Mineral and Metal Processing Machine Operators

(NOC 9411)

in All Manufacturing and Utilities

Mineral and metal processing machine operators use machinery to process mineral ore and metal. They work for mineral ore and metal processing plants like copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries and cement processing plants.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

Estimate 435 employment change, 2021-2023
Estimate 1945 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$18.81

Minimum

$23.90

Median

$29.83

Maximum

Annual Pay

N/A

Minimum

$47,788

Median

N/A

Maximum

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

Hourly Pay

$14.00

Minimum

$20.80

Median

$33.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,056

Minimum

$30,111

Median

$70,518

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Job duties

Machine operators:

Set up, prepare and change mineral ore, metal and cement processing machinery to carry out one step in the overall mineral ore or metal processing operation.
Use machinery to grind, separate, filter, mix, treat, cast, roll, refine or otherwise process mineral ores.
Watch gauges, meters, computer printouts, video monitors and products to ensure correct operation of machinery and verify processing conditions.
Adjust machinery as required.
Record production information and complete reports.
May help with machinery maintenance or repair.

Sample job titles

aluminum classifier
asbestos dryer
billet heater
brick and tile crusher operator
cement miller
extrusion press operator
foil-winding machine operator
ladle pourer
lead refiner
lime kiln operator
mica sheet laminator
quenching car operator
scrap metal shredder
sintering machine operator
slurry equipment operator
steel roller
uranium classifier operator
zinc cell operator

Skills

You should be responsible, alert, and in good physical health. Coordination, agility, and a mechanical skill are important. You must be accurate pay attention to detail. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

High school may be required.
On-the-job training is provided.
Experience as a labourer in mineral and metal processing is usually required for machine operators.

Other considerations

Shift work is common in these jobs. There is little movement among the different types of machine operators within the mineral and metal processing industry. With experience, machine operators may move to central control and process operators in mineral and metal processing.

By the numbers

Quick look

employed in 2016

87.5%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

12.5%

87.5%

43.4

median age

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

15,275

employed in 2016

83.2%

employed full-time

3.2%

self employed

27.6%

72.4%

44.7

median age

Where will I likely work?

26.7%

Cape Breton

N/A

20.0%

North Shore

N/A

20.0%

Halifax

N/A

20.0%

Annapolis Valley

N/A

13.3%

Southern

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

57.1%

Manufacturing

14.3%

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

14.3%

Construction

14.3%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

What is the age of Employment?

46.0%

35-44

23.0%

55-64

15.0%

45-54

15.0%

25-34

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

24.5%

45-54

20.8%

55-64

19.3%

35-44

16.5%

25-34

15.0%

15-24

Top levels of education

31.3%

High school

N/A

25.0%

Less than high school

N/A

25.0%

Trade Certification

N/A

25.0%

College Diploma

N/A

Compared to: All Manufacturing and Utilities

38.1%

High school

$28,505 median annual income

23.3%

Less than high school

$19,224 median annual income

19.9%

College Diploma

$38,781 median annual income

12.2%

Trade Certification

$43,975 median annual income

4.5%

Bachelor

$39,715 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults 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

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

admission@usainteanne.ca

Website

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Website

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Website

Community Learning Organizations