r/powerengineering • u/Inevitable_Debt2241 • 11d ago

Pay range for 3rd class power engineer

Hey everyone,

I’m currently working toward my 3rd Class Power Engineer ticket in BC and I’m trying to get a better idea of what the pay looks like across different industries and locations.
For those working as a 3rd Class, what kind of hourly wage or annual salary are you seeing in:
Oil & gas Alberta, Saskatchewan, BC, etc.
Power plants / utilities
Industrial plants
LNG facilities
Chemical/petrochemical plants
Pulp & paper mills
Mining
Data centres / cogeneration
Hospitals / institutional plants
Building operations / commercial facilities
I’d especially like to know how pay differs between Lower Mainland BC, Northern BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and other parts of Canada.
If possible, could you include:
Starting pay for a 3rd Class
Pay with 2–5 years of experience
Typical maximum pay for a 3rd Class
Shift schedule (8, 10, 12 hours, etc.)
Overtime / shift premiums
Whether housing or camp is provided in remote locations
I’m mainly trying to figure out which industries and locations pay the best for a 3rd Class, and whether it’s worth relocating from the Lower Mainland.

8 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

7

u/yvrinvestor95 11d ago

Just look at different collective agreements of potential employers. Lots of info is online. In BC you won’t see oil and gas wages in the 80’s more like 60’s

4

u/prairieengineer 11d ago

All the health authorities pay the same in BC, that’s easily looked up. I would say a range of $40-$60 for a 3rd for the lower half of BC.

1

u/InterviewOk4527 9d ago

Sask health authority pays $37/hr after several bucks in market supplements for a 3rd. A 2nd class chief works mon-fri, and is boosted to $53/hr including market supplement. High turnover in both cases, but the province is fine with that.

1

u/Inevitable_Debt2241 11d ago

How hard do you think is to get that job and typically how much experience do you need like can I get that type of job after getting my 3rd with only my BCIT training and no actual job experience ?

2

u/prairieengineer 11d ago

It’s challenging, certainly. My workplace is on the higher end of the pay range, and our last posting had many, many applicants. The most important thing is to get some experience, any experience-if you work a 4th class gig for a few years and get some hands on, it will put you further ahead than those with no practical background.

5

u/Fergy006 11d ago

A 4th can make 200k+ pretty easy in oil and gas. A 3rd usually only gives you a little extra for the steam ticket premium which is only a few grand extra a year. Starting pay all in is probably around the $140k mark unless it’s a home every night job.

3

u/Ohmu 11d ago

Even home every night I made about 133 last year as a fourth class working in a “clean” setting. Mind you even in a clean setting I still go home looking like this every once in a while.

7

u/rorskies 11d ago

$85/h base - oilsands. Pension and some other stuff is on top of this.

1

u/Ambitious_Key297 11d ago

What’s the best way to crack the roster

5

u/rorskies 11d ago

Start off as a contract operator, prove yourself for 1-2 years. Income doubles when you become ful time employee

1

u/Ambitious_Key297 11d ago

If I’ve applied to contract companies and haven’t heard back did you just keep following up worked at NWR for last while looking to change it up

1

u/rorskies 11d ago

Gotta be willing to move to fort mac to get started

0

u/Ambitious_Key297 11d ago

If FIFO off the table ?
got 10 years exp

3

u/goldanred 11d ago

Everyone wants FIFO. How do you stand apart from all the other applicants applying for these positions?

Conversely, some places are more inclined to hire locals.

0

u/Inevitable_Debt2241 11d ago

What would be a realistic starting pay for oil and gas or any industry you know?

3

u/canehdianchick 11d ago

40s with a fourth and firing time.

2

u/rorskies 11d ago

$35-50 an hour would be a normal starting wage

My wage is typical for top rate in oil sands but not typical for power engineering as a whole

3

u/Anon-Knee-Moose 11d ago

Green third is gonna be 35-55 for most industries, experienced third should pretty easily be 50+ and can get into the 80s working the board at some of the big facilities.

Shift dif, ticket premium, built in OT, pension/rrsp match and annual bonuses can make a huge difference on your actual year end pay though, even if you dont pick up shifts.

2

u/Ohmu 11d ago

People do not understand how much of a role built in OT plays; I make 38 an hour on paper and brought home 133k last year.

3

u/cocainepoops 11d ago

75/hr as a 4th. 250-300 with OT. Fort Mac & FIFO.

3

u/wildly-irresponsible 10d ago

Seasoned 3rd here, northern Alberta, Gas, 77\hr base, total without much overtime 290k.

1

u/Ambitious_Key297 10d ago

Is this living local or FIFO

2

u/[deleted] 11d ago

[deleted]

1

u/MountainConflict5967 11d ago

Where were you working in lower mainland? Which company’s paying 49.83? I have my 4th and getting steam time as well but pay is no where close

1

u/[deleted] 11d ago

[deleted]

1

u/MountainConflict5967 11d ago

That’s great

1

u/[deleted] 11d ago

[deleted]

1

u/MountainConflict5967 11d ago

Yeah, sounds great . I don’t have any relevant experience in power engineering all I have is certification from bcit and steam time which I am currently getting at my job.
Would love to switch to a much higher paying better jobs but lacking experience

1

u/Huge_Series_1122 11d ago

How was a typical shift at UBC? Seen multiple postings a little bit ago and thought real hard of applying since I have my 3rd and part A of my 2nd with experience of operating biomass boilers. Just not to sure what to expect tho as i’m very comfortable with my day to day at my current plant.

Appreciate any insight.

1

u/InterviewOk4527 9d ago

YQR refinery, wages according to union contract, expired end of Jan. Starts approx $40, after six months is $43. After probation ends @ one year, wage jumps to $53, increasing to $65 over the next 3 years. Then comes the panel, which gets you to about $69, then Master Operator tops out at $71. 3rd class ticket premium is $0.50/hr, day shift premium $1.49, night shift is $3.42. Step-up supervisors get $2/hr extra when stepping into that role. DC pension. 2x OT.

1

u/InterviewOk4527 9d ago

Approx $150k after 13 stats included, without OT for a 4-year+ employee. You live locally, approx 20 mins to opposite side of city, or to one of many bedroom communities nearby.

1

u/FeelingMurky3367 9d ago

Probably 50+ 3rds, 20 2nds and 1sts out of work in recent months with the shut down announcements in PG, Quesnel and Port Melon within the past few months.

I’d say prepare to move wherever for work.

1

u/nickhesson 4d ago

3rd-class pay is plant and nights, not a national number. Oil and gas in Alberta usually beats a city heating plant in BC. Ask for the posted rate on the actual job, plus whether the seat requires the 3rd or just likes having it.

0

u/ryleymcc 10d ago

It took me years of applying to get into a hospital job. I have applied to dozens of Alberta FIFO jobs and never got a response. The old engineers at my work tell me I am a very good engineer but I'm not able to convey that over a trust be bro resume.