National Occupational Classification, TEER 3
NOC 73400: Heavy equipment operators
Heavy equipment operators operate heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures; in surface mining and quarrying activities; and in material handling work. Below are the main duties, all 103 job titles it covers, what it means for Express Entry and what it pays in each province.
Updated
- Official NOC 2021 data
- Job Bank wages
What is NOC 73400?
NOC 73400 is the code for heavy equipment operators in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include backhoe operator, bulldozer operator, excavator operator and gradall operator. It is a TEER 3 occupation (usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $32.50 an hour.
- NOC code
- 73400
- TEER
- 3: College diploma, apprenticeship under 2 years or 6+ months of training
- Broad category
- Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $32.50 an hour
Job titles under NOC 73400
Heavy equipment operators operate heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures; in surface mining and quarrying activities; and in material handling work. They are employed by construction companies, heavy equipment contractors, public works departments and pipeline, logging, cargo-handling and other companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main job titles
- backhoe operator
- bulldozer operator
- excavator operator
- gradall operator
- grader operator
- heavy equipment operator
- heavy equipment operator apprentice
- loader operator - construction
- side boom tractor operator
- surface mining equipment operator
All 103 job titles in the NOC index
aerial tram operator, apprentice heavy equipment operator, asphalt batch plant operator, asphalt plant operator, asphalt roller operator, asphalt spreader operator, asphalt street paver operator, asphalt-grooving machine operator, asphalt-paving machine operator, asphalt-paving screed operator, backhoe operator, bituminous paver operator - heavy equipment, bobcat operator, boom-conveyor operator, bucketwheel operator, bucketwheel-excavator operator, buggy-operator skinner, buggy-scraper operator, bulldozer driver, bulldozer operator, cat operator, cat skinner, caterpillar car operator, caterpillar operator, concrete spreader operator - heavy equipment, concrete-grooving machine operator, concrete-paving machine operator, construction equipment operator, continuous bucket excavator operator, crawler tractor operator, ditcher operator - construction, ditching machine operator, dozer operator, dredge operator, dredge runner, earth-moving equipment operator, electrical equipment operator - shovel, elevating grader operator, elevating scraper operator, excavating machine operator, excavator operator, forest road machine operator, front end loader operator, gradall operator, grader operator, groove-cutting machine operator, grooving machine operator - heavy equipment, heater-planer operator, heavy construction-equipment operator, heavy equipment operating engineer, heavy equipment operator, heavy equipment operator apprentice, heavy-duty equipment operator, heavy-duty equipment operator apprentice, ho-ram operator, horizontal earth-boring machine operator, hydraulic excavator operator, industrial backhoe operator, loader operator - construction, marine railway operator, mining shovel operator (except underground), mole operator, mucker operator - construction, mucking machine operator - construction, paver operator, payloader operator, peat-moss-cutting machine operator, peat-moss-gathering machine operator, pile driver winch operator, pile-driving hammer operator, pipelayer operator, power grader operator, power shovel operator, pulvimixer operator, ripper operator - heavy equipment, road grader operator, road mixer operator, road planer operator, road roller operator, roller operator, rotary trencher operator, scarifier operator, scraper operator, shield operator, shovel operator - heavy equipment, side boom operator - pipeline construction, side boom tractor operator, snow removal equipment operator - private home, snow-grooming machine operator, spreader operator - heavy equipment, stacker operator - heavy equipment, street paver operator, stripping shovel operator, structural hydraulic jack erector, surface mining equipment operator, track-loader operator, tractor operator - construction, tractor-excavator operator, trench-digging machine operator, trenching machine operator, tunnelling machine operator, vibratory road roller operator, vibratory roller operator.
Also included in this group
- marine railway operator
Main duties of NOC 73400
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Operate heavy equipment such as backhoes, bulldozers, loaders and graders to excavate, move, load and grade earth, rock, gravel or other materials during construction and related activities
- Operate bulldozers or other heavy equipment to clear brush and stumps prior to logging activities and to build roads at logging and surface mining sites
- Operate heavy equipment with pile driver head to drive piling into earth to provide support for buildings, bridges or other structures
- Operate heavy dredging equipment to deepen waterways or reclaim earth fill
- Operate heavy paving and surfacing equipment to lay, spread or compact concrete, asphalt and other surface materials during highway and road construction
- Operate power shovels to excavate rock, ore or other materials from open-pit mines, strip mines, quarries or construction pits
- Operate heavy equipment to move, load and unload cargo
- Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment and clean, lubricate and refill equipment.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education is required.
- Completion of a one- to two-year apprenticeship program or Some high school, college or industry courses in heavy equipment operating combined with on-the-job training are required.
- Trade certification for heavy equipment operator (dozer, excavator, tractor-loader-backhoe) is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Ontario.
- Internal company certification may be required by some employers.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified heavy equipment operators upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Additional information
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
- The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
Is NOC 73400 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 3 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 73400 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | A listed skilled trade |
| Occupation category draws (2026) | Not on any occupation list |
| French-language proficiency (category draw) | Open to any occupation with NCLC 7 in French |
Read how TEER categories work and the full list of NOC codes in each 2026 category draw. Category draws also need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation within the past 3 years.
How much does NOC 73400 pay?
Job Bank wages for this occupation, per hour. Low and high are, in most cases, the 10th and 90th percentiles, so 8 in 10 workers earn somewhere between them.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $24.00 | $32.50 | $45.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $22.00 | $30.00 | $38.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | $18.25 | $24.00 | $35.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $18.00 | $25.00 | $35.50 |
| New Brunswick | $20.00 | $25.00 | $34.50 |
| Quebec | $24.00 | $36.00 | $43.40 |
| Ontario | $23.63 | $32.00 | $47.70 |
| Manitoba | $22.00 | $28.92 | $38.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $24.00 | $30.00 | $44.00 |
| Alberta | $26.00 | $34.30 | $45.00 |
| British Columbia | $27.00 | $35.75 | $46.00 |
| Yukon | $32.65 | $39.00 | $42.00 |
| Northwest Territories | $26.80 | $43.73 | $64.01 |
| Nunavut | $21.87 | $38.08 | $51.49 |
Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Labour Force Survey). Wages for job offers in LMIA and provincial programs are compared with these figures, so check the current numbers on Job Bank before you rely on them.
Using NOC 73400 duties on your resume
Canadian resumes do not list NOC codes. Employers read your job titles, what you did and what came of it. The NOC duties are still a useful checklist: if you did these tasks, say so in your own words and add the numbers that prove it.
For Express Entry, the reference letter from your employer should describe the duties you really performed, in line with this lead statement and most of the main duties, without copying the NOC text word for word. The free reference letter generator checks your duties against NOC 73400 as you write.
- Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result: how many, how often, how fast.
- Use the job title your employer used, even if the NOC title is different.
- Keep immigration details such as your NOC code and permit type off the resume.
Turn my duties into a resume Free to start, no card.
Where this information comes from
Occupation codes, titles and descriptions are adapted from Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Wages come from Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Express Entry rules come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): the program pages for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the category-based selection page as modified on June 22, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for heavy equipment operator?
NOC 73400, Heavy equipment operators, a TEER 3 occupation.
What TEER is NOC 73400?
TEER 3. Usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 73400 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes. As a TEER 3 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, and it is also a listed Federal Skilled Trades occupation. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.
Is NOC 73400 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
No. It is not on any 2026 occupation list. The French-language proficiency category is open to any occupation if you reach NCLC 7 in French. See every category.
How much does NOC 73400 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $32.50 an hour, with most wages between $24.00 and $45.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 73400 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
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More on NOC codes and Canadian resumes
- NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
- NOC Codes Canada: Full List: All 516 NOC 2021 codes with their TEER, duties and wages.
- TEER Categories Explained: What TEER 0 to 5 means, which count for Express Entry, and every job in each one.
- Express Entry Category Draws: NOC Codes: Every NOC code on the 2026 healthcare, STEM, trades, education and other lists.
- Canadian Resume Examples by Job: Real examples for cashiers, caregivers, trades, tech, students and more.
- Newcomer Resume Guide: Turn international experience into a resume Canadian employers understand.