Province-by-province wage data for 421A Red Seal technicians — from apprentice to journeyperson and beyond.
How much does the Heavy Duty Equipment Technician trade actually pay? It varies considerably — by province, by sector, and by how much you're willing to go where the work is. This guide uses Government of Canada Job Bank wage data (updated November 2025, covering 2023-2024) wherever an official figure exists.
Job Bank pay figures on this page cover the whole occupation, apprentices included, not only certified tradespeople. The 421A exam is 135 questions in 4 hours and the pass mark is 70%, which is 95 correct answers; SkilledTradesBC rounds results up from 69.5%, so 94 correct also passes there.
See what the questions look like — 406 free 421A practice questions → No account, no sign-up.
| Level | Official Figure | Annual (40hrs/week) |
|---|---|---|
| Period 1 Apprentice (Alberta minimum) | At least 60% of the journeyperson rate | Depends on employer rate |
| Period 2 Apprentice (Alberta minimum) | At least 70% of the journeyperson rate | Depends on employer rate |
| Period 3 Apprentice (Alberta minimum) | At least 80% of the journeyperson rate | Depends on employer rate |
| Period 4 Apprentice (Alberta minimum, 4-period program) | At least 90% of the journeyperson rate | Depends on employer rate |
| All workers, Canada — Job Bank median | $37.12/hr | ~$77,210 |
| All workers, Canada — Job Bank low to high | $23.87 – $55.00/hr | ~$49,650 – $114,400 |
Sources: Job Bank wages for heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401), updated November 2025 (2023-2024 data), which cover everyone in the occupation, apprentices included. Apprentice minimums are from Alberta tradesecrets, checked September 2026, and apply to the rate of the lowest-paid journeyperson at the same company: the 4-period Heavy Equipment Technician program sets 60%, 70%, 80% and 90%, and the 3-period Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic (Off Road) branch, which offers the Red Seal exam in its final period, sets 60%, 70% and 80%. Other provinces set their own rules. Job Bank wages do not include non-wage benefits.
Hourly wages for heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401) from Job Bank, updated November 2025 (2023-2024 data). Low and high are roughly the 10th and 90th percentiles, and the figures cover everyone in the occupation, apprentices included.
| Province | Low – High (median) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $27.00 – $55.50 (median $45.00) | Highest provincial median |
| Alberta | $23.50 – $65.00 (median $42.00) | Highest provincial top-end wage |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $23.87 – $55.85 (median $39.63) | Mining, offshore support |
| Saskatchewan | $22.50 – $51.50 (median $37.00) | Potash mining, agriculture |
| Ontario | $22.00 – $51.19 (median $35.00) | Construction, aggregate, forestry |
| Manitoba | $23.75 – $48.00 (median $35.00) | Mining, agriculture |
| Quebec | $24.00 – $47.00 (median $33.00) | Construction, hydro projects |
| Nova Scotia | $20.00 – $41.00 (median $31.26) | Forestry, construction |
| New Brunswick | $20.00 – $40.20 (median $29.00) | Forestry, construction |
Job Bank does not publish heavy-duty equipment mechanic wages for the Wood Buffalo–Cold Lake region, which covers the oil sands around Fort McMurray, so there is no official local figure. For Alberta as a whole, Job Bank puts heavy-duty equipment mechanics at $23.50–$65.00/hour (low–high) with a median of $42.00 (2023-2024 data, updated November 2025). Camp rotations add overtime hours, so annual earnings depend on the schedule; Job Bank does not publish an annual figure that includes overtime.
Underground mines across BC, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick pay a premium for technicians willing to work underground. The environment is more demanding. For context, Job Bank's top-end wages for heavy-duty equipment mechanics (roughly the 90th percentile) are $55.50/hour in British Columbia, $51.19 in Ontario, $47.00 in Quebec and $40.20 in New Brunswick (2023-2024 data, updated November 2025). Remote northern mines often add northern allowances on top.
Journeyperson wages at major Caterpillar and John Deere dealers are set by each dealer or its collective agreement (Job Bank does not break wages down by employer type); benefits, pensions and company vehicles for field service technicians vary by dealer.
City and regional district shops maintain road graders, loaders, and snow removal equipment. Pay is set by each employer's pay scale or collective agreement (Job Bank does not break wages down by employer type), typically with excellent benefits, defined-benefit pension plans, and stable hours. Overtime is limited but the job security is strong.
Field service technicians — who travel to equipment breakdowns on-site — may be paid more than shop technicians, but Job Bank does not break wages down by shop and field work. Some employers provide a company truck, fuel card, and tool allowance. The tradeoff is irregular hours and travel.
