Underground production and development miners
Occupation · NOC 2021 83100 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 83100
- TEER
- 3
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 21
- Median wage, Canada
- C$42.00 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 116
OC<CANUNDERGROUND<PRODUCTION<AND<DEVELOPMENT 831006<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2
About this occupation
Underground production and development miners drill, blast, operate mining machinery, and perform related duties to extract coal and ore in underground mines and to construct tunnels, passageways and shafts to facilitate mining operations. They are employed by coal, metal and non-metallic mineral underground mines and by specialized contractors in mine construction, shaft sinking and tunnelling. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Example job titles
- blaster - underground mining
- chute blaster - underground mining
- diamond driller - underground mining
- drift miner
- driller - underground mining
- hardrock miner apprentice
- hoist operator - underground mining
- miner
- mining machine operator
- powderman/woman - underground mining
- raise miner
- roadheader operator
- scooptram operator
- shaft inspector
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Set up and operate drills and drilling machines to produce a designated pattern of blasting holes
- Operate diamond drills or other specialized drills such as raise boring machinery to test geological formations or to produce underground passageways
- Set up and operate mining machinery to shear coal, rock or ore from the working face
- Load explosives, set fuses, and detonate explosives to produce desired blasting patterns and rock fragmentation in underground mines
- Operate scooptram, load-haul-dump (LHD) machine or mucking machine to load and haul ore from stopes, drifts and drawpoints to ore passes
- Perform duties required to ensure safety and to support the mining advance, such as scaling loose rock from walls and roof, drilling and installing rock bolts, extending and installing air and water pipes, operating ore loading machinery, inspecting mine shafts, operating hoists that transport people, equipment and materials through mine shafts, and constructing timber supports and cribbing if required
- Perform routine maintenance of mining machinery.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Formal training of up to six weeks followed by extended periods of specialized training as a helper or in support occupations is usually provided.
- Previous experience as a mine labourer or in other mine occupations is usually required.
- Provincial blasting licence may be required.
- May be certified in the basic common core program or as an underground hard rock miner in Ontario.
- Trade certification for miners is available, but voluntary, in Quebec.
- Company licensing or certification is often required for occupations in this unit group.
- Certificate in first aid may be required.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
- CrossLinx Transit Solutions Constructors7
- Kameron Coal Management Ltd3
- DT (CSST) Inc.3
- Transocean Canada Drilling Company2
- Innovative Pipeline Crossings Inc2
- STRABAG Inc.2
- BME Mining Canada Inc.2
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 5 |
| 2023 | 0 | 5 |
| 2022 | 0 | 5 |
| 2020 | 0 | 5 |
| 2018 | 0 | 15 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$28.00 | C$42.00 | C$56.00 |
| Alberta | C$28.00 | C$43.00 | C$52.00 |
| British Columbia | C$34.97 | C$43.00 | C$50.33 |
| Manitoba | C$22.89 | C$38.00 | C$56.00 |
| New Brunswick | C$22.00 | C$38.46 | C$56.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$28.75 | C$40.00 | C$53.70 |
| Nova Scotia | C$22.89 | C$32.00 | C$55.00 |
| Ontario | C$27.52 | C$39.70 | C$56.00 |
| Quebec | C$28.00 | C$42.00 | C$65.93 |
| Saskatchewan | C$31.00 | C$47.00 | C$57.00 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 116
- Vacancies advertised
- 475
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$38.00
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