Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters

(NOC 737)
+20.19%
 

What do Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters do?

Crane operators use cranes/draglines to lift/place machinery and other large objects at worksites.

Drillers operate mobile drilling machines to bore blast holes in open-pit mines/quarries and during the construction of building foundations.

Blasters place explosives in blast holes and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore, and rock, and to demolish structures.

Water well drillers operate mobile well drilling rigs/equipment to drill residential, commercial, and industrial water wells.

How to become: Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters

In general, you usually need a high school diploma.

To be a crane operator, you need an apprenticeship of one to three years or crane operation courses.

In some provinces/territories, crane, boom truck, and mobile and tower crane operators require trade certification.

To be a mobile crane operator, you may need a licence to drive on public roads. If you have trade certification, you may also obtain interprovincial (Red Seal) trade certification, which provides job mobility throughout the country.

To be a driller, you may need heavy equipment operator experience and on-the-job training.

To be a blaster, you usually need a blasting licence and may need experience as a blaster helper in surface mining/quarrying. You usually receive on-the-job training.

To gain trade certification as a water well driller, you need a two- to three-year apprenticeship or two to three years' experience with trade courses.

Many recent entrants have a trade/vocational certificate or a community college diploma.

Where to study for a career as: Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters

Red Deer Polytechnic
Red Deer, Alberta, CA

Related Program(s):
Heavy Equipment Technician Certificate; Apprenticeship
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Olds College of Agriculture & Technology
Olds, Alberta, CA

Related Program(s):
Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate
Heavy Equipment Technician Certificate; Apprenticeship
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NAIT
Edmonton, Alberta, CA

Related Program(s):
Crane and Hoisting Equipment Operator Certificate; Apprenticeship
Heavy Equipment Technician Certificate; Apprenticeship
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Fleming College
Peterborough, Ontario, CA

Related Program(s):
Heavy Equipment Operator Certificate
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Conestoga College
Kitchener, Ontario, CA

Related Program(s):
Motive Power Technician - Heavy Duty Equipment Diploma
Motive Power Technician - Heavy Duty Equipment Diploma; Co-op
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Cambrian College
Sudbury, Ontario, CA

Related Program(s):
Heavy Equipment Technician Diploma; Co-op
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Modified on January 26, 2022

How much do Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters make?

Low:
$43,680
Average:
$66,560
High:
$95,680

Job openings for Crane Operators, Drillers and Blasters

Job Seekers:
7,000
Job Openings:
6,200