worker in protective gear underground in a mine

Underground mine service and support workers

(NOC 84100)
Annual Earnings
$93,101
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
High School Diploma
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
150

Career Overview

Underground mine service and support workers perform a range of duties related to the operation of orepasses, chutes and conveyor systems.

People in this occupation:

  • Are responsible for the construction and support of underground structures, passages and roadways
  • Help miners to set up and operate equipment and machinery and track haulage equipment that distributes materials and supplies to support underground mining
  • Work for coal, metal and non-metallic mineral mines
  • Should be physically fit since work can be labour intensive
  • Must be able to work as a team and follow orders and safety regulations

Duties

Underground mine service and support workers perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Operate and maintain ore chutes or conveyor systems to control flow of ore or coal in underground mine
  • Run construction equipment such as a bulldozer, grader or backhoe to build and maintain underground passages and haulageways
  • Build and repair wood or metal supports and structures such as bulkheads, platforms, drift doors and chutes using construction and mining tools
  • Attach and extend ventilation and water pipes and related mine service
  • Help miners to set up and operate various drills and other mining machinery
  • Supply and maintain backfill distribution of sand, rock or other materials
  • Operate diesel or electric track haulage equipment such as ore trains to distribute personnel and supplies and to convey ore from orepass to primary crusher or skip
  • Maintain supply storage areas
  • Maintain equipment and supplies such as explosives, drill bits, fire extinguishers, lamps and batteries
  • Perform routine maintenance of machinery

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

$93,101

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$56.23/hr
Median$44.64/hr
Low$16.75/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

360

% Employed Full Time

43%
Source: 2021 Census

Underground mine service and support workers work in mines, where it is dark and damp, operating and maintaining ore chutes or conveyor systems and building or repairing underground passages or structures.

Workers may be exposed to potential hazards, including loud noises, potentially harmful chemical substances and large, moving mining equipment. Workplace safety is at the forefront and work sites stick to strict safety regulations, including wearing eye and ear protection, protective clothing with reflective strips, gloves, hard hats and steel toed boots. Safety training and special equipment also aims to minimize risk to workers.

Most people work full time in these occupations. Very few work part time or are self-employed. Rotating shift work is common as mines operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A shift may vary from 8–12 hours, depending on the worker's position and the location of the work. Overtime and weekend work may be required.

As mines are often located in remote areas, underground mine service and support workers may be required to travel and live in camps. Since many B.C. mines are near communities, workers who live nearby can return home after their shift.

Career Pathways

There is good opportunity for individuals in these occupations to move to higher level jobs. With sufficient experience and training, progression to machine operators or supervisors is possible.

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

Backfiller - underground mining
Blaster helper - underground mining
Cage tender
Conveyor operator - underground mining
Crusher operator - underground mining
Driller helper - underground mining
Haulageman/woman - underground mining
Lamp keeper - underground mining
Materialman/woman - underground mining
Mine construction worker
Orepass tender - underground mining
Pipeworker - underground mining
Raise miner helper
Skip tender
Timberman/woman - underground mining
Trainman/woman - underground mining

Education, Training and Skills

Completion of secondary school is usually mandatory.

Other training and requirements may include:

  • Up to six weeks of formal training, which is often supplemented with on-the-job training by assisting or supporting an experienced worker
  • Experience as a labourer
  • Company licensing or certification

The mining industry constantly adopts new technology and workers must stay current with the equipment they use and associated safety procedures.

Education programs in B.C.

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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!

Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

59%
Operations Monitoring

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

56%
Troubleshooting

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

53%
Equipment Maintenance

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

50%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

50%
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.

50%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

50%
Critical Thinking

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

50%
Monitoring

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

47%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

47%

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

360
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 60 16.4%
Kootenay 80 21.9%
Mainland/Southwest 20 5.5%
North Coast and Nechako 15 4.1%
Northeast 0 0.0%
Thompson-Okanagan 155 42.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 30 8.2%
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)

150
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 30 0.6%
Kootenay 30 0.9%
Mainland/Southwest Not available Not available
North Coast and Nechako 10 2.2%
Northeast Not available Not available
Thompson-Okanagan 60 1.4%
Vancouver Island/Coast 20 5.5%
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)
Mining And Oil And Gas Extraction150
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources