7372-NOC

Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction

(NOC 73402)
Annual Earnings
$76,771
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
College Diploma or Apprenticeship, less than 2 years
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
180

Career Overview

Drillers in this group operate mobile drilling machines:

  • To bore blast holes in open-pit mines and quarries
  • To bore holes for blasting and for building foundations at construction sites

Blasters in this group:

  • Fill blast holes with explosives
  • Detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore and rock or to demolish structures

These workers are employed by:

  • Mining, quarrying and construction companies
  • Drilling and blasting contractors

 

Duties

Drillers in this group:

  • 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
  • Run 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

Blasters in this group

  • 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 needed
  • 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 make sure that safety procedures are followed
  • May operate air-track, rotary, down-the-hole or other drilling machines to drill blast holes
  • May direct drilling of blast holes

 

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

$76,771

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$47.00/hr
Median$36.81/hr
Low$29.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

645

% Employed Full Time

47%
Source: 2021 Census

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place outdoors, so workers may be exposed to various weather conditions
  • Work also takes inside heavy equipment such as drilling machines
  • Working with equipment, instruments, machinery or power/hand tools may be a potential source of injury
  • Exposure to flying particles and falling objects in the work environment pose the risk of injury
  • Working with explosives in dangerous locations means workers must follow safety precautions
  • Loud noises in the workplace can affect hearing

 

Career Pathways

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Drillers and blasters often perform both drilling and blasting activities.

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

Blaster - quarrying
Blaster - surface mining
Construction driller
Driller - surface mine
Open-pit blaster
Rotary drilling machine operator

Education, Training and Skills

  • 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 available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick and Ontario

Blasters who are certified for that occupation 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 criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact the WorkSafe BC 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:

  • Driver/Heavy Equipment Operator Training
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!

Operations Monitoring

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

68%
Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

67%
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.

61%
Monitoring

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

60%
Critical Thinking

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

60%
Judgment and Decision Making

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

56%
Complex Problem Solving

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

54%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

54%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

53%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

51%

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

645
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 35 5.4%
Kootenay 25 3.9%
Mainland/Southwest 200 31.0%
North Coast and Nechako 30 4.7%
Northeast 10 1.6%
Thompson-Okanagan 140 21.7%
Vancouver Island/Coast 215 33.3%
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)

180
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 -0.5%
Kootenay 10 0.9%
Mainland/Southwest 40 0.3%
North Coast and Nechako Not available Not available
Northeast Not available Not available
Thompson-Okanagan 50 1.0%
Vancouver Island/Coast 80 1.0%
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)
Construction100
Mining And Oil And Gas Extraction80
Forestry, Logging And Support Activities0
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources