Is NOC 73402 eligible for Express Entry?

Yes. As a TEER 3 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Is NOC 73402 a high-wage occupation?

No. It is not on IRCC’s list of high-wage occupations for the November 3, 2026 rules. Only listed occupations add 20 to 70 points for Canadian work, or 50 to 100 points for a job offer.

Which category draws include NOC 73402?

It is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists, so it does not qualify you for an occupation-based category draw.

What TEER is NOC 73402?

TEER 3. The second digit of a NOC 2021 code is its TEER category.

TEER 3NOC 2021 Version 1.0

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.

Express Entry eligibility

Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 3.
Canadian Experience Class: counts as skilled Canadian work (1 year in the last 3 years).
Federal Skilled Worker Program: counts as skilled work (1 year of continuous work in the last 10 years).
Federal Skilled Trades Program: an eligible skilled trade (2 years in the last 5 years).
High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): no. No high-wage add-on, and a job offer in it earns no CRS points.

TEER 3: Occupations that usually need a college diploma, an apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

NOC 73402 is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists. You can still be invited in general, Canadian Experience Class or other program draws.

Category lists checked on canada.ca on 2026-10-17. IRCC category-based selection

CRS points for work in NOC 73402

Skilled Canadian work in this occupation earns the standard points, the same before and after November 3, 2026, with no high-wage add-on:

Canadian work CRS points in NOC 73402
Years in Canada	Single	With spouse
1	40	35
2	53	46
3	64	56
4	72	63
5 or more	80	70

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following 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
Load explosives in blast holes by hand or direct movement of bulk explosives trucks to load holes
Connect electrical wires, detonating cords or fuses into series and connect series to blasting machines; press handle or button to detonate charges
Handle, store and transport explosives and accessories in accordance with regulations and ensure that safety procedures are observed
May operate air-track, rotary, down-the-hole or other drilling machines to drill blast holes or may direct drilling of blast holes.

For Express Entry your duties must match the lead statement and most of the main duties above.

Example job titles

blaster - quarrying
blaster - surface mining
construction driller
driller - surface mine
open-pit blaster
rotary drilling machine operator

Employment requirements

Completion of secondary school is usually required.
On-the-job training is provided.
Experience as a heavy equipment operator may be required for drillers.
Experience as a blaster helper in surface mining and quarrying or construction may be required for blasters.
Provincial blasting licence is usually required for blasters.
Trade certification for blasters is compulsory in Nova Scotia.

Similar jobs with a different code

Common questions

Is NOC 73402 eligible for Express Entry?: Yes. As a TEER 3 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Is NOC 73402 a high-wage occupation?: No. It is not on IRCC’s list of high-wage occupations for the November 3, 2026 rules. Only listed occupations add 20 to 70 points for Canadian work, or 50 to 100 points for a job offer.
Which category draws include NOC 73402?: It is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists, so it does not qualify you for an occupation-based category draw.
What TEER is NOC 73402?: TEER 3. The second digit of a NOC 2021 code is its TEER category.

High-wage occupations in general trades

More in general trades

Find any NOC code · All high-wage occupations · Source: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0

See your CRS score with NOC 73402

Quick CRS adds up every factor and shows your score under today’s rules and the rules from November 3, 2026, side by side. Free, about 3 minutes.

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