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Surface Mining Equipment Operator: Occupations in Alberta - alis
Are you into heavy equipment? Do you have stamina and great hand-eye co-ordination? Can you stay alert while repeating tasks? Then you may want to dig into a career as a surface mining equipment operator.
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Occupations in Alberta
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Surface Mining Equipment Operator

Surface mining equipment operators use heavy equipment to recover minerals from near the earth’s surface in open pit or strip-mining operations.

Contents Expand All
Also Known As

Loader Operator, Miner, Open Pit Mining Equipment Operator, Scraper Operator, Strip Mining Equipment Operator, Surface Miner, Truck-Shovel Operator

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 7421: Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane)

2006 NOC-S

  • H611: Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane)

2011 NOC

  • 7521: Heavy equipment operators (except crane)

2016 NOC

  • 7521: Heavy equipment operators (except crane)

2021 NOC

  • 73400: Heavy equipment operators

2023 OaSIS

  • 73400.00: Heavy equipment operators
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2024

In Alberta, the surface mining industry is primarily concerned with 2 kinds of operations. These include the mining of energy minerals (such as coal or heavy oil sands) and extraction of non-metallic minerals (such as sand, gravel, and lime).

The mining methods and equipment used vary with the type and location of mineral.

Surface mining equipment operators operate equipment such as:

  • Backhoes
  • Large tractor and rubber-tired dozers
  • Rubber-tired scrapers
  • Electrical or mechanical drive haul trucks
  • Graders
  • Front-end loaders
  • Service, water, or other types of trucks
  • Draglines
  • Hydraulic or cable shovels
  • Utility vehicles and tractors for handling high-voltage cables
  • Packers
  • Surface mine dewatering equipment
  • Equipment transporters
  • Stationary plant or conveyor systems

Surface coal mining and oil sands mining in Alberta use 2 basic mining methods (or a combination of both):

  • Open pit mining involves removing the overburden (topsoil, regolith, and waste rock) by drilling holes with self-propelled drills in a blasting pattern.
  • Strip mining uses draglines, cable, or hydraulic shovels to remove the overburden and expose the ore.

In most situations, surface mining equipment operators use large front-end loaders or power shovels with huge buckets (up to 44 cubic metres in capacity). These can load broken overburden and ore into large rear dump trucks (up to 360 metric tons). Truck drivers haul overburden materials to waste dumps and ore to ore-processing plants. In some situations, materials are moved by conveyor belt.

Surface mining equipment operators must identify hazards and controls, as safety is a priority. They must inspect their equipment, report any need for repairs, and maintain operating and service logs. They are in charge of cleaning, lubricating, and refueling their equipment. They may be assigned other duties associated with overall mining operations.

Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

Surface mining equipment operators generally work shifts in environmentally controlled cabs or control rooms. They must be able to sit for long periods of time with exposure to vibration and jarring. They sometimes need to work outdoors. At mines in remote locations, operators may be away from home for 2 to 3 weeks at a time, living and working closely with their colleagues.

Safety precautions and personal protective equipment (PPE, including safety boots, gloves, hard hats, glasses, and hearing protection) are required. PPE reduces the risk of injury associated with working near or with machinery. This occupation also involves a lot of climbing, stooping, crouching, bending, and heavy lifting.

Work Personalities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

How This Occupation Compares to Your Work Personalities

Fit
Fit Guide
An occupation can be a great, good, fair, weak, or poor fit for you.
R
Realistic
This occupation
You
C
Conventional
I
Investigative
This occupation
You

To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities

Heavy equipment operators
2023 OaSIS: 73400.00

Click or tap a personality type for its description.

  • 1
    Realistic

    Realistic jobs focus on working with your hands, tools, machines, or animals. People in these jobs often fix, build, or take care of things. They like clear tasks and working in a physical way. These jobs usually don’t need much paperwork or teamwork. Examples include mechanics, farmers, and builders.

  • 2
    Conventional

    Conventional jobs involve following rules and working with information. People in these jobs like to keep things organized and follow clear steps. They often work with numbers, files, or data. These jobs usually happen in offices and involve working with data and details more than ideas. Examples include clerks, accountants, and data entry workers.

  • 3
    Investigative

    Investigative jobs are about thinking deeply and solving problems. People in these jobs enjoy learning, asking questions, and doing research. They often study science, nature, or how things work. These jobs need a lot of thinking and often involve working with ideas instead of people. Examples include scientists, lab technicians, and researchers.

Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.

Your Work Personalities

To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Quick Guide

Alis work personalities are based on Holland’s theory. It identifies 6 personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. People with similar personalities and interests will tend to pursue similar careers. They are likely to create work environments that are favourable to their type.

Most people will identify with 2 or 3 dominant personalities. If the occupation’s personalities match your more dominant types, this occupation is more likely to be satisfying and rewarding to you.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities lists the personalities most likely to be found in that occupation. They are listed in order of importance, with 1 as the most important.

Your Work Personalities shows where the occupation’s personalities rank within your test results. Rank 1 is your most dominant type and 6 is your least dominant.

Learn about work personalities

Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Heavy equipment operators
2023 OaSIS: 73400.00

How This Occupation Compares to Your Abilities

The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.

The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.

The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Abilities Sets

The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.

Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.

This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Inductive Reasoning
Verbal Ability
Information Ordering
Categorization Flexibility
Deductive Reasoning
Fluency of Ideas
Problem Identification
Written Comprehension
Written Expression

Numbers and Patterns

Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.

