construction millwright and industrial mechanic working with tools

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics

(NOC 72401)
Annual Earnings
$88,826
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
College Diploma or Apprenticeship, 2 or more years
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
2,340

Career Overview

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (often called heavy duty equipment technicians) repair, troubleshoot, adjust, overhaul and maintain mobile heavy-duty equipment used in transportation, construction, forestry, manufacturing, farming, mining, oil, gas, material handling, landscaping and land clearing.

Duties

In general, heavy-duty equipment mechanics:

  • Check bulldozers, cranes, graders and other heavy construction, agricultural, logging and mining equipment for proper performance and inspect equipment for faults and malfunctions
  • Use computer diagnostic and other testing equipment to diagnose faults or malfunctions
  • Adjust equipment and repair/replace bad parts, pieces or systems using hand and power tools
  • Test repaired equipment for proper performance and make sure that work meets manufacturer specifications
  • Clean, lubricate and perform other routine maintenance work on equipment
  • Service attachments, such as harvesting and tillage equipment, blades, ploughs, winches and side booms

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics may also:

  • Perform repair work on heavy trucks
  • Attach components and adjust new equipment
  • Prepare new equipment for customer delivery
  • Overhaul engines and work on power shift transmissions, fuel injection, hydraulics or electronics
  • Work on specific types of machinery, including farm equipment, such as combines or tracked vehicles

 

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

$88,826

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$52.00/hr
Median$42.59/hr
Low$28.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

7,025

% Employed Full Time

67%
Source: 2021 Census

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics work for companies that own and operate, sell, rent or service heavy equipment. They may also work for airlines, mining, forestry railway transport companies and urban transit systems.

They generally work a regular 40-hour work week. Overtime and longer hours are common when working to a deadline or if repairs to a critical piece of equipment are needed. Some jobs require temporary relocation to remote work sites.

Some mechanics work outdoors at construction, mining and forestry sites, where they experience a range of weather conditions. Others may work indoors in workshops and production plants. Work sites can be dirty, dusty and noisy.

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics need to lift heavy parts and tools, handle greasy, dirty parts and stand and lie in awkward positions. Working around heavy machinery poses a hazard and mechanics are trained to take safety precautions to protect themselves from injury.

People with this job should have mechanical ability and be comfortable working with small electronics and heavy, bulky mechanical linkages (for example, bulldozer tracks), since heavy equipment also involves the use of micro-processor controls and high-pressure hydraulics. They should have critical thinking, be able to troubleshoot, solve problems and have attention to detail.

Career Pathways

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics may choose to focus on specific types of machinery such as combines or tracked vehicles, or in diesel engines, power shift transmissions, fuel injection, hydraulics or electronics.

With experience, individuals may advance to senior positions, such as supervisor or service manager, or they may open their own businesses.

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

Agricultural equipment technician
Construction equipment mechanic
Diesel mechanic - heavy equipment
Farm equipment mechanic
Heavy equipment mechanic
Heavy mobile logging equipment mechanic
Heavy mobile mining equipment mechanic
Heavy-duty equipment mechanic apprentice
Heavy-duty equipment technician
Locomotive mechanic
Tractor mechanic

Education, Training and Skills

Completion of secondary school is generally required to work as a heavy-duty equipment mechanic.

Certification is not required to work as a heavy-duty equipment mechanic. Those who wish to be certified must complete a four-year apprenticeship program. The B.C. government is introducing skilled trades certification beginning with a total of 10 trades, including heavy-duty equipment technicians. Certification will be implemented in phases between 2022 and 2024. Learn more about skilled trades certification.

Apprenticeship programs

Work experience and in-class instruction are part of the apprenticeship programs. Some part-time and online programs may be available. To apprentice, workers must be sponsored by an employer. A person who successfully completes an apprenticeship program and the final certification exam earns a Certificate of Qualification. Workers with significant experience in the trade may be able to challenge the certification exam to earn the Certificate of Qualification without completing a formal apprenticeship. For more information on earning a Certificate of Qualification, visit SkilledTradesBC.

To work in other provinces

Heavy-duty equipment technicians may need Red Seal certification to work in other provinces. This can be earned by passing an exam and proving significant work experience.

Workers coming to B.C.

Heavy-duty equipment technicians who are certified by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information, such as a letter of good standing, references or a criminal record check.

Workers who trained outside of Canada

Heavy-duty equipment technicians who trained outside of Canada and have never received certification from a Canadian jurisdiction will likely need a full assessment. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants. Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Diesel Engine Mechanic
EducationPlannerBC Logo
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!

Repairing

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

76%
Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

75%
Equipment Maintenance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

75%
Operations Monitoring

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

65%
Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

65%
Quality Control Analysis

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

59%
Critical Thinking

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

59%
Equipment Selection

Determining the kinds of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

57%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

54%
Judgment and Decision Making

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

54%

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

7,025
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 720 10.2%
Kootenay 715 10.2%
Mainland/Southwest 2,300 32.7%
North Coast and Nechako 445 6.3%
Northeast 395 5.6%
Thompson-Okanagan 1,235 17.6%
Vancouver Island/Coast 1,210 17.2%
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)

2,340
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 160 -0.2%
Kootenay 250 0.4%
Mainland/Southwest 720 0.8%
North Coast and Nechako 180 0.8%
Northeast 130 0.3%
Thompson-Okanagan 500 1.1%
Vancouver Island/Coast 410 0.9%
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)
Repair, Personal And Non-Profit Services550
Wholesale Trade460
Mining And Oil And Gas Extraction380
Transportation And Warehousing270
Construction240
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Insights from Industry

Due to the large size of this workforce, many jobs will become available due to worker turnover. Demand for heavy-duty equipment mechanics is driven by activity in a variety of industries, such as transportation, forestry, construction, mining, and oil and gas extraction. There is great opportunity for people in this career.

New technology, such as the growing use of diagnostic computers, are making the role of heavy-duty mechanics more efficient. Technology can reduce the number of workers needed to do the same amount of work in a company. As equipment becomes more complicated, heavy-duty equipment mechanics with up-to-date electronics training are in greatest demand.

With the trucking industry using new technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of diesel engines, heavy-duty equipment mechanics with skill in this area will be preferred.

Resources