Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics

National Occupational Classification (NOC): 72401

Fast Facts

  • Average Pay: N/A
  • Future Growth: N/A
  • Skill Level: N/A
  • Employment Size: N/A
  • Unemployment: N/A
  • Full-time Share: N/A

Sample Job Titles

  • Construction equipment mechanic
  • Crane repairer
  • Diesel mechanic – heavy equipment
  • Farm equipment mechanic
  • Heavy equipment mechanic
  • Heavy mobile logging equipment mechanic
  • Heavy mobile mining equipment mechanic
  • Heavy-duty equipment technician


What do heavy-duty equipment mechanics do?

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics repair, troubleshoot, adjust, overhaul and maintain mobile heavy-duty equipment used in construction, transportation, forestry, mining, oil and gas, material handling, landscaping, land clearing, farming and similar activities. They are employed by companies which own and operate heavy equipment, and by heavy equipment dealers, rental and service establishments, railway transport companies and urban transit systems. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Check bulldozers, cranes, graders and other heavy construction, agricultural, logging and mining equipment for proper performance and inspect equipment to detect faults and malfunctions
  • Diagnose faults or malfunctions using computerized and other testing equipment to determine extent of repair required
  • Adjust equipment and repair or replace defective parts, components or systems, using hand and power tools
  • Test repaired equipment for proper performance and to ensure that work meets manufacturers’ specifications
  • Clean, lubricate and perform other routine maintenance work on equipment
  • Service attachments and working tools such as harvesting and tillage equipment, blades, ploughs, winches and side booms
  • May perform repair work on heavy trucks
  • May attach components and adjust new farm equipment.
  • Heavy-duty mechanics may specialize in specific types of machinery such as combines or tracked vehicles, or in engine overhaul, power shift transmissions, fuel injection, hydraulics or electronics.

Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada

 

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics work in many subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador, including:

  • 811   Repair and maintenance
  • 212   Mining and quarrying (except oil and gas)
  • 417   Machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers
  • 238   Specialty trade contractors
  • 237   Heavy and civil engineering construction
  • 912   Provincial and territorial public administration
  • 913   Local, municipal and regional public administration
  • 213   Support activities for mining, and oil and gas extraction
  • 236  Construction of buildings

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

Short and Long Term Occupational Projections

Short Term Projections for 2023-2025

The employment outlook will be moderate for heavy-duty equipment mechanics  in Newfoundland and Labrador (rating of 3 out of 5) for the 2023-2025 period.

Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada

 

Long Term Projections for 2023-2032

The outlook for heavy-duty equipment mechanics is forecast to be tightening (rating of 2.5 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning new labour supply will be required to meet anticipated job openings.

Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)

 

Number of Job Postings in 2023

During 2023, there were 219 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:

Avalon:  44% Western:  9%
Eastern:  4% Labrador:  20%
Central:  16% NL-unspecified:  8%

Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)



Who works as heavy-duty equipment mechanics in Newfoundland and Labrador?

During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 830 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 100% of those employed were Male+ and 0% of those employed were Female+.

Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:

15 to 24 25 to 54 55 to 64 65+
11% 66% 17% 5%

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

How much do heavy-duty equipment mechanics make?

Annual Earnings

The median employment income for all heavy-duty equipment mechanics in the reference year 2020 (930 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $76,000.

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada.

 

Hourly Earnings

Salary information for heavy-duty equipment mechanics in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:

Low ($/hour) Median ($/hour) High ($/hour)
Newfoundland and Labrador $23.40 $35.10 $48.08

 

The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:

Low ($/hour) Median ($/hour) High ($/hour)
$21.00 $35.00 $50.00

Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada

 

Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)

  • Heavy Equipment
  • Occupational Safety And Health
  • Snow Blowers
  • Snow Plowing
  • Vehicle Systems
  • Swimming Pool Maintenance
  • Equipment Repair
  • Equipment Inspection
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Equipment Adjustment

Source: Lightcast

 



What training is required?

  • Completion of secondary school and training courses or a vocational program is usually required.
  • Completion of a three- to five-year apprenticeship program
    or
    A combination of over four years of work experience and industry courses in heavy equipment repair is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
  • Heavy-duty equipment technician trade certification is compulsory in Quebec (only in the construction industry) and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the territories.
  • Agricultural equipment technician trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
  • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified heavy duty equipment technicians and agricultural equipment technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada

* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.