How to become a labourer in mineral and metal processing
Official title: Labourers in mineral and metal processing
Also called: Kiln labourer, Foundry labourer, Smelter labourer, Refinery labourer, Tailings labourer, Melt shop labourer, Scrap metal loader, Metal pourer helper, Steel plant labourer, Labourer - metallurgy, Casting house labourer, Ore processing labourer
Labourers in mineral and metal processing perform material handling, clean-up, packaging and other elemental activities related to mineral ore and metal processing. They are employed in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries, cement processing plants, clay, glass and stone processing plants and foundries.
Main tasks
- Transport raw materials, finished products, scrap and recyclable materials throughout plant manually or using forklift or other powered equipment
- Feed conveyors, crushers and other equipment; open valves and start pumps; skim dross from furnaces; sort, stack, bundle and stamp materials; and perform other activities to assist process and machine operators in mineral ore and metal processing
- Clean work areas and equipment
- May assist with minor repairs and maintenance
How to become one
Completion of secondary school may be required for some positions in this group.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $49,628 a year The middle half earn $42,413 to $62,166.
- About 5,000 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 4,800 are projected by 2033. (-4%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Labourers in metal fabrication
- Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities
- Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing
- Labourers in rubber and plastic products manufacturing
- Labourers in textile processing and cutting
- Labourers in food and beverage processing
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Questions people ask
How do I become a labourer in mineral and metal processing?
Completion of secondary school may be required for some positions in this group.
How much does a labourer in mineral and metal processing earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $49,628 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $42,413 to $62,166.
Is a labourer in mineral and metal processing a growing career in Canada?
Employment is projected to fall 4% by 2033, from about 5,000 to about 4,800 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a labourer in mineral and metal processing?
Usually not. Only 6% 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