Salaries

Heavy Equipment Operators Salary in Nova Scotia

NOC 73400Wages 2023-2024Updated

Voluntary certification in Nova Scotia How to get licensed

Median wage
$25.00 an hour Nova Scotia
Compared with Canada
23.1% lower $7.50 below the Canadian median of $32.50
Job outlook
Moderate 3 of 5, 2025-2027
Job postings
12 on Job Bank in September 2026

Wages in Nova Scotia

In Canadian dollars an hour, from 2023-2024 data. Low and high are Job Bank’s 10th and 90th percentiles.

Wage range in Nova Scotia and CanadaNova Scotia: median $25.00, from $18.00 to $35.50, middle half $21.60 to $28.88. Canada: median $32.50, from $24.00 to $45.00, middle half $27.00 to $39.04.$10$20$30$40$50Nova Scotia: median $25.00, from $18.00 to $35.50, middle half $21.60 to $28.88Nova Scotia$25.00Canada: median $32.50, from $24.00 to $45.00, middle half $27.00 to $39.04Canada$32.50
The line runs from the low to the high wage, the dot is the median and the box is the middle half (lower to upper quartile).
Wages in Nova Scotia compared with Canada
WageNova ScotiaCanada
Low $18.00 $24.00
Lower quartile $21.60 $27.00
Median $25.00 $32.50
Upper quartile $28.88 $39.04
High $35.50 $45.00
Average $26.53 $33.84

Job outlook

Moderate (3 of 5) for 2025-2027, from Job Bank’s 3-year outlook for Nova Scotia.

Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions. A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements. Outlook data

12 job postings on Job Bank in September 2026.

Licence needed in Nova Scotia?

Voluntary certification Not required. Certification is available in Nova Scotia, but you can work in this occupation without it.

Education and training

TEER category
3
Usual education
A college diploma or an apprenticeship of less than 2 years is usually required.

By region in Nova Scotia

Job Bank’s economic regions, highest median first. A region links to its own page where its figures differ from the province’s.

Wage range by economic region in Nova ScotiaNova Scotia (all regions): median $25.00, from $18.00 to $35.50. Cape Breton: median $27.00, from $20.00 to $37.00. Annapolis Valley: median $25.00, from $18.00 to $35.50. Halifax: median $25.00, from $17.00 to $55.00. North Shore: median $23.60, from $16.50 to $35.00. Southern: median $22.00, from $18.00 to $31.00.$10$20$30$40$50$60Nova Scotia (all regions): median $25.00, from $18.00 to $35.50Nova Scotia (all regions)$25.00Cape Breton: median $27.00, from $20.00 to $37.00Cape Breton$27.00Annapolis Valley: median $25.00, from $18.00 to $35.50Annapolis Valley$25.00Halifax: median $25.00, from $17.00 to $55.00Halifax$25.00North Shore: median $23.60, from $16.50 to $35.00North Shore$23.60Southern: median $22.00, from $18.00 to $31.00Southern$22.00
The line runs from the low to the high wage and the dot is the median.
Wage range by economic region in Nova Scotia (table)
RegionLowMedianHighOutlook
Nova Scotia (all regions)$18.00$25.00$35.50Moderate (3 of 5)
Cape Breton$20.00$27.00$37.00Moderate (3 of 5)
Annapolis Valley$18.00$25.00$35.50Moderate (3 of 5)
Halifax$17.00$25.00$55.00Good (4 of 5)
North Shore$16.50$23.60$35.00Moderate (3 of 5)
Southern$18.00$22.00$31.00Moderate (3 of 5)

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