How to become a public works maintenance equipment operator or related worker
Official title: Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers
Also called: Salt truck operator, Sand spreader operator, Street flusher operator, Street sweeper operator, Highway snowplow operator, Sewer-flushing truck operator, Drain roto servicer - public works, Refuse truck driver - public works, Salt truck operator - public works, Garbage truck driver - public works, Power sweeper operator - public works, Recycling truck driver - public works
Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers operate vehicles and equipment to maintain streets, highways and sewer systems and operate trucks to collect garbage and recyclable materials. This unit group also includes workers who clear vegetation close to power lines. They are employed by municipal, provincial and federal public works departments, private contractors under contract with government public works departments and private companies involved in the collection of refuse and recyclable materials.
Main tasks
- Operate garbage trucks to remove garbage and other refuse and dump loads at designated sites
- Operate street cleaning equipment such as street sweepers or other vehicles equipped with rotating brushes to remove sand, litter and trash
- Operate snowplows or trucks fitted with plow blades to remove snow from streets, highways, parking lots and similar areas
- Operate sewer maintenance equipment such as rodders and sewer jet cleaners to maintain and repair sewer systems
- Operate trucks equipped with apparatuses for spreading sand, salt or abrasives on roadways
- Operate chainsaws and other clearing equipment to fell trees and cut back vegetation close to power lines
- Check, lubricate, refuel and clean equipment and report any malfunctions to supervisor
How to become one
Some secondary school may be required. Experience as a public works labourer is usually required. On-the-job training is provided. A driver's licence appropriate to a specific type of equipment may be required. Trade certification for utility arborists is available, but voluntary, in Ontario and British Columbia.
Ways in
- Licence or registration: A driver's licence appropriate to a specific type of equipment may be required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $55,575 a year The middle half earn $48,750 to $62,537.
- About 29,800 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 33,400 are projected by 2033. (+12.1%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Railway yard and track maintenance workers
- Water transport deck and engine room crew
- Air transport ramp attendants
- Automotive and heavy truck and equipment parts installers and servicers
- Utility maintenance workers
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Questions people ask
How do I become a public works maintenance equipment operator or related worker?
Some secondary school may be required. Experience as a public works labourer is usually required. On-the-job training is provided. A driver's licence appropriate to a specific type of equipment may be required. Trade certification for utility arborists is available, but voluntary, in Ontario and British Columbia.
How much does a public works maintenance equipment operator or related worker earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $55,575 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $48,750 to $62,537.
Is a public works maintenance equipment operator or related worker a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2033, from about 29,800 to about 33,400 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a public works maintenance equipment operator or related worker?
Usually not. Only 3% 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