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.

This particular career path is a solid one to pursue in this province. There 5,280 jobs currently in this province. With an estimated 540 more positions opening in the next three years. Now is a great time to start thinking about this as a career path. The average annual salary of this position is $72,700. Which is a great annual salary considering the education requirements are easy enough to achieve.

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.
• Internal company certification may be required by some employers.

In-demand soft skills

• Attention to detail

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.
7521 – Heavy equipment operators (except crane)

Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics install, maintain, repair and overhaul residential central air conditioning systems, commercial and industrial refrigeration and air conditioning systems and combined heating, ventilation and cooling systems. They are employed by refrigeration and air conditioning installation contractors, various industrial settings, food wholesalers, engineering firms and retail and servicing establishments. Transport refrigeration mechanics are included in this unit group.

Another great career choice to pursue in this province. With an estimated 620 current jobs and another 70 more openings in the next three years, now is a great time to start thinking about this as a career path. The average annual salary of this position is $78,600. Which is an excellent annual salary considering the education requirements are easy enough to achieve.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a three- to five-year apprenticeship program
  or
  A combination of over five years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in refrigeration and air conditioning repair is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Trade certification for refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics is compulsory in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the territories.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics upon successful completion of the inter-provincial Red Seal examination.

In-demand soft skills

• Reliability
• Attention to detail
• Team Player

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.
7313 – Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics

Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians provide technical support and services or may work independently in mechanical engineering fields such as the design, development, maintenance and testing of machines, components, tools, heating and ventilating systems, power generation and power conversion plants, manufacturing plants and equipment. They are employed by consulting engineering, manufacturing and processing companies, institutions and government departments.

This career path has an estimated 470 current jobs and 70 more job openings in the next three years. Making now a great time to start thinking about this as a career path. The average annual salary of this position is $85,000.

Employment requirements

• Completion of a two- or three-year college program in mechanical engineering technology is usually required for mechanical engineering technologists.
• Completion of a one- or two-year college program in mechanical engineering technology is usually required for mechanical engineering technicians.
• Certification in mechanical engineering technology or in a related field is available through provincial associations of engineering/applied science technologists and technicians and may be required for some positions.
• A period of supervised work experience, usually two years, is required before certification.

In-demand soft skills

• Team player.
• Dependability.
• Attention to detail.

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.
2232 – Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians

Welders operate welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals. This unit group also includes machine operators who operate previously set up production welding, brazing and soldering equipment. They are employed by companies that manufacture structural steel and platework, boilers, heavy machinery, aircraft and ships and other metal products, and by welding contractors and welding shops, or they may be self-employed.

This career is a great entry job that has room for growth. A very large and growing industry with 5,230 existing positions and 740 more job openings in the next three years. The average annual salary of this position is $61,900. Which is a great annual salary considering the education requirements are and high amount of positions in the province.

Employment requirements

Welders

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a three-year apprenticeship program
  or
  A combination of over three years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in welding is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Trade certification is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the territories.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified welders upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Welding, brazing and soldering machine operators

• Some secondary school education is required.
• Several months of on-the-job training are usually provided.
• Experience as a machine operator helper may be required.
• Experience with robotics may be required.

In-demand soft skills

• Attention to detail
• Team player
• Organized

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.
7237 – Welders and related machine operators

Electricians in this unit group lay out, assemble, install, test, troubleshoot and repair electrical wiring, fixtures, control devices and related equipment in buildings and other structures. They are employed by electrical contractors and maintenance departments of buildings and other establishments, or they may be self-employed.

With currently 3,930 existing positions and another 250 in the next three years, now is an ideal time to start thinking about this as a career path. The average annual salary of this position is $69,200. Which is a great annual salary in this province.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a four- to five-year apprenticeship program is usually required.
• Trade certification for construction electricians is compulsory in Saskatchewan.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified construction electricians upon successful completion of the inter-provincial Red Seal examination.

In-demand soft skills

• Attention to detail
• Team player
• Organized

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.
7241 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)

Mining engineers plan, design, organize and supervise the development of mines, mine facilities, systems and equipment; and prepare and supervise the extraction of metallic or non-metallic minerals and ores from underground or surface mines. Mining engineers are employed by mining companies, consulting engineering companies, manufacturers, government and in educational and research institutions.

This career path has an estimated 220 existing job. With forecasts of another 20 more openings in the next three years. The average annual salary of this position is $128,600. This job is more limited in positions and is considered more of a specialty. But with that exclusiveness also commands a much higher salary than average.

Employment requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in mining engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
• A master’s degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
• Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practice as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
• Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.
2143 – Mining engineers

Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators monitor and operate petroleum, petrochemical and chemical plants and monitor, adjust and maintain processing units and equipment in these plants. They are employed by petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline and petrochemical companies and industrial, agricultural and specialty chemical and pharmaceutical companies.

