Miner
712212 · Very Heavy Career data Verified
Mining machinery operators maintain and use equipment to dig and move coal, ore and other rocks onto carts, conveyors or shuttles.
Most common salary $84k – $141k
Upper salary up to $182k
Training 0-1 year
Description
Operates plant to excavate, load and transport coal, ore and rock in an underground or open-cut mine.
Typical work tasks
- Operates surface and underground mining plant; undertakes development work such as opening up new shafts, drives, air vents, rises and crib rooms: loads coal, ore or stone onto carts or conveyor systems that remove it for processing.
Typical work environment
- Works outdoors or underground in underground or opencast mines and quarries.
- Works in all weather conditions in above ground operations.
- Frequently works at considerable depth if underground mining.
- Conditions may be hot, wet, dirty and dusty whether working above or below ground. Conditions may also be dark and cramped when mining underground.
- Explosives, falling rock and a variety of mining and quarrying equipment are present in both situations. Workers wear protective clothing such as hard hats, safety boots and other safety equipment as required.
- Miners also work shifts of up to 12 hours at a time.
Typical physical and mental demands
- Heavy to very heavy work demand levels.
- Stands frequently to work at the quarry or mine face and walks about work area to collect tools and inspect progress. Sitting is not required.
- Uses upper limbs and body to stretch up and across on a frequent basis in order to carry out physical mining activities.
- Occasionally squats, crouches or kneels in order to carry out mining tasks.
- Frequently twists body or neck when carrying out required tasks. Constantly works with boring, drilling and shovelling equipment.
- Frequently lifts and carries when moving coal and rock, also pushes or pulls.
- Bending is a frequent requirement for miners.
- Frequent repetitive hand and arm movements are required at mine faces or for manual quarry work.
- Driving is not required for underground miners. Surface miners and quarry workers may be required to operate loaders and trucks to remove rock.
- Uses a range of heavy hand and power equipment such as drills, bores, chisels, picks and other hand tools. Both underground and surface workers may use explosives to dislodge rock.
- Mental skills necessary include practical, technical skills and problem-solving.
Entry signal Model estimate
Enter via experience or on-the-job training; no mandatory pre-entry qualification. A licence may be required for some roles or employers.
Entry barrier Experience or on-job training
Licence / registration Licence may be required
ANZSCO skill level 4
Next-day ready No
Unverified — this label is model-generated and not yet clinician-reviewed. Confirm against the WTDS before relying on it.
How this was determined (model-generated): Miner: on-the-job entry; underground/coal carries CoC/site registration but surface roles don't, so may_be_required not required; proposal stands.
Entry Requirements
- A New Zealand Register Level 2 or 3 qualification or at least one year of relevant experience (ANZSCO Skill Level 4). In some instances relevant experience may be required in addition to the formal qualification. For entry-level positions on-the-job training may be sufficient.
- Registration or licensing may be required.
Further Comments
- There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.