Skip to main content

NOC 73311: Railway conductors and brakemen/women

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

Railway conductors coordinate and supervise the activities of passenger and freight train crew members. Brakemen check train brakes and other systems and equipment prior to train run, and assist railway conductors in activities en route. They are employed by railway transport companies.

Median Pay$43.27/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 3Express Entry pool
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles20 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 73311

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.

20 official aliases
Checklist (12 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 12 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 73311, 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 73311

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Railway conductors and brakemen/women 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

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 73311.

Former NOC 73624-Digit Legacy
Railway conductors and brakemen/women
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)$24.31$43.27/hr$56.25
New Brunswick โ†’$25/hr$37.1/hr$44/hr
Quebec โ†’$37/hr$47/hr$57/hr
Ontario โ†’$26.67/hr$44/hr$50/hr
Manitoba โ†’$26/hr$41.67/hr$62.5/hr
Saskatchewan โ†’$25.53/hr$45.83/hr$69.23/hr
Alberta โ†’$17.95/hr$42/hr$56.25/hr
British Columbia โ†’$29.63/hr$41.32/hr$52.84/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
$40.58/hr
$26.55 - $48.09
Toronto
$43.36/hr
$31.21 - $53.92
Edmonton
$42/hr
$15 - $56.25
Vancouver
$41.21/hr
$31.11 - $49.68

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 brakeman/woman is required for conductors.
  • Experience as a railway worker is usually required for brakemen/women.
  • Railway conductors require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
  • Brakemen/women require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.

Official Job Titles for NOC 73311

20 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:

brakeman/womanconductor - switching yardfreight train conductorfront-end brakeman/womanpassenger train conductorrailway conductorroad freight brakeman/womantail-end brakeman/womanbrake worker - switching yardbrakeman/woman - railwaybrakeman/woman - railway yardbrakeman/woman - switching yardconductor - railway yardconductor - road freightfreight train brakeman/womanhead brakeman/womanpassenger train brakeman/womanpullman conductorsleeping car conductortrain conductor

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

  • Railway and yard locomotive engineers (See 73310 Railway and yard locomotive engineers)View NOC 73310โ†’
  • Supervisors, railway transport operations (See 72023 Supervisors, railway transport operations)View NOC 72023โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 73311 (Railway conductors and brakemen/women)

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

Yes. Because NOC 73311 is classified as TEER 3, 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 $43.27/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 conductors and brakemen/women was categorized under NOC 7362 (Railway conductors and brakemen/women). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 73311 under TEER 3.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 73311 is $40.58/hr in Ottawa, $43.36/hr in Toronto, $42/hr in Edmonton, $41.21/hr in Vancouver.
Next Steps for NOC 73311

Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs

Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 73311, explore your TEER 3 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026