How to become a mine labourer
Official title: Mine labourers
Also called: Mine helper, Mine labourer, Mine check weigher, Underground mine labourer, Labourer - mining exploration, Underground labourer - mining, Mine helper - underground mining, Core cutter, Chute puller, Coal sampler, Slate picker, Core splitter
Mine labourers carry out a variety of general labouring duties to assist in the extraction of coal, minerals and ore, and in other services in support of underground mining. They are employed by coal, metal and non-metallic mineral mines.
Main tasks
- Assist other mine workers in maintaining or constructing underground installations
- Clean underground rooms, roadways, working areas and mining equipment and conveyances using hand tools
- Load, move, sort and pile materials and supplies
- Clear spills of ore or coal using hand and power tools
- May cut core and prepare core sample boxes in support of mine exploration
- Assist other workers in prospecting for mineral deposits and perform various tasks related to general geophysical surveys
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is usually required. A short period of introductory training is provided. In Ontario, mine labourers are registered in the basic common core program.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $63,375 a year The middle half earn $50,700 to $81,608.
- About 3,100 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 3,000 are projected by 2033. (-3.2%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: moderate risk of shortage.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a mine labourer?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. A short period of introductory training is provided. In Ontario, mine labourers are registered in the basic common core program.
How much does a mine labourer earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $63,375 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $50,700 to $81,608.
Is a mine labourer a growing career in Canada?
Employment is projected to fall 3% by 2033, from about 3,100 to about 3,000 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a mine labourer?
Usually not. Only 5% 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