Median wage in Canada
$32.50 an hour
Highest median wage
$43.73 an hour
Northwest Territories
Lowest median wage
$24.00 an hour
Prince Edward Island
Wages by province and territory
Median wage in Canadian dollars an hour, from 2023-2024 data (Job Bank 2025 release).
Median hourly wage for heavy equipment operators by province and territory Canada: $32.50 (low $24.00, high $45.00). Northwest Territories: $43.73 (low $26.80, high $64.01). Yukon: $39.00 (low $32.65, high $42.00). Nunavut: $38.08 (low $21.87, high $51.49). Quebec: $36.00 (low $24.00, high $43.40). British Columbia: $35.75 (low $27.00, high $46.00). Alberta: $34.30 (low $26.00, high $45.00). Ontario: $32.00 (low $23.63, high $47.70). Newfoundland and Labrador: $30.00 (low $22.00, high $38.00). Saskatchewan: $30.00 (low $24.00, high $44.00). Manitoba: $28.92 (low $22.00, high $38.00). New Brunswick: $25.00 (low $20.00, high $34.50). Nova Scotia: $25.00 (low $18.00, high $35.50). Prince Edward Island: $24.00 (low $18.25, high $35.00). $0 $20 $40 $60 $80 Canada: $32.50 (low $24.00, high $45.00) Canada $32.50 Northwest Territories: $43.73 (low $26.80, high $64.01) Northwest Territories $43.73 Yukon: $39.00 (low $32.65, high $42.00) Yukon $39.00 Nunavut: $38.08 (low $21.87, high $51.49) Nunavut $38.08 Quebec: $36.00 (low $24.00, high $43.40) Quebec $36.00 British Columbia: $35.75 (low $27.00, high $46.00) British Columbia $35.75 Alberta: $34.30 (low $26.00, high $45.00) Alberta $34.30 Ontario: $32.00 (low $23.63, high $47.70) Ontario $32.00 Newfoundland and Labrador: $30.00 (low $22.00, high $38.00) Newfoundland and Labrador $30.00 Saskatchewan: $30.00 (low $24.00, high $44.00) Saskatchewan $30.00 Manitoba: $28.92 (low $22.00, high $38.00) Manitoba $28.92 New Brunswick: $25.00 (low $20.00, high $34.50) New Brunswick $25.00 Nova Scotia: $25.00 (low $18.00, high $35.50) Nova Scotia $25.00 Prince Edward Island: $24.00 (low $18.25, high $35.00) Prince Edward Island $24.00 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.
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 heavy equipment operators by province and territory, 1 to 5 Northwest Territories: Limited (2 of 5). Yukon: Moderate (3 of 5). Nunavut: Good (4 of 5). Quebec: Limited (2 of 5). British Columbia: Limited (2 of 5). Alberta: Limited (2 of 5). Ontario: Moderate (3 of 5). Newfoundland and Labrador: Moderate (3 of 5). Saskatchewan: Good (4 of 5). Manitoba: Limited (2 of 5). New Brunswick: Moderate (3 of 5). Nova Scotia: Moderate (3 of 5). Prince Edward Island: Good (4 of 5). 1 2 3 4 5 Northwest Territories: Limited (2 of 5) Northwest Territories Limited Yukon: Moderate (3 of 5) Yukon Moderate Nunavut: Good (4 of 5) Nunavut Good Quebec: Limited (2 of 5) Quebec Limited British Columbia: Limited (2 of 5) British Columbia Limited Alberta: Limited (2 of 5) Alberta Limited Ontario: Moderate (3 of 5) Ontario Moderate Newfoundland and Labrador: Moderate (3 of 5) Newfoundland and Labrador Moderate Saskatchewan: Good (4 of 5) Saskatchewan Good Manitoba: Limited (2 of 5) Manitoba Limited New Brunswick: Moderate (3 of 5) New Brunswick Moderate Nova Scotia: Moderate (3 of 5) Nova Scotia Moderate Prince Edward Island: Good (4 of 5) Prince Edward Island Good 1 is a very limited outlook and 5 a very good one.
Licence needed?
In 1 of 13 provinces and territories. A licence, registration or certificate is required to work in this occupation in Quebec.
Certification is available but optional in 7 provinces or territories: British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nunavut.
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 .