This career path is an excellent choice in Saskatchewan. There is currently 1,800 current positions and another 20 more new openings in the next three years. This is a great time to start thinking about this as a career path. The average annual salary of this position is $119,300. Which is an exceptional annual salary considering in this province.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is required. Mathematics, chemistry and physics subjects are often specified.
• A college diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject may be required for some positions.
• Petroleum and chemical process operators and process technicians require completion of several years of formal company training.
• Experience as a petroleum or chemical process operator in all the operating units controlled by the central control room is required for chief operators.
• Company certification as a petroleum process operator or technician may be required.
• A provincial stationary engineer licence, compressor operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
• Certification in the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), first aid, firefighting, or workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) may be required.

In-demand soft skills

• Team player
• Attention to detail
• Flexibility

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.
9232 – Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators

Steamfitters and pipefitters lay out, assemble, fabricate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair piping systems carrying water, steam, chemicals and fuel in heating, cooling, lubricating and other process piping systems. Sprinkler system installers fabricate, install, test, maintain and repair water, foam, carbon dioxide and dry chemical sprinkler systems in buildings for fire protection purposes. Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers are employed in maintenance departments of factories, plants and similar establishments, and by pipefitting and sprinkler system contractors, or they may be self-employed.

An excellent hard working career pursue in this province. With an estimated 860 existing jobs and an additional 80 openings in the next three years. The average annual salary of this position is $96,800. A great annual salary.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a four- to five-year apprenticeship program
  or
  A combination of over five years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in steamfitting, pipefitting or sprinkler system installation is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Steamfitter-pipefitter trade certification is voluntary Saskatchewan
• Steamfitter-pipefitter (non-construction) trade certification is voluntary in Saskatchewan
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified steamfitters-pipefitters and sprinkler system installers upon successful completion of the inter-provincial Red Seal examination.

In-demand soft skills

• Attention to detail
• Team player
• Effective interpersonal skills

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.
7252 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers

Machine operators in this unit group operate machinery or equipment to fabricate complete products or parts for use in the assembly of electrical appliances and equipment, and electrical apparatus, such as batteries, fuses and plugs. Inspectors in this unit group inspect and test completed parts and production items. Workers in this unit group are employed by electrical appliance and electrical equipment manufacturing companies.

This is a lot more specialized but also requires a lot less education. 80 positions exist with another new 20 positions in the next three years. The average annual salary of this position is $61,300.  Experience in this industry can open many more career paths in Saskatchewan. With experience, machine operators may progress to inspecting and testing positions.

Employment requirements

• Some secondary school education is usually required.
• On-the-job training is provided.
• Inspectors may require experience as an assembler in the same company.

In-demand soft skills

• Flexibility
• Reliability
• Organized

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.
9527 – Machine operators and inspectors, electrical apparatus manufacturing

Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing, operate and monitor multi-function process control machinery and equipment to control the processing of mineral ores, metals or cement. They are employed in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries and cement processing plants.

With currently 130 existing positions and another 10 in the next three years, now is an ideal time to start thinking about this as a career path. The average annual salary of this position is $116,600. Which is a great annual salary in this province.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• A college diploma may be required for some positions in this group.
• On-the-job training is provided.
• Several years of experience as a machine or process operator, usually in the same company or production department, are required.

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.

9231 – Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing

Workers in this unit group operate single-function machines or machinery that is part of a larger production process to process mineral ore and metal products. They are employed in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries and cement processing plants.

With currently 260 existing positions and another 50 in the next three years, now is an ideal time to start thinking about this as a career path. The average annual salary of this position is $89.500. Which is a great annual salary in this province.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• On-the-job training is provided.
• Experience as a labourer in mineral and metal processing is usually required for machine operators.

In-demand soft skills

• Attention to detail
• Team player
• Excellent Oral Communication

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.

9411 – Machine operators, mineral and metal processing

Machining tool operators set up and operate or tend metal-cutting machines designed for repetitive machining work. They are employed by metal products and other manufacturing companies and in machine shops. This unit group also includes workers who etch or chemically mill metal pieces.

With currently 110 existing positions and another 20 in the next three years, now is an ideal time to start thinking about this as a career path. The average annual salary of this position is $55,200. Which is a great annual salary in this province.

Employment requirements

• Some secondary school education is required.
• College or other courses in machining may be required.
• Several months of on-the-job training are provided.
• Senior positions in this unit group, such as set-up operator, require experience as a machine operator.

In-demand soft skills

• Attention to detail
• Reliability
• Excellent oral communication

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.

9417 – Machining tool operators

Machinists set up and operate a variety of machine tools to cut or grind metal, plastic or other materials to make or modify parts or products with precise dimensions. Machining and tooling inspectors inspect machined parts and tooling in order to maintain quality control standards. They are employed by machinery, equipment, motor vehicle, automotive parts, aircraft and other metal products manufacturing companies and by machine shops.

With currently 790 existing positions and another 130 in the next three years, now is an ideal time to start thinking about this as a career path. The average annual salary of this position is $73,100. Which is a great annual salary in this province.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a four-year apprenticeship program
  or
  A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in machining is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Trade certification for machinists is available, but voluntary, in all provinces and territories.
• Several years of experience as a machinist, tool and die maker or machining tool operator may be required for machining and tooling inspectors.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified machinists upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

In-demand soft skills

• Attention to detail
• Accurate
• Dependability

For more detailed information, please visit the official StatCan listing of this position.

7231 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors