7442-NOC

Utility maintenance workers

(NOC 74204)
Annual Earnings
$72,996
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
High School Diploma
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
200

Career Overview

Utility maintenance workers locate, repair, install and maintain equipment and facilities, such as water filtration and distribution plants, waste water treatment plants and power plants. They may also work on exterior and underground gas mains and distribution lines. 

They work for municipal, provincial and federal public works departments, private contractors under contract with government public works departments and gas distribution companies.

Waterworks maintenance workers:

  • Maintain and repair waterworks equipment and facilities
  • Work for water filtration and distribution plants and waste treatment plants

Gas maintenance workers:

  • Check and do routine maintenance and minor repairs to exterior and underground gas mains and distribution lines
  • Work for gas distribution companies

Other utility workers:

  • Locate and mark underground utility lines, pipes and inspect poles
  • Work for public works departments

Duties

Waterworks maintenance workers:

  • Check, clean and lubricate waterworks equipment, such as pumping equipment, chlorination equipment and compressors
  • Adjust and repair waterworks equipment under the direction of qualified tradesperson
  • Search and locate reported water leaks and repair water mains, valves or outlets
  • Install water meters using hand and power tools

Gas maintenance workers:

  • Check and lubricate gas pipeline valves
  • Do routine survey of gas mains and distribution lines to detect and locate escaping gas using gas detecting devices
  • Investigate reports of gas leaks to find the exact location and extent of leaks
  • Dig ground to expose gas lines and repair damaged pipes
  • Keep record of work done and location and condition of pipelines
  • Offer information on underground gas distribution lines and observe excavation work to make sure that underground gas facilities are protected

Other utility workers:

  • Operate equipment and instruments to locate and mark underground utility lines and pipes
  • Provide information on underground utility lines
  • Operate equipment and hand tools to inspect and test utility poles for decay and deterioration

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

$72,996

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$54.95/hr
Median$35.00/hr
Low$25.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

570

% Employed Full Time

61%
Source: 2021 Census

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place indoors in conditions that may vary
  • Work also takes place outdoors in various weather conditions
  • Workers may be exposed to gas and water leaks
  • Working with machinery and power tools can be a source of injury
  • Workers may be exposed to strong odours and chemicals

Career Pathways

Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Movement between jobs in this unit group normally occurs within the same area of work, such as within waste water treatment plants, within water filtration and distribution plants or within gas distribution plants.

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

Gas leak locator
Gas maintenance worker
Gas utility operator
Pipeline maintenance worker
Pipeline patrolman/woman
Power pole inspector
Utility locator
Utility plant maintenance worker
Waterworks maintenance worker

Education, Training and Skills

  • Completion of secondary school may be required
  • Several years of experience as a labourer in the same company may be required
  • On-the-job training is provided

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Academic/Basic Upgrading
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!

Operation and Control

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

61%
Operations Monitoring

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

61%
Critical Thinking

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

53%
Monitoring

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

53%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

50%
Troubleshooting

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

49%
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.

49%
Complex Problem Solving

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

49%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

49%
Quality Control Analysis

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

48%

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

570
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 4.4%
Kootenay 50 8.8%
Mainland/Southwest 310 54.4%
North Coast and Nechako 20 3.5%
Northeast 30 5.3%
Thompson-Okanagan 80 14.0%
Vancouver Island/Coast 60 10.5%
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)

200
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 0 -0.5%
Kootenay 20 -0.3%
Mainland/Southwest 120 0.9%
North Coast and Nechako Not available Not available
Northeast 0 -0.8%
Thompson-Okanagan 30 0.9%
Vancouver Island/Coast 20 1.6%
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)
Utilities80
Public Administration40
Professional, Scientific And Technical Services30
Construction20
Educational Services10
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.