This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Memorizing
Perceptual Speed
Pattern Organization Speed
Numerical Ability
Mathematical Reasoning
Multitasking
Pattern Identification
Spatial Orientation
Spatial Visualization
Selective Attention

Physical Activity

Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Stamina
Static Strength
Trunk Strength
Explosive Strength
Body Flexibility
Dynamic Strength
Gross Body Coordination
Gross Body Equilibrium
Multi-Limb Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Finger-Hand-Wrist Motion
Rate Control
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Control of Settings
Finger Dexterity
Manual Dexterity
Multi-Signal Response
Reaction Time
Speed of Limb Movement

Senses

Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Hearing Sensitivity
Speech Clarity
Peripheral Vision
Auditory Attention
Depth Perception
Far Vision
Glare Tolerance
Near Vision
Night Vision
Speech Recognition
Sound Localization
Colour Perception

Quick Guide

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Occupations use different combinations and levels of these abilities. The Abilities Quiz helps you learn more about your ability levels and which occupations match your strengths.

If you have completed the Abilities Quiz, you can compare the occupation’s ability expectations to your own ability scores. Your scores may be lower than, a match to, or higher than the occupation’s expected abilities.

Learn about abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Surface mining equipment operators need:

  • Good hand-eye co-ordination to effectively and safely operate large equipment
  • Good hearing and eyesight
  • Writing skills
  • Mechanical aptitude
  • Good health with reasonable strength, agility, and stamina
  • No fear of working in high places
  • The ability to judge distances and visualize 3-D layouts
  • The ability to remain alert while performing repetitive tasks
  • Respect for safety procedures and regulations
  • The ability to work independently and with others
  • The willingness to work a variety of shifts and schedules

They should enjoy operating heavy equipment, having clear guidelines and organized methods for their work, and solving problems.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Heavy equipment operators (except crane)

2016 NOC: 7521

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 110 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between May 30, 2025 and Oct 08, 2025.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Tasks: Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment
Tasks: Operate heavy equipment
Health benefits: Vision care benefits
Attention to detail
Financial benefits: Life insurance
Work Site Environment: Outdoors
Work Setting: Various locations
Tasks: Clean and lubricate equipment and refill equipment tanks
Tasks: Complete onboard and other logs
Experience: 1 year to less than 2 years
Tasks: Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment 62
Tasks: Operate heavy equipment 60
Health benefits: Vision care benefits 54
Attention to detail 46
Financial benefits: Life insurance 46
Work Site Environment: Outdoors 41
Work Setting: Various locations 40
Tasks: Clean and lubricate equipment and refill equipment tanks 36
Tasks: Complete onboard and other logs 35
Experience: 1 year to less than 2 years 34
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Minimum Education Varies

There are no standard education requirements for surface mining equipment operators. Employers often prefer applicants who have a high school diploma and experience working in a mine environment or operating heavy equipment in an industrial setting. An Alberta Class 5 driver’s licence usually is required. Construction Safety Training System (CSTS) and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training are definite assets. Applicants may need to pass a medical exam, pre-employment drug screening test, or Differential Aptitude Test (DAT).

Companies provide on-the-job training. This includes an orientation to mine operations and information about health and safety practices, hazardous waste handling, environmental reporting procedures, standard practices and procedures, and waste management.

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

Keyano College

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2024
  • Certification Not regulated

The Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) offers the Canadian Mining Certification Program (CMCP). This industry certification is available to surface miners working for CMCP-participating employers. It recognizes and certifies the skills and competencies of unregulated occupations in the mining industry. For more information, visit the MiHR website.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2024

In Alberta, most surface mining equipment operators work in rock quarries, or in open pit mines that extract oil sand or coal.

Surface mining equipment operators most often start as helpers, labourers, or truck drivers. With experience and on-the-job training they can advance to larger or more complex equipment and possibly to supervisory positions.

As a condition of employment, surface mining equipment operators may need to join a union.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Heavy equipment operators (except crane)
2016 NOC: 7521

78.6% of people in this occupational group work in:

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Look for Work

Think Industries and Sectors When Planning Your Career

Jobs and occupations are changing every day. It can be hard to know what the future of work looks like—but not impossible. Look at industries and sectors for possible inspiration, insights, and opportunities.
3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Heavy equipment operators
2021 NOC: 73400
Balanced
Job Market
12,600
Employed in AB

Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list
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iStock.com/filadendron
OCCinfo

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors. Learn how these factors can affect your career decisions.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Heavy equipment operators (except crane)
2016 NOC: 7521
2.4%
Annual Growth
(Average)
380
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2024

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Heavy equipment operators

2021 NOC: 73400
Average Wage
$34.81
Per Hour
Average Salary
$65,590.00
Per Year
Average Hours
42.9
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
10.1
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
 2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 73400 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $21.00 $38.00 $29.25 $29.25
Overall $23.00 $48.00 $34.81 $35.00
Top $26.00 $58.75 $40.88 $40.00

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Oil & Gas Extraction
Construction
Manufacturing
Transportation and Warehousing
Business, Building and Other Support Services
Public Administration
ALL INDUSTRIES $65,590
Oil & Gas Extraction $73,692
Construction $68,238
Manufacturing $73,057
Transportation and Warehousing $86,214
Business, Building and Other Support Services $37,904
Public Administration $75,034

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
68%
68%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
62%
62%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
13%
13%
Vacancy Rate
5%
Related High School Subjects
  • Trades, Manufacturing and Transportation
    • Mechanics
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Driver Training
  • Trades, Industrial and Related Training
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2024

Canadian Mining Certification Program website: mihr.ca/standards-training-recognition/the-canadian-mining-certification-program/

Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) website: mihr.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2024. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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