NOC 73402: Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction
Drillers and blasters in surface mining, quarrying and construction operate mobile drilling machines to bore blast holes in open-pit mines and quarries and to bore holes for blasting and for building foundations at construction sites. Blasters in this unit group fill blast holes with explosives and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore and rock or to demolish structures. They are employed by mining, quarrying and construction companies and by drilling and blasting contractors.
Last reviewed 2026-11-02 · Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Quick answer
NOC 73402 (Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction) is a TEER 3 occupation, so it counts as skilled work for Express Entry. It is not on IRCC's high-wage list. It isn't on any current category-based draw list.
TEER
TEER 3
Skilled for Express Entry
High-wage
Not listed
No extra CRS points
Category draws
None
IRCC 2026 lists
| NOC 2021 code | 73402 |
|---|---|
| Title | Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction |
| Broad category | Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations |
| TEER | TEER 3 — usually requires a college diploma or apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or 6+ months of on-the-job training |
Example job titles
- blaster - quarrying
- blaster - surface mining
- construction driller
- driller - surface mine
- open-pit blaster
- rotary drilling machine operator
Main duties
- Drillers
- Drive and operate tracked or truck-mounted rotary drilling, air-track or other drilling machines to bore large blast holes to specified depths at staked positions in open-pit mine or quarry
- Operate drilling machines to drill blast holes in rock at road or other construction sites
- Operate tracked or truck-mounted drill equipped with auger or other attachment to drill holes for building foundations or pilings
- May measure location and stake out pattern of holes to be drilled, load blast holes with explosives and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore or rock.
- Blasters
- Read instructions or diagrams, lay out drill pattern and determine depth and diameter of blast holes and conduct field tests to determine type and quantity of explosives required
- Assemble or direct other workers to assemble primer charges using selected detonators, fuses, detonating cords and other materials
Your duties should match the lead statement and most of the main duties to use this NOC — check the full profile on the official NOC site.
Related occupations
- NOC 73400 — Heavy equipment operators
- NOC 73401 — Printing press operators
- NOC 73100 — Concrete finishers
- NOC 73101 — Tilesetters
- NOC 73102 — Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
- NOC 73110 — Roofers and shinglers
- NOC 73111 — Glaziers
- NOC 73112 — Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
- NOC 73113 — Floor covering installers
- NOC 73200 — Residential and commercial installers and servicers
← NOC 73401 Printing press operators · NOC 74100 Mail and parcel sorters and related occupations →
Calculate your CRS score → · All NOC codes · High-wage list
TEER 3 also matters for work permits: see the spousal open work permit (TEER rules for spouses of workers), LMIA explained and the Atlantic Immigration Program (job offers in TEER 0–4).
Sources: Statistics Canada NOC 2021 V1.0; IRCC high-wage occupations; IRCC category-based selection; IRCC who can apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is NOC 73402 eligible for Express Entry?+
NOC 73402 is a TEER 3 occupation. IRCC counts work in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations as skilled work experience for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, as long as all other program requirements are met.
Is NOC 73402 a high-wage occupation?+
No. NOC 73402 isn't on IRCC's Express Entry high-wage occupations list, so it doesn't earn the extra high-wage or job offer CRS points. Canadian work-length points can still apply for TEER 0–3 work.
Which Express Entry category draws include NOC 73402?+
None of IRCC's current category-based selection lists include NOC 73402. Candidates can still be invited in general, program-specific (such as CEC) or PNP rounds.