Underground mining salaries by role
Pay varies a lot by role, mine, and how remote the site is. Every figure below is a 2025 estimate, unconfirmed -- treat it as a starting point, not what a specific mine will actually pay you.
Key facts
- Miner (NOC 83100) median wage
- $42.00/hr
- Source: Job Bank, updated November 19, 2025
- Miner / Mucker, entry
- roughly $75,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings)
- Equipment Operator, senior
- roughly $125,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings)
- Mine Engineer, senior
- roughly $145,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings)
| Role | Entry | Experienced | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miner / Mucker | roughly $75,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $95,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $110,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) |
| Equipment Operator | roughly $80,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $105,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $125,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) |
| Mine Engineer | roughly $85,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $110,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $145,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) |
| Electrician (Mining) | roughly $82,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $108,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $130,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) |
| Blaster | roughly $78,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $100,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $120,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) |
| Shift Boss | roughly $95,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $115,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) | roughly $135,000 (estimate; confirm with current postings) |
Sources
- Government of Canada Job Bank -- Miner (NOC 83100), Canada — accessed 2026-09-08, wages updated November 19, 2025, drawn from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey.
Why does pay vary so much?
Actual pay depends on the specific mine, whether the role is unionized (Sudbury has a long history of USW-represented operations), years of experience, certifications beyond Common Core, and how remote the site is -- remote fly-in fly-out operations like Red Lake or the Yellowknife-area diamond mines can carry different premiums than a drive-in/drive-out operation in an established town like Sudbury or Timmins.
How do I get into mining with no experience?
Entry-level surface support and camp services roles are the realistic path in with no mining background. See /jobs/ for common roles and /tickets/ for the certifications that help with hiring.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Sudbury underground miner actually make?
For a miner/mucker role, roughly $75,000-110,000/year depending on experience level (estimate; confirm with current postings) -- see the table on this page for other roles, and confirm current numbers against the employer's own careers page or a union scale before relying on them.
Why are these figures labelled estimates?
These numbers come from industry research, not a specific Job Bank posting, StatCan table, or union pay scale we've checked directly. Treat them as a starting point and confirm against a current posting or union scale for the specific mine and role.
Does pay differ between hard rock, soft rock, diamond, and uranium mines?
Yes, it can -- uranium mining in Saskatchewan and diamond mining near Yellowknife often carry premiums tied to remoteness and specialized certification requirements, but exact figures vary by employer and should be confirmed directly (2025 estimate, unconfirmed).
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