Crane Operators
(NOC 7371)
in All Trades and TransportationCrane operators operate cranes or draglines to lift, move, position or place machinery, materials, equipment and other large things at construction or industrial sites, ports, railway yards, surface mines and other similar locations. They work for construction, industrial, ship building, transport sector, mining, cargo handling and railway companies and public utilities.
Job Outlook
Good
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Compared to: All Trades and Transportation
Outlook for crane operators: good, a better than average chance of a qualified individual finding work.
Size of the occupation in Nova Scotia: small, with infrequent job opportunities.
Demand: strong growth between 2021 and 2023. Competition may be low due to few qualified jobseekers. Retirements are expected to provide some opportunities.
Work hours: full-time, normally. Jobs may be permanent or temporary, both are common.
Hourly Pay
$23.00
Minimum$37.99
Median$48.00
MaximumAnnual Pay
$22,952
Minimum$60,922
Median$138,668
MaximumCompared to: All Trades and Transportation
Hourly Pay
$15.00
Minimum$24.00
Median$37.00
MaximumAnnual Pay
$7,580
Minimum$37,269
Median$79,787
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Crane operators operate cranes or draglines to lift, move, position or place machinery, materials, equipment and other large things at construction or industrial sites, ports, railway yards, surface mines and other similar locations. They work for construction, industrial, ship building, transport sector, mining, cargo handling and railway companies and public utilities.
Job duties
Crane Operators:
- Use mobile and tower cranes to lift, move, position or place equipment and materials.
- Complete pre-operational inspection and calculate crane capacities and weight to prepare for rigging and hoisting.
- Use pile driving cranes to drive pilings into earth to provide support for buildings and other structures.
- Use cranes equipped with dredging attachments to dredge waterways and other areas.
- Use gantry cranes to load and unload ship cargo at port side.
- Use locomotive cranes to move objects and materials at railway yards.
- Use bridge or overhead cranes to lift, move and place plant machinery and materials.
- Use offshore oil rig cranes to unload and reload supply vessels.
- Use cranes mounted on boats or barges to lift, move, and place equipment and materials.
- Use dragline cranes to expose coal seams and ore deposits at open pit mines.
- May assemble tower cranes on site.
- Complete routine maintenance work like cleaning and lubricating cranes.
Sample job titles
- boom truck crane operator
- construction crane operator
- crane operator
- hoist operator (except underground mining)
- mobile crane operator
- overhead crane operator
- skip operator
- tower crane operator
Skills
- Strength and stamina
- Agility and ability to work at heights
- Coordination and manual dexterity
- Good vision
- Mechanical aptitude
- Precision and attention to detail
- Ability to follow direction
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Ability to work independently when necessary
- Comfortable travelling to different locations
Job requirements
- High school or equivalent (usually).
- High school, college or industry courses in crane operating (usually).
- Certification for mobile crane operators is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
- Certification for tower crane operators is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
- Mobile crane operators may require a provincial licence to drive mobile cranes on public roads.
- Internal company certification as a crane operator may be required by some employers.
- Trade Qualifier option: write and score a minimum of 70% on the Red Seal exam for either mobile crane or tower crane operators.
- Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) allows for interprovincial mobility.
- A licence is required from the Technical Safety Division to work in the mobile or tower crane operator trades.
Other considerations
- Setting: outdoors in all types of weather, often noisy, dusty conditions.
- Hazards: injuries from power line contact, crane overload, falls, weather conditions, manual lifting.
- Crane operators work a 40-hour work week and overtime is common.
- Robotics and computerized controls will increase the skill requirements for crane operators.
- Experienced crane operators may advance to supervisory positions.
- Everyone has fair access to participate and succeed in the apprenticeship system. Everyone who develops the necessary skills and abilities should be able to succeed in the trades and trade qualification system. Work environments in the province support women and equity-seeking communities.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Trades and Transportation
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$70,580 median annual incomeNorth Shore
$66,703 median annual incomeCape Breton
$38,356 median annual incomeAnnapolis Valley
$49,418 median annual incomeSouthern
$48,366 median annual incomeCompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Construction
Manufacturing
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Real estate and rental and leasing
Transportation and warehousing
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
35-44
55-64
25-34
65+
15-24
Compared to: All Trades and Transportation
45-54
55-64
35-44
25-34
15-24
Top levels of education
Trade Certification
$62,963 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$59,127 median annual incomeHigh school
$71,410 median annual incomeLess than high school
$40,038 median annual incomeDiploma Below Bachelor
N/ACompared to: All Trades and Transportation
Trade Certification
$46,494 median annual incomeHigh school
$31,260 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$42,050 median annual incomeLess than high school
$28,319 median annual incomeBachelor
$30,527 median annual incomeEducation & training
High School Diploma or Equivalent
High School ProgramAdults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.
Institutions providing this program
Various, NS
Various, NS
Various, NS
Mobile Crane Operator
College or Trades ProgramThese programs prepare students to hoist and swing loads via complex rotating machinery that is driver operated. They include courses in crane operational characteristics, load and capacity chart usage, emergency control skills, safety, specific types of mobile cranes and loading devices, applicable codes and standards, and applications to particular types of jobs and loads.
Institutions providing this program
Truro, NS
Falmouth, NS
Trade Qualifier
Trades ProgramThe Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency also offers a path to trades certification outside of a formal apprenticeship agreement with a qualified journeyperson. This option includes a set amount of required hours of related experience in the trade, passing a certification exam, and other criteria. Contact the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency for more details.
Institutions providing this program
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Licence: A licence is required to work in the mobile crane or tower crane operator trades.
Certificate of Qualification (Voluntary): This is a designated trade in Nova Scotia. Employers may require certification, but a certificate is not needed to legally work in this trade.
Certificate of Qualification (Voluntary): This is a designated trade in Nova Scotia. Employers may require certification, but a certificate is not needed to legally work in this trade.