Median wage in Canada
$37.50 an hour
Highest median wage
$40.00 an hour
British Columbia
Lowest median wage
$32.55 an hour
Manitoba
Wages by province and territory
Median wage in Canadian dollars an hour, from 2023-2024 data (Job Bank 2025 release).
Median hourly wage for drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction by province and territory Canada: $37.50 (low $27.00, high $49.00). British Columbia: $40.00 (low $31.60, high $50.14). Quebec: $39.82 (low $28.00, high $47.00). Alberta: $38.00 (low $27.00, high $50.15). Saskatchewan: $37.75 (low $24.00, high $63.47). Newfoundland and Labrador: $36.00 (low $25.00, high $50.00). Ontario: $35.00 (low $26.00, high $47.28). Manitoba: $32.55 (low $25.00, high $48.44). New Brunswick: not stated. Nova Scotia: not stated. Prince Edward Island: not stated. Yukon: not stated. Northwest Territories: not stated. Nunavut: not stated. $0 $20 $40 $60 $80 Canada: $37.50 (low $27.00, high $49.00) Canada $37.50 British Columbia: $40.00 (low $31.60, high $50.14) British Columbia $40.00 Quebec: $39.82 (low $28.00, high $47.00) Quebec $39.82 Alberta: $38.00 (low $27.00, high $50.15) Alberta $38.00 Saskatchewan: $37.75 (low $24.00, high $63.47) Saskatchewan $37.75 Newfoundland and Labrador: $36.00 (low $25.00, high $50.00) Newfoundland and Labrador $36.00 Ontario: $35.00 (low $26.00, high $47.28) Ontario $35.00 Manitoba: $32.55 (low $25.00, high $48.44) Manitoba $32.55 New Brunswick: not stated New Brunswick Not stated Nova Scotia: not stated Nova Scotia Not stated Prince Edward Island: not stated Prince Edward Island Not stated Yukon: not stated Yukon Not stated Northwest Territories: not stated Northwest Territories Not stated Nunavut: not stated Nunavut Not stated Bars show the median wage. Lines run from the low to the high wage, which are Job Bank’s 10th and 90th percentiles. Grey is all of Canada.
Median hourly wage for drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction by province and territory (table) Where Low Median High Canada $27.00 $37.50 $49.00 British Columbia $31.60 $40.00 $50.14 Quebec $28.00 $39.82 $47.00 Alberta $27.00 $38.00 $50.15 Saskatchewan $24.00 $37.75 $63.47 Newfoundland and Labrador $25.00 $36.00 $50.00 Ontario $26.00 $35.00 $47.28 Manitoba $25.00 $32.55 $48.44 New Brunswick Not stated Not stated Not stated Nova Scotia Not stated Not stated Not stated Prince Edward Island Not stated Not stated Not stated Yukon Not stated Not stated Not stated Northwest Territories Not stated Not stated Not stated Nunavut Not stated Not stated Not stated
Job outlook by province and territory
Job Bank’s 3-year outlook for 2025-2027, on a scale of 1 (very limited) to 5 (very good).
Job outlook for drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction by province and territory, 1 to 5 British Columbia: Limited (2 of 5). Quebec: Very limited (1 of 5). Alberta: Limited (2 of 5). Saskatchewan: undetermined. Newfoundland and Labrador: undetermined. Ontario: Moderate (3 of 5). Manitoba: Limited (2 of 5). New Brunswick: undetermined. Nova Scotia: undetermined. Prince Edward Island: undetermined. Yukon: undetermined. Northwest Territories: undetermined. Nunavut: undetermined. 1 2 3 4 5 British Columbia: Limited (2 of 5) British Columbia Limited Quebec: Very limited (1 of 5) Quebec Very limited Alberta: Limited (2 of 5) Alberta Limited Saskatchewan: undetermined Saskatchewan Undetermined Newfoundland and Labrador: undetermined Newfoundland and Labrador Undetermined Ontario: Moderate (3 of 5) Ontario Moderate Manitoba: Limited (2 of 5) Manitoba Limited New Brunswick: undetermined New Brunswick Undetermined Nova Scotia: undetermined Nova Scotia Undetermined Prince Edward Island: undetermined Prince Edward Island Undetermined Yukon: undetermined Yukon Undetermined Northwest Territories: undetermined Northwest Territories Undetermined Nunavut: undetermined Nunavut Undetermined 1 is a very limited outlook and 5 a very good one.
Job outlook for drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction by province and territory, 1 to 5 (table) Where Outlook British Columbia Limited (2 of 5) Quebec Very limited (1 of 5) Alberta Limited (2 of 5) Saskatchewan Undetermined Newfoundland and Labrador Undetermined Ontario Moderate (3 of 5) Manitoba Limited (2 of 5) New Brunswick Undetermined Nova Scotia Undetermined Prince Edward Island Undetermined Yukon Undetermined Northwest Territories Undetermined Nunavut Undetermined
Licence needed?
In 5 of 13 provinces and territories. A licence, registration or certificate is required to work in this occupation in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Certification is available but optional in 2 provinces or territories: Ontario and New Brunswick.
Each regulator sets its own steps, fees and exams.
Education and training
TEER category 3
Usual education A college diploma or an apprenticeship of less than 2 years is usually required.
Wages from 2023-2024 data, Job Bank 2025 release. Job outlooks for 2025-2027.
Occupation titles, codes and TEER categories come from the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Statistics Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada .