73402 – Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction
TEER 3Occupations usually requiring a college diploma or apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training
Lead statement
Drillers operate mobile drilling machines to bore blast holes in open-pit mines and quarries and to bore holes for blasting and for building foundations at construction sites.
Main duties
- Drive and operate tracked or truck-mounted rotary drilling, air-track or other drilling machines to bore large blast holes to specified depths at staked positions in open-pit mine or quarry
- Operate drilling machines to drill blast holes in rock at road or other construction sites
- Operate tracked or truck-mounted drill equipped with auger or other attachment to drill holes for building foundations or pilings
- May measure location and stake out pattern of holes to be drilled, load blast holes with explosives and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore or rock.
- Read instructions or diagrams, lay out drill pattern and determine depth and diameter of blast holes and conduct field tests to determine type and quantity of explosives required
- Assemble or direct other workers to assemble primer charges using selected detonators, fuses, detonating cords and other materials
- Load explosives in blast holes by hand or direct movement of bulk explosives trucks to load holes
- Connect electrical wires, detonating cords or fuses into series and connect series to blasting machines; press handle or button to detonate charges
- Handle, store and transport explosives and accessories in accordance with regulations and ensure that safety procedures are observed
- May operate air-track, rotary, down-the-hole or other drilling machines to drill blast holes or may direct drilling of blast holes.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- On-the-job training is provided.
- Experience as a heavy equipment operator may be required for drillers.
- Experience as a blaster helper in surface mining and quarrying or construction may be required for blasters.
- Provincial blasting licence is usually required for blasters.
- Trade certification for blasters is compulsory in Nova Scotia.
Example job titles
construction driller · driller - surface mine · open-pit driller · driller - surface mining · driller - quarrying · blaster (except underground mining) · construction blaster
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $27.00 | $37.50 | $49.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $25.00 | $36.00 | $50.00 |
| Quebec | $28.00 | $39.82 | $47.00 |
| Ontario | $26.00 | $35.00 | $47.28 |
| Manitoba | $25.00 | $32.55 | $48.44 |
| Saskatchewan | $24.00 | $37.75 | $63.47 |
| Alberta | $27.00 | $38.00 | $50.15 |
| British Columbia | $31.60 | $40.00 | $50.14 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.