Job Bank gives no figure for a certification premium: its wages for this occupation include apprentices and do not separate certified from non-certified technicians. In Alberta, apprentice pay has a legal floor: a final-period apprentice must be paid at least 90% of the lowest-paid journeyperson's rate at the same company in the 4-period Heavy Equipment Technician program, or 80% in the 3-period Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic (Off Road) branch (Alberta tradesecrets, checked September 2026). The trade is designated Red Seal in all ten provinces and three territories, and Red Seal says the endorsement facilitates labour mobility.
The federal Apprenticeship Completion Grant closed on March 31, 2025. Finance Canada's Spring Economic Update 2026 (April 28, 2026) proposed a one-time $5,000 apprenticeship completion bonus for those who obtain certification in a Red Seal trade; check canada.ca and your provincial apprenticeship authority for what is actually open before counting on it (checked September 2026).
Beyond hourly wages, most unionized and many non-union HET positions include:
The HET trade doesn't have to be a ceiling. Common advancement paths include:
Demand for Heavy Duty Equipment Technicians is strong and forecast to remain so through the end of the decade. Several converging factors are driving this:
According to the Government of Canada's Job Bank, the 3-year outlook for heavy-duty equipment mechanics (updated December 10, 2025) is "Moderate" in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, "Good" in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and "Limited" in British Columbia.
Remote site pay works differently from shop pay. When you work a fly-in/fly-out rotation at an oil sands or mining operation, your effective hourly rate can be higher than what your pay stub shows:
Rotation schedules add overtime hours and cut living costs, so total compensation at a remote site can be well above what the base rate suggests. Job Bank does not publish an annual figure that includes overtime; ask employers for a sample annual pay statement for the rotation you are offered.
How does the 421A trade stack up against other Red Seal trades in Canada?
| Trade | Ontario Trade Code | Job Bank Canada Range, low – high (median) |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Duty Equipment Technician | 421A | $23.87 – $55.00/hr ($37.12) |
| Truck & Transport Mechanic | 310T | $19.00 – $43.27/hr ($29.89)* |
| Construction Electrician | 309A | $20.00 – $48.00/hr ($35.00) |
| Industrial Electrician | 442A | $28.00 – $54.00/hr ($42.00) |
| Plumber | 306A | $21.00 – $46.00/hr ($34.00) |
| Refrigeration & AC Mechanic | 313A | $22.00 – $56.00/hr ($37.50) |
| Welder | 456A | $22.00 – $47.00/hr ($30.00) |
Source: Job Bank wages by NOC (72401, 72410, 72200, 72201, 72300, 72402, 72106), updated November 2025 (2023-2024 data). *NOC 72410 also includes automotive service technicians.
The 421A trade competes at the top end of the trades wage spectrum, particularly for technicians willing to work in extractive industries. The combination of specialized skills (high-voltage systems, hydraulics, diesel engine management), physical remoteness, and the high capital value of the equipment being serviced justifies premium wages that many other trades don't reach.
Beyond just finding a job, there are specific strategies that experienced technicians use to reach the top of the wage range faster:
Free practice questions to help you prepare for your certification exam.
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Practice 421A Questions →Job Bank's open data puts the average wage for heavy-duty equipment mechanics in Canada at $38.89/hour and the median at $37.12/hour (NOC 72401; 2023-2024 data, updated November 2025), about $80,900 and $77,200 a year at 40 hours a week. The average is $43.20/hour in Alberta and $36.83/hour in Saskatchewan. Job Bank does not publish an annual figure that includes overtime.
In Job Bank data (2023-2024, updated November 2025), British Columbia has the highest provincial median for heavy-duty equipment mechanics at $45.00/hour, ahead of Alberta at $42.00/hour, while Alberta has the highest provincial top-end wage at $65.00/hour. Saskatchewan's median is $37.00/hour.
Job Bank's wages for this occupation include apprentices and do not separate certified from non-certified technicians, so Job Bank gives no figure for a certification premium. The trade is designated Red Seal in all ten provinces and three territories, and Red Seal says the endorsement facilitates labour mobility.
Job Bank reports low and high wages of $23.87 and $55.00/hour for heavy-duty equipment mechanics across Canada, with a median of $37.12/hour (2023-2024 data, updated November 2025); these figures cover everyone in the occupation, apprentices included. In Alberta, apprentices must be paid at least a set share of the rate of the lowest-paid journeyperson at the same company: 60% in period 1, rising to 90% in period 4 of the 4-period Heavy Equipment Technician program, or to 80% in period 3 of the 3-period Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic (Off Road) branch (Alberta tradesecrets, checked September 2026).
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