NOC 82021: Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services
Contractors and supervisors in oil and gas drilling and services supervise and coordinate the activities in drilling for oil or gas, operating service rigs, or providing oil and gas well services. They are employed by drilling and well service contracting companies and petroleum producing companies. Contractors may be self-employed.
Official Main Duties for NOC 82021
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 82021
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services 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
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 82021.
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) | $31.5 | $50/hr | $79.33 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $40/hr | $57.69/hr | $96.15/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $40.97/hr | $58.19/hr | $76.7/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $31.63/hr | $52.2/hr | $105.87/hr |
| Ontario → | $27.24/hr | $41.29/hr | $70.73/hr |
| Manitoba → | $25/hr | $40/hr | $60/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $35/hr | $50/hr | $76.92/hr |
| Alberta → | $32/hr | $50.96/hr | $73/hr |
| British Columbia → | $28.85/hr | $46.15/hr | $86.54/hr |
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- Completion of college or petroleum industry approved training courses is required.
- Extensive experience in the occupations supervised is required.
- A two-year college diploma in petroleum engineering technology may be required.
- Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, well control, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) or other safety and technical subjects are required and are obtained by completing short courses.
Official Job Titles for NOC 82021
26 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:
- Geological and mineral technologists and technicians (See 22101 Geological and mineral technologists and technicians)View NOC 22101→
- Managers in natural resources production and fishing (See 80010 Managers in natural resources production and fishing)View NOC 80010→
- Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers (See 83101 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers)View NOC 83101→
- Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators (See 84101 Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators)View NOC 84101→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 82021 (Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services)
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 82021, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.