75212 – Public works and maintenance labourers
Lead statement
Public works and maintenance labourers perform a variety of labouring activities to maintain sidewalks, streets, roads and similar areas.
Main duties
- Clean and maintain sidewalks, streets, roads and public grounds of municipality and other areas, working as member of crew
- Sweep debris and remove snow from streets, sidewalks, building grounds and other areas, and load snow and debris into carts or trucks
- Shovel cement and other materials into cement mixers, spread concrete and asphalt on road surfaces using shovels, rakes and hand tampers, and perform other activities to assist in maintenance and repair of roads
- Spread sand or salt on sidewalks for snow and ice control
- Dig ditches and trenches using shovels and other hand tools
- Operate jackhammers and drills to break up pavement
- Load and unload trucks with supplies and equipment
- Collect money from coin boxes of parking meters along established route
- Collect and load refuse on garbage trucks
- Assist equipment operators to secure attachments to equipment or trucks
- Assist in routine maintenance and repair of equipment
- Assist skilled tradespersons such as carpenters, plumbers and mechanics
- May operate mobile sidewalk-cleaning equipment.
Employment requirements
- Several weeks of on-the-job training are provided.
Example job titles
casual worker - public works · manual sewer pipe cleaner · dumpman/woman · municipal elemental worker · municipal labourer · garbage receptacle maintainer · garbage truck loader · municipal general labourer · public works labourer · line-painting machine operator - highways and roads · labourer - sanitary service · labourer crew leader - public works · parking meter collector · playground maintenance man/woman · maintenance labourer - public works · road maintenance worker · road maintenance worker - public works · sanitation man/woman · sanitation worker · seasonal worker - public works · sewer maintenance worker · sidewalk cleaner · manual sidewalk cleaner · sidewalk-cleaning equipment operator · sidewalk snowplow operator · manual street cleaner · manual street sweeper · general labourer - public works · sewer system maintenance worker · highway line painter · helper - garbage collection · garbage collector
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $18.00 | $26.95 | $34.70 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $20.00 | $30.64 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $20.00 | $28.00 |
| New Brunswick | $17.00 | $23.00 | $30.00 |
| Quebec | $20.00 | $26.99 | $33.57 |
| Ontario | $17.60 | $26.70 | $34.00 |
| Manitoba | $17.00 | $22.00 | $29.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $18.80 | $27.00 | $30.00 |
| Alberta | $19.53 | $27.51 | $37.38 |
| British Columbia | $20.00 | $31.00 | $36.95 |
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.