NOC 73310: Railway and yard locomotive engineers
Railway locomotive engineers operate railway locomotives to transport passengers and freight. They are employed by railway transport companies. Yard locomotive engineers operate locomotives within yards of railway, industrial or other establishments. They are employed by railway transport companies and industrial or commercial users of rail transport.
Official Main Duties for NOC 73310
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.
Your employer reference letter must confirm you performed the main actions described in the duties above. Avoid copying words directly from the NOC description — officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.
Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 73310
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Railway and yard locomotive engineers is categorized under TEER 3. 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
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 73310.
Regional Wages Across Canada
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 / Territory | Low Wage | Median Wage | High Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (National Average) | $33 | $50/hr | $68.85 |
| Nova Scotia → | $28.04/hr | $45.85/hr | $56.34/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $37.82/hr | $50.52/hr | $60.68/hr |
| Quebec → | $31.97/hr | $43/hr | $64.9/hr |
| Ontario → | $32.05/hr | $56.09/hr | $72.12/hr |
| Manitoba → | $32.88/hr | $43.96/hr | $72.53/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $32.05/hr | $44.87/hr | $67.31/hr |
| Alberta → | $35.34/hr | $48.63/hr | $62.16/hr |
| British Columbia → | $36.55/hr | $54/hr | $69.71/hr |
🏙️Top Metropolitan Cities Wage Rates (ESDC 2025/2026)
Economic Region BenchmarksOfficial ESDC prevailing median wages across major Canadian metropolitan regions. Crucial for LMIA prevailing wage compliance and local job offer evaluations.
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Experience as a conductor is required for railway locomotive engineers and may be required for yard locomotive engineers.
- Experience as a railway yard worker may be required for yard locomotive engineers.
- Railway locomotive engineers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
Official Job Titles for NOC 73310
16 Titles ListedIf your current job title matches any of these official examples, this NOC code is likely the right choice for your Express Entry reference letter:
Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)
Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:
- Light rail transit operator (See 73301 Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators)View NOC 73301→
- Subway train operator (See 73301 Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators)View NOC 73301→
- Supervisors, railway transport operations (See 72023 Supervisors, railway transport operations)View NOC 72023→
- Train dispatcher (See 72604 Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators)View NOC 72604→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 73310 (Railway and yard locomotive engineers)
Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.
Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs
Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 73310, explore your TEER 3 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.