CostMine’s newly published 2012 Survey Results of Canadian Mine Salaries, Wages and Benefits is now available. It is expensive; most individuals probably cannot afford it; you will have to get your union or human resources staff to order it if you want to see all the data. Thanks to the folk at Cost Mine, I can give some numbers that interest me and that may interest you.
Fifty-six mines across Canada provided data on wages paid in 2011. Thirty-four are union mines; and twenty-two non-union. Forty-five reported increased wages of an average of three percent with a spread from one percent to ten percent. Eleven had no change of wages. None decreased wages. Most mines reported paying cash bonuses for good safety performance.
Here are some average hourly wages by category in Canadian dollars at surface mines.
- Electrician = 34.10
- Mechanic = 33.80
- Drill Operator = 32.34
- Production Tuck Driver = 30.40
- Labourer = 25.45
Electricians at underground mines average more, namely $36.43 an hour. Miners at underground mines got $31.02 an hour. And underground labourers got $24.84 an hour with a range varying from $18.25 to $34.87 an hour.
On the topic of highest wages, I note some lucky surface mine electricians got $54.31 an hour, some underground mine electrician got $44.40 an hour. and some lucky mill equipment operator got $54.31 and hour. So there are some miners in Canada getting over $100,000 a year, thereby putting them in the upper class of wage earners. They deserve it, for they have the skill.
As I read the data, wages at non-union mines in some categories are higher than at union mines. Compare these numbers for some job categories—union wage first/non-union wage second:
- Mechanic = 33.17/35.27
- Production Truck Driver = 28.22/39.16
- Heavy equipment Operator = 31.01/34.14.
But in some job categories the non-union folk get less. An underground laborer at a union mine averages $25.14 compared to their counterpart at a non-union mine who gets $24.59.
As you would expect, those wage earners at fossil fuel mines distort the averages and certainly the maximum wages. Here are some averages for metal/diamond/fossil fuel mines:
- Mechanic = 34.55/30.80/38.68
- Dragline Operator = 33.34/37.33/36.23
- Heavy Equipment Operator = 30.50/28.11/34.78
- Surface Labourer = 24.57/22.60/29.96.
Go to the oil sands is all I can conclude. For wages at Eastern Mines are considerable lower than at Western Mines–by $2 to $10 depending on the job category. No wonder Mulcair is fuming.
This is a great resource that I’ve used extensively over the past few years. Although mines aren’t named, with a little work you can figure out who is who, and unionized operations all have publically available contracts.
I’m a bit surprised to see non union to pay more than union. One thing to remember is the 1.5% off the top that union workers have to pay.
Great post and information. I agree that miners deserve the wages as you said: they have the skill. In some locations there is a shortage of trained workers. Also chuckled at your opening. Lol
[...] 2012 Survey Canadian Mine Wages [...]
I read this post and find it highly inaccurate as I have been minining all over Canada for almost 30 years. The wages reflect a part of all miners wages and you mention no bonus which in a true miners case is generally equal to or higher than his wages. Support workers maintainence and labourers make a smaller portion of production bonus but it is paid just the same. Any skilled hardrock miner easily makes far in excess of 100000 dollars a year often working schedules that only require six months of actual work. I have looked at numerous jobs in the oil sands and have worked in western mines for years. The wages are generally equal to the east but the cost of living is far higher. The statistics get distorted when you take into account places like Yellowknife were miners are paid very high wages and bonus but also pay $200000 for a trailer and $13 for a jug of milk. The Best earnings to be had at present is in remote camps working for large mining contractors with no unions. Some info from someone who knows .
Steve.
Wow! like your stats you threw out there. currently i am in the oilfield looking for change, sent a resume off to Mt.Milligan, just wondering if you have any other ideas of places to throw a resume shoot me an email sometime. tmeisner@bigeagle.ca