2143-NOC

Mining engineers

(NOC 2143)
Annual Earnings
$102,174
Typical Education Background
Degree
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
290

Career Overview

Mining engineers:

  • Plan, design, organize and oversee the development of mines, mine facilities, systems and equipment
  • Prepare and oversee the extraction of metallic or non-metallic minerals and ores from underground or surface mines
  • Work for mining companies, consulting engineering companies, manufacturers, government and educational and research institutions

Duties

Mining engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Carry out initial surveys and studies of ore, mineral or coal deposits to assess the economic and environmental feasibility of potential mining operations
  • Determine the appropriate means of safely and efficiently mining deposits
  • Determine and advise on appropriate drilling and blasting methods for mining, construction or demolition
  • Design shafts, ventilation systems, mine services, trasnport systems and supporting structures
  • Design, develop and put into use computer applications for mine design, mine modelling, mapping or monitoring mine conditions
  • Plan, design or select mining and mineral treatment equipment in collaboration with other engineering specialists
  • Plan, organize and oversee the development of mines, mine structures and the operation and maintenance of mines
  • Prepare operations and project estimates, schedules and reports
  • Put into use and co-ordinate mine safety programs
  • Supervise and co-ordinate the work of technicians, technologists, survey personnel, and other engineers and scientists

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

$102,174

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$61.78/hr
Median$48.99/hr
Low$18.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

700

% Employed Full Time

61%
Source: 2016 Census

Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office or school.

Career Pathways

Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.

Mining engineers also work closely with geologists, geological engineers, metallurgical engineers, and other engineers and scientists, and mobility is possible between some fields of specialization.

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:

Investigative
Investigative

Job Titles

Engineer, mine design / layout
Engineer, mine exploration
Engineer, mine production
Engineer, mine ventilation / safety

Education, Training and Skills

  • A bachelor's degree in mining engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
  • A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
  • Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
  • Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering
  • Engineering Science
  • Mining and Petroleum (Oil and Gas) Related
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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!

Critical Thinking

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

76%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

75%
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.

72%
Complex Problem Solving

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

71%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

71%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

70%
Judgment and Decision-Making

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

67%
Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

66%
Monitoring

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

63%
Numeracy

Using mathematics to solve problems.

62%

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

700
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo N/A 1.5%
Kootenay 180 15.8%
Mainland/Southwest 590 62.4%
North Coast and Nechako N/A 3.0%
Northeast N/A 0.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 100 10.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 60 7.5%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

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 (2022-2032)

290
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 (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo N/A N/A
Kootenay 10 0.0%
Mainland/Southwest 210 1.7%
North Coast and Nechako N/A N/A
Northeast N/A N/A
Thompson-Okanagan 0 1.8%
Vancouver Island/Coast 10 1.6%
N/A: Data is not available for this region.
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 (2022-2032)
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction12,000
Manufacturing49,200
Wholesale Trade33,100
Finance, insurance and real estate50,900
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources