How to become a crane operator
Official title: Crane operators
Also called: Skip operator, Crane operator, Jib crane operator, Boat crane operator, Boom crane operator, Rail crane operator, Ship crane operator, Crane hoist operator, Ladle crane operator, Power crane operator, Tower crane operator, Truck crane operator
Crane operators operate cranes or draglines to lift, move, position or place machinery, equipment and other large objects at construction or industrial sites, ports, railway yards, surface mines and other similar locations. They are employed by construction, industrial, mining, cargo handling and railway companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main tasks
- Operate mobile and tower cranes to lift, move, position or place equipment and materials
- Perform pre-operational inspection, and calculate crane capacities and weight to prepare for rigging and hoisting
- Operate pile driving cranes to drive pilings into earth to provide support for buildings and other structures
- Operate cranes equipped with dredging attachments to dredge waterways and other areas
- Operate gantry cranes to load and unload ship cargo at port side
- Operate locomotive cranes to move objects and materials at railway yards
- Operate bridge or overhead cranes to lift, move and place plant machinery and materials
- Operate offshore oil rig cranes to unload and reload supply vessels
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a one- to three-year apprenticeship program or Industry courses in crane operating are usually required. Mobile crane operator trade certification, for specified types of cranes, is compulsory in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Northwest Territories. Tower crane operator trade certification is compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and available, but voluntary, in Prince Edward Island. Hoist operator trade certification, for specified types of cranes, is compulsory in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Mobile crane operators may require a provincial licence to drive mobile cranes on public roads. Internal company certification as a crane operator may be required by some employers. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified mobile crane and tower crane operators upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Red Seal trade. Completion of a one- to three-year apprenticeship program or Industry courses in crane operating are usually required. Red Seal endorsement is available. Apprenticeships are run by each province and territory.
- Licence or registration: Mobile crane operators may require a provincial licence to drive mobile cranes on public roads.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $83,402 a year The middle half earn $64,350 to $92,664.
- About 16,600 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 18,300 are projected by 2033. (+10.2%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a crane operator?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a one- to three-year apprenticeship program or Industry courses in crane operating are usually required. Mobile crane operator trade certification, for specified types of cranes, is compulsory in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Northwest Territories. Tower crane operator trade certification is compulsory in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and available, but voluntary, in Prince Edward Island. Hoist operator trade certification, for specified types of cranes, is compulsory in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia and is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Mobile crane operators may require a provincial licence to drive mobile cranes on public roads. Internal company certification as a crane operator may be required by some employers. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified mobile crane and tower crane operators upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
How much does a crane operator earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $83,402 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $64,350 to $92,664.
Is a crane operator a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2033, from about 16,600 to about 18,300 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a crane operator?
Usually not. Only 2% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Red Seal trade.
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