Skip to main content

NOC 72604: Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators

Official definition ยท Statistics Canada NOC 2021 v1.0 ยท statcan.gc.ca โ†—

Railway traffic controllers coordinate passenger and freight train traffic on railways. They are employed by rail transport companies. Marine traffic regulators monitor and regulate coastal and inland marine traffic within assigned waterways. They are employed by port, harbour, canal and lock authorities and by the Canadian Coast Guard.

Median Pay$41/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 2Express Entry pool
Priority StreamTransport PriorityCategory draws
Official Titles13 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 72604

Select the duties you perform in your actual job. Under IRCC guidelines, you must perform at least 60% of these duties for a successful work permit or PR reference letter.

13 official aliases
Checklist (13 official duties):Click each to toggle
๐Ÿ’ก
IRCC Reference Letter Rule:

Your employer reference letter must confirm you performed the main actions described in the duties above. Avoid copying words directly from the NOC description โ€” officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.

Live Match Scoreโš  Needs 8 More
0%
0 of 13 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 72604, your employer letter should verify at least 8 main duties. Select 8 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed8 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 72604

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators is categorized under TEER 2. Occupations in this tier typically require completion of a 2- to 3-year post-secondary diploma, apprenticeship training, or specialized technical certifications.

Express Entry Alignment

Qualifies directly for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. Work experience must be full-time (or equivalent part-time) and continuous for at least one year.

Target Category Status

Currently evaluated under standard General and CEC invitation rounds, or targeted through provincial in-demand lists such as Ontario (OINP), British Columbia (BC PNP), or Alberta (AAIP).

NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 Transition & Equivalency

Open Full NOC Converter Toolโ†’

Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, this occupation was mapped under the following 4-digit code(s). When preparing your Express Entry profile or work reference letters, you must use the new 5-digit code NOC 72604.

Former NOC 22754-Digit Legacy
Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
VC1 - Code Change
Job Bank Open Data (2025/2026)

Regional Wages Across Canada

Legal Benchmark for LMIA

Under Canadian immigration law, an employer hiring you under an LMIA must pay you at least the median wage listed below for your province.

Province / TerritoryLow WageMedian WageHigh Wage
Canada (National Average)$31$41/hr$54
Quebec โ†’$31/hr$41/hr$52/hr
Ontario โ†’$30.72/hr$40.47/hr$51.03/hr
Alberta โ†’$31.11/hr$43.11/hr$55.83/hr
British Columbia โ†’$30.2/hr$42.83/hr$61.62/hr

๐Ÿ™๏ธTop Metropolitan Cities Wage Rates (ESDC 2025/2026)

Economic Region Benchmarks

Official ESDC prevailing median wages across major Canadian metropolitan regions. Crucial for LMIA prevailing wage compliance and local job offer evaluations.

Ottawa
$39.98/hr
$30.92 - $47.56
Toronto
$44.25/hr
$31.63 - $53.37
Calgary
$44.21/hr
$33.8 - $55.26
Edmonton
$43.27/hr
$32.23 - $54.42
Vancouver
$45.36/hr
$32.69 - $63.78

Employment Requirements

These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:

  • Railway traffic controllers usually require completion of secondary school and several years of experience in the railway industry.
  • Up to 35 weeks of a combination of classroom and on-the-job training is provided for railway traffic controllers.
  • Railway traffic controllers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
  • Marine traffic regulators require completion of secondary school and several months of formal traffic regulator training.

Official Job Titles for NOC 72604

13 Titles Listed

If your current job title matches any of these official examples, this NOC code is likely the right choice for your Express Entry reference letter:

chief rail traffic controllermarine traffic regulatorrail traffic controllertrain operatorcentralized traffic control (CTC) operator - railway trafficcentralized traffic controller - railway trafficchief train dispatcherhead train dispatcherlocomotive dispatchermarine traffic controllertrain dispatchertrain dispatchers supervisorwaterway traffic checker

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:

  • Harbour master (See 70012 Facility operation and maintenance managers)View NOC 70012โ†’
  • Subway traffic controller (See 72024 Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators)View NOC 72024โ†’
  • Supervisors, railway transport operations (See 72023 Supervisors, railway transport operations)View NOC 72023โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 72604 (Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators)

Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.

Yes. Because NOC 72604 is classified as TEER 2, it qualifies for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry.
For an LMIA work permit, your employer must offer at least the median wage of $41/hr (or the prevailing median rate in your specific Canadian province of employment).
Under Section 75(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), your employment reference letter must confirm you perform the actions in the lead statement and a substantial number (recommended at least 60%) of the official main duties listed above. You do not need to perform 100% of the duties.
Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators was categorized under NOC 2275 (Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 72604 under TEER 2.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 72604 is $39.98/hr in Ottawa, $44.25/hr in Toronto, $44.21/hr in Calgary, $43.27/hr in Edmonton, $45.36/hr in Vancouver.
Next Steps for NOC 72604

Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs

Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 72604, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026