How to become a contractor or supervisor
Official title: Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
Also called: Paving contractor, Demolition contractor, Excavating contractor, House mover contractor, Pipe laying contractor, Well digging contractor, Well digging supervisor, Crane crew foreman/woman, Well drilling contractor, Well drilling supervisor, Building mover contractor, Cargo handling supervisor
Contractors and supervisors of heavy equipment operator crews supervise and coordinate the activities of workers classified in the following unit groups: Crane operators (72500), Water well drillers (72501), Heavy equipment operators (73400), Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction (73402), Railway yard and track maintenance workers (74200), Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers (74205), Longshore workers (75100), Material handlers (75101), and Public works and maintenance labourers (75212). They are employed in a wide range of establishments; places of employment are indicated in the above unit group descriptions. Contractors may be self-employed.
Main tasks
- Supervise, coordinate and schedule the activities of workers who operate cranes and construction, paving, drilling, railway maintenance and other similar heavy equipment
- Establish methods to meet work schedules and coordinate work activities with other project supervisors or managers
- Requisition materials and supplies
- Resolve work problems and recommend measures to improve productivity
- Train or arrange for training of workers
- Recommend personnel actions such as hirings and promotions
- Prepare production and other reports
- May manage the operations of own company
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Several years of experience in the occupation supervised is required. Journeyman/woman trade certification in a relevant trade may be required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $74,997 a year The middle half earn $61,425 to $89,057.
- About 64,000 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 73,000 are projected by 2033. (+14.1%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
- Supervisors, printing and related occupations
- Supervisors, railway transport operations
- Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
- Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations
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Questions people ask
How do I become a contractor or supervisor?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Several years of experience in the occupation supervised is required. Journeyman/woman trade certification in a relevant trade may be required.
How much does a contractor or supervisor earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $74,997 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $61,425 to $89,057.
Is a contractor or supervisor a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 14% by 2033, from about 64,000 to about 73,000 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a contractor or supervisor?
Usually not. Only 8% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03