DrillerHigh demand
$85k
5 years in
experienced driller
$110k+
Expert
senior / specialist
Drillers operate the rigs that bore into rock for extraction, blasting and exploration — handling equipment, following strict safety systems and keeping accurate logs. It's hands-on, machinery-led work on quarry and mine sites, and it pays well above many entry trades from the start.
Career switchers. A strong, well-paid entry for fit, safety-minded people who like operating big equipment — civil, plant or earthmoving backgrounds transfer in. No qualifications to start; you build competencies on the job. Steady demand, especially in the regions.
Entry: No qualifications needed to start — you're hired and trained on the rigs, building safety and operating competencies on the job.
How you get there
Get hired as a trainee driller / offsider
Apply to quarry, mining and drilling operators. Fitness and a strong safety attitude matter most. Paid from day one.
Paid from day one
Drilling competencies + NZ Certificate (Surface Extraction / Te Pūkenga)
Work-based training in rig operation, safety systems, equipment handling and logging, assessed on site.
~2 yearsFree — work-based
Experienced Driller → Senior / specialist
Take on complex drilling and step toward specialist or supervisory roles — the higher-paid end.
strong wages
Rig operationSafety systemsEquipment handlingSite loggingPhysical fitness
Pays from the start: drilling pays well above many entry trades, with no qualification gate — you learn on the rigs and the competencies lift your rate.
BlasterHigh demand
$70k
Starting out
trainee shotfirer
$95k
5 years in
licensed blaster
$120k+
Expert
specialist / lead
Blasters (shotfirers) plan and carry out the controlled detonations that break rock for quarrying and mining — designing blast patterns, loading charges and managing safety and compliance. It's a specialist, licensed role where precision and safety are everything, and it's among the best-paid jobs on a site.
Career switchers. Reached after site experience — drillers and operators commonly progress into blasting. It suits methodical, safety-obsessed people who can take responsibility. The shotfirer licence is the gate, and once you hold it, you're a scarce, well-paid specialist.
Entry: Not an entry role — you build site experience first, then complete shotfirer licensing and training to handle explosives.
How you get there
Build site experience
Start as a driller or operator and gain experience on quarry/mine sites — the foundation for blasting work.
experience first
Shotfirer licensing + explosives training
Complete the specialist training and licensing required to handle explosives and carry out controlled detonations under NZ regulations.
Shotfirer licence
Licensed Blaster → specialist / lead
Plan and run blasts as a licensed shotfirer — a scarce, safety-critical specialism among the best-paid roles on site.
premium pay
Blast planningControlled detonationExplosives safetyComplianceRisk management
Licensed = scarce = well paid: the shotfirer licence is the gate, and once you hold it you're a specialist commanding some of the best pay on a site.
Quarry SupervisorHigh demand
$90k
Starting out
new supervisor
$110k
5 years in
experienced supervisor
$135k+
Expert
site / operations manager
First-line supervisors lead crews on quarry and mine sites — managing risk, running site plans, coordinating production and leading emergency response. It's the operational backbone of a site, reached by progressing from operating roles, and it carries strong, leadership-level pay.
Career switchers. An internal-progression role — drillers, operators and blasters move up into it with experience and a supervisor Certificate of Competence. Suits people with strong safety judgement and the ability to lead a crew. High responsibility, strong pay, and a route on to site and operations management.
Entry: Reached by progressing from Level 3 operator roles, plus a supervisor Certificate of Competence under NZ mining/quarrying H&S rules — not a school-leaver entry.
How you get there
Progress from operating roles
Build experience as a driller, operator or blaster and demonstrate strong safety and leadership on site.
experience first
Certificate of Competence (supervisor) + NZ Certificate (Level 4)
Gain the supervisor Certificate of Competence required under NZ mining/quarrying health-and-safety regulations, alongside a Level 4 qualification.
Certificate of Competence
First-line Supervisor → Site / operations manager
Lead crews and site plans, then progress toward site and operations management — leadership-level pay.
$135k+ ceiling
Crew leadershipRisk managementSite planningH&S complianceEmergency response
Earned from within: supervisors come up through operating roles. Add a Certificate of Competence and it's leadership-level pay with a path to site management.