National Occupational Classification (NOC): 73400
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
- Backhoe operator
- Bulldozer operator
- Excavator operator
- Grader operator
- Heavy equipment operator
- Heavy equipment operator apprentice
- Loader operator – construction
- Side boom tractor operator
- Surface mining equipment operator
What do heavy equipment operators do?
Heavy equipment operators (except crane) operate heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures; in surface mining and quarrying activities; and in material handling work. They are employed by construction companies, heavy equipment contractors, public works departments and pipeline, logging, cargo-handling and other companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Heavy equipment operators (except crane) perform some or all of the following duties:
- Operate heavy equipment such as backhoes, bulldozers, loaders and graders to excavate, move, load and grade earth, rock, gravel or other materials during construction and related activities
- Operate bulldozers or other heavy equipment to clear brush and stumps prior to logging activities and to build roads at logging and surface mining sites
- Operate heavy equipment with pile driver head to drive piling into earth to provide support for buildings, bridges or other structures
- Operate heavy dredging equipment to deepen waterways or reclaim earth fill
- Operate heavy paving and surfacing equipment to lay, spread or compact concrete, asphalt and other surface materials during highway and road construction
- Operate power shovels to excavate rock, ore or other materials from open-pit mines, strip mines, quarries or construction pits
- Operate heavy equipment to move, load and unload cargo
- Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment and clean, lubricate and refill equipment.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Heavy equipment operators work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction
- 212 Mining and quarrying (except oil and gas)
- 238 Specialty trade contractors
- 913 Local, municipal and regional public administration
- 236 Construction of buildings
- 213 Support activities for mining, and oil and gas extraction
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 equipment operators 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 equipment operators is forecast to be balanced (rating of 2.3 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning projected labour supply is expected to meet forecasted job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there were 162 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 56% | Western: 12% |
| Eastern: 4% | Labrador: 8% |
| Central: 15% | NL-unspecified: 4% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)
Who works as heavy equipment operators in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 2,425 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 96% of those employed were Male+ and 4% 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+ |
| 5% | 69% | 21% | 5% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
How much do heavy equipment operators make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all heavy equipment operators in the reference year 2020 (3,760 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $52,000.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for heavy equipment operators in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $20.00 | $25.40 | $36.00 |
The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $21.00 | $30.00 | $41.89 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)
- Heavy Equipment
- Backhoes
- Construction
- Excavation
- Trenching
- Equipment Maintenance
- Grading (Landscape)
- Front End Loaders
- Snow Removal
- Workplace Hazardous MaterialsInformation Systems
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
- Some secondary school education is required.
- Completion of a one- to two-year apprenticeship program
or
Some high school, college or industry courses in heavy equipment operating combined with on-the-job training are required. - Trade certification for heavy equipment operator (dozer, excavator, tractor-loader-backhoe) is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario.
- Internal company certification may be required by some employers.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified heavy equipment operators upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
- The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
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.