In residential building construction the median was $98,390, and 38% of the 609,100 jobs were self-employed (BLS).
24. General contractor fees run 10% to 20% of construction cost
HomeGuide puts the general contractor fee at 10% to 20% of construction cost for large projects, with $50 to $150 an hour on small jobs. It lists most deposits at 10% to 25% of the contract price, in USD (HomeGuide). For CAD ranges, see our general contractor cost guide.
What this means for homeowners
- Most Ontario renovation contractors are owner-operators, so check the business name, licence and insurance, not just the person who quotes.
- In Toronto, ask for the Building Renovator licence. In Mississauga, ask for the building renovation trade licence.
- Get the estimate written into the contract, keep the deposit near 10% and plan for the 10 per cent holdback on larger jobs.
- Compare trade-level costs in our home renovation statistics and carpenter statistics before you judge a GC fee.
- Pro House Maintenance matches you with vetted, licensed and insured pros and gives free fixed-price estimates. Compare basement renovation quotes in Toronto, kitchen remodeling in Mississauga, home additions in Hamilton, or request an estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many general contractors work in Ontario?
Job Bank says approximately 65,800 people work as home building and renovation managers in Ontario, the occupation group that includes renovation contractors. More than 95% work in construction, and 74% are self-employed, against a 15% average for all occupations.
Do general contractors need a licence in Toronto?
Yes, for repair and renovation businesses. The City of Toronto says a Building Renovator licence is required for all businesses that provide services to repair or renovate buildings and structures, including any business that advertises renovation services. Applicants must pass a trade examination, and the licence renews every year.
How much do general contractors charge?
HomeGuide puts the general contractor fee at 10% to 20% of construction cost for large projects and $50 to $150 an hour for small jobs, in USD. For Ontario CAD ranges, see our general contractor cost guide. Pro House Maintenance matches you with vetted contractors for free.
What is the 10% holdback in Ontario?
Ontario's Construction Act defines holdback as 10 per cent of the value of the services or materials supplied under a contract or subcontract, withheld from payment. The Act also says an owner shall pay a proper invoice no later than 28 days after receiving it, unless a notice of non-payment is given.
How much profit do remodelers make?
NAHB's 2026 Remodelers' Cost of Doing Business Study reports a 29.9% average gross profit margin and a 6.3% net profit margin for US remodelers in 2024. That net margin was the highest since 1996. Cost of sales took 70.1% of revenue.