Canada’s mining industry is one of the largest in the world, with around 800 operations throughout the country. There is a steady demand for workers, who may be employed in a number of various areas, including engineering, surveying and geology.
Engineers carry out duties concerned with rock mechanics, equipment selection and ventilation, as well as preparing the plans for tunnels, shafts and pits. Surveyors survey blast holes, monitor elevations and make sure that slopes are within tolerances, while geologists work from clues in the earth’s surface to determine future resources and ensure current deposits are developed effectively and efficiently.
Most positions in this field require a mining degree or, in the case of geologists, a degree in geology or earth sciences. Most employers also ask for between two and five years’ relevant experience.
Engineers receive salaries in the range of C
$68,000 – 93,000, or C
$91,000 – 125,000 for chief engineers. Surveyor rates are between C
$55,000 and C
$78,000, while geologists earn average salaries of C
$95,000.