• Digital Edition
  • Press Releases
  • Buyers’ Guide
  • Costmine
  • Careers
  • Maps
  • Profile
  • Sign out
  • Regions
    • Canada
    • United States
    • Australia, NZ & South Pacific
    • Mexico and Central America
    • North America
  • Commodities
    • Gold
    • Copper
    • Diamonds
    • Silver
    • Zinc and Lead
    • Nickel
    • Uranium
    • Iron Ore
  • Commentary
    • Commentary
    • Editorial
  • ESG
    • Indigenous Issues
    • Sustainability
    • Environment
  • Suppliers & Equipment
    • Machinery and Equipment
    • Machinery and Equipment Maintenance
    • Technology & innovation
  • Events
    • Reimagine Mining | Oct. 12-13, 2022
    • Q1 Global Mining Symposium
    • Webinars
    • Upcoming Events
    • Submit an Event
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Magazine
    • Newsletter
  • Advertise

Pay holds steady despite the ‘great resignation’

Costmine Staff | March 18, 2022 | 3:18 pm
Credit: iStock

Wages fluctuated wildly in 2021, proving that in yet another way, it wasn’t a normal year. A comparison of the past 10 years wages for mechanics, equipment operators, and labourers at surface and underground mines in Canada indicates that there was a decrease in wages in the 2021 reporting period. The data is slightly misleading as more than half the mines that reported to the survey provided an increase in wages that averaged 2% and the other mines reported that there was no change in wages. No mines indicated a decrease in wages. The overall decrease in wages should be attributed to the “Great Resignation.” Senior miners opted to retire in 2021 and the positions are being filled with workers with less experience. Those workers are still starting with a higher wage than past years.

Underground premium eroding?

There was a time when it was thought to be more lucrative for a miner to work underground. Is that still the case? Costmine compared wages for mechanics, equipment operators, and labourers in surface and underground operations over the last 10 years.

Costmine has published the Canadian Mine Salaries, Wages and Benefits report annually since 1996. That year, underground labourers had a wage 22% higher than their surface mine counterparts, the underground mechanic was 11% higher and the underground equipment operator was 6% higher. The 2021 report showed a shift in favour of the surface equipment operators, while the underground labourers are still making more than those in the surface mines.

Figures 1 through 3 illustrate the wages for the underground and surface positions of mechanics, heavy operators/underground equipment operator, and labourers over the past 10 years. These show that the base pay has been fairly similar.

Figure 1. Average hourly wages for surface and underground mechanics at Canadian mines
Figure 2. Average hourly wages for surface and underground equipment operators at Canadian mines
Figure 3. Average hourly wages for surface and underground labourers at Canadian mines

The difference in base wages between a surface mine mechanic and an underground mechanic was more evident in 1996, when the Costmine survey began. In 2021 the base wages were more similar, shown in figure 4.

Figure 4. Average hourly wages for mechanics at surface and underground mines in Canada for the years 1996 and 2021

While the charts show that the wages are similar, it is still generally understood that underground workers are more highly paid than surface mine workers. The difference now comes from bonuses. In 2021, 77% of the underground mines reported providing an incentive plan, while only 50% of the surface mines reported having an incentive plan.


Since 1990, Costmine has been surveying operating Canadian mines for the latest in mining wages and benefits. For more information or to participate in or purchase studies, contact Costmine at +1 (509) 328-8023 or www.costmine.com.

Sources: Canadian Mine Salaries, Wages & Benefits, 1996, 2012-2021


Related Posts

Monarch increases M+I resource base by 39% following Croinor update

August 11, 2022

Monarch increases M+I resource base by 39% following Croinor update

Mining People: American Copper, Battery Metal Royalties, Elevation Gold, Nevada Vanadium

August 11, 2022

Mining People: American Copper, Battery Metal Royalties, Elevation Gold, Nevada Vanadium

Fuse Cobalt, Electra enter MOU for raw material supply

August 11, 2022

Fuse Cobalt, Electra enter MOU for raw material supply

Lucara starts shaft-sinking at Karowe mine expansion project

August 11, 2022

Lucara starts shaft-sinking at Karowe mine expansion project

JV Article: Silvercorp Metals has significant silver production, development, and exploration exposure

August 11, 2022

JV Article: Silvercorp Metals has significant silver production, development, and exploration exposure

Comments

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe

Editions

  • Subscribe
  • Digital Editions

About

  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright Notice

  • TheNorthernMiner
  • Mining.com
  • Careermine
  • Edumine

Canadian Mining Journal provides information on new Canadian mining and exploration trends, technologies, mining operations, corporate developments and industry events.

Funded by the Government of Canada
© 2022 Glacier Media Group, All Rights Reserved