9411-NOC

Machine operators, mineral and metal processing

(NOC 94100)
Annual Earnings
$79,253
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
High School Diploma
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
220

Career Overview

Machine operators in mineral and metal processing run single-function machines or machinery that are part of a larger production to process mineral ore and metal products.

People in this career group work in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries. They also work in uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries and cement processing plants.

Duties

Machine operators, mineral and metal processing, perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Set up, prepare and adjust mineral ore, metal and cement processing machinery to carry out one step in the overall mineral ore or metal processing operation
  • Operate single-function machinery to grind, separate, filter, mix, treat, cast, roll, refine or otherwise process mineral ores
  • Look at gauges, meters, computer printouts, video monitors and products to make sure machine operates properly and confirm specific processing conditions
  • Make adjustments to machinery as needed
  • Record production information and complete reports
  • May help with machinery maintenance or repair

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$79,253

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$45.67/hr
Median$38.00/hr
Low$26.79/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

555

% Employed Full Time

72%
Source: 2021 Census

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in a regular controlled indoor setting
  • Work also takes place in an indoor environment where temperatures or humidity may vary considerably
  • Working with equipment, instruments, machinery or power/hand tools may be source of injury
  • Workers may be exposed to fire, steam or hot surfaces that can be hazardous
  • The workplace many contain strong or toxic odours
  • Airborne particles such as dust and sand may be present in the work environment

Career Pathways

With experience, machine operators may progress to central control and process operators in mineral and metal processing.

There is little movement among the various types of machine operators within the mineral and metal processing industry.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Aluminum classifier
Asbestos dryer
Billet heater
Brick and tile crusher operator
Cement miller
Extrusion press operator
Foil-winding machine operator
Ladle pourer
Lead refiner
Lime kiln operator
Mica sheet laminator
Quenching car operator
Scrap metal shredder
Sintering machine operator
Slurry equipment operator
Steel roller
Uranium classifier operator
Zinc cell operator

Education, Training and Skills

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required
  • On-the-job training is provided
  • Experience as a labourer in mineral and metal processing is usually required for machine operators

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Academic/Basic Upgrading
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.

67%
Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

63%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

56%
Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

53%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

51%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

51%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

51%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

48%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

46%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

46%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

555
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 25 4.5%
Kootenay 90 16.2%
Mainland/Southwest 175 31.5%
North Coast and Nechako 140 25.2%
Northeast 10 1.8%
Thompson-Okanagan 75 13.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 40 7.2%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

220
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 10 0.6%
Kootenay 40 1.1%
Mainland/Southwest 70 -0.2%
North Coast and Nechako 70 1.0%
Northeast Not available Not available
Thompson-Okanagan 30 1.4%
Vancouver Island/Coast 10 1.8%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Manufacturing120
Mining And Oil And Gas Extraction70
Wholesale Trade10
Professional, Scientific And Technical Services10
Construction10
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.