NOC 83101: Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers control the operation of drilling and hoisting equipment on drilling and service rigs, and direct the activities of the rig crew under supervision of the rig manager. Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers operate specialized mechanical or electronic equipment, tools or instruments to provide services in conjunction with well drilling, completion or servicing. They are employed by drilling and well service contractors, petroleum producing companies and well logging or testing companies.
Official Main Duties for NOC 83101
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 83101
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers 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 83101.
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) | $26.37 | $47.12/hr | $70 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $28.75/hr | $35/hr | $60/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $22.16/hr | $36.81/hr | $71.84/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $21.87/hr | $34.73/hr | $52.36/hr |
| Ontario → | $21/hr | $34.34/hr | $44/hr |
| Manitoba → | $32/hr | $35.77/hr | $52/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $34.5/hr | $42/hr | $57/hr |
| Alberta → | $25/hr | $48.5/hr | $70/hr |
| British Columbia → | $25/hr | $43/hr | $70.97/hr |
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.
- Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers require three to six months of formal on-the-job training, college or petroleum industry-approved training courses and four or more years of work experience in subordinate rig crew positions.
- A college diploma in drilling may be required.
- Offshore work requires several years of experience in an equivalent position on land.
- Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, well control, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) and a special oil well operator (boiler) certificate are required.
- Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers require three to six months of formal on-the-job training and several years of experience in subordinate logging and testing positions or on drilling and servicing rigs.
- Completion of a college program in electronics or engineering technology may be required for open hole well logging.
- A provincial blaster's licence, and seismic blaster and oil well blaster certification are required for well perforation services.
- Trade certification for rig technician is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified rig technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Official Job Titles for NOC 83101
37 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:
- 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→
- Rig manager (See 82021 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services)View NOC 82021→
- Water well drillers (See 72501 Water well drillers)View NOC 72501→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 83101 (Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers)
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 83101, explore your TEER 3 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.