How to become a longshore worker
Official title: Longshore workers
Also called: Longshore worker, Longshore worker and tower-loader operator, Stower, Dock hand, Stevedore, Dockworker, Boat loader, Barge loader, Tanker loader, Longshoreman/woman, Shiploader operator, Ship loader operator
Longshore workers transfer cargo throughout dock area and onto and from ships and other vessels. They are employed by marine cargo handling companies, shipping agencies and shipping lines.
Main tasks
- Operate industrial trucks, tractors and other mobile equipment to transfer cargo, such as containers, crated items, automobiles and pallet-mounted machinery, around dock to within range of cranes and hoists
- Operate winches or other hoisting devices to load and unload cargo onto and from ships and other vessels
- Operate mechanical towers to load vessels with materials such as coal and ore
- Operate equipment to transfer bulk materials, such as grain, to hold of vessels
- Connect hoses and operate equipment to transfer liquid materials into storage tanks on vessels
- Perform other activities such as lashing and shoring cargo aboard ships, opening and closing hatches, cleaning holds of ships and rigging cargo
How to become one
Some secondary school education may be required. On-the-job training is provided.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $63,980 a year The middle half earn $44,577 to $83,928.
- About 7,300 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 8,500 are projected by 2033. (+16.4%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: moderate risk of surplus.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a longshore worker?
Some secondary school education may be required. On-the-job training is provided.
How much does a longshore worker earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $63,980 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $44,577 to $83,928.
Is a longshore worker a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 16% by 2033, from about 7,300 to about 8,500 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a longshore worker?
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