Heavy equipment operator · Greater Montréal
Job sites are looking for CCQ-carded heavy equipment operators in Greater Montréal.
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Greater Montréal
The area, in brief
Greater Montréal is the most active work region in Quebec according to the CCQ, which groups together the Montréal island, Montérégie, and Laval–Laurentides–Lanaudière zones; the CCQ identifies this region as the main hub for major infrastructure projects planned over the medium term, with replacement labour needs estimated at roughly 9,400 new workers per year for 2025-2029.
The rate
$34.71 – $45.93 / hour (May 2025, depending on sector and class)
Wage rates are set by the CCQ collective agreement and vary by sector (civil engineering and roads, industrial, institutional-commercial, residential) and operator class (A, B, AA). For the exact rate that applies to you, check the official grid at ccq.org, 'Wages and rates' section.
Good to know
Your questions, answered.
I have my DEP in Heavy Equipment Operation. What's the next step to work on CCQ sites?
You need to get your apprentice competency certificate (CCA) from the CCQ. That requires a job guarantee of at least 150 hours over 3 consecutive months signed by a CCQ-registered employer. Once you have your CCA, you log 2,000 apprenticeship hours, then pass the provincial qualification exam to become a journeyperson (CCC).
Which sectors will I mostly work in as a heavy equipment operator?
85% of the time, you'll be in civil engineering and roads — highways, roads, excavation, infrastructure work. Some work is also in institutional-commercial (10%) and industrial (3%). Residential is just 2% of hours worked in this trade.
Is this a good time to get into this trade in Quebec?
Yes. The CCQ rates job prospects as excellent. The average operator age is 45.3, and only 204 new apprentices were admitted in 2024 — fewer than in previous years. Major infrastructure projects and Hydro-Québec's action plan will keep demand high for years to come.
Not quite your area or your trade?
Heavy equipment operator, elsewhere in Québec:
Other trades in Greater Montréal: