NOC 84101: Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators
Oil and gas well drilling workers operate drilling and service rig machinery as intermediate members of the rig crew. Oil and gas well services operators drive trucks and operate specialized hydraulic pumping systems to place cement in wells or to treat wells with chemicals, sand mixtures or gases to stimulate production. They are employed by drilling and well service contractors and by petroleum producing companies.
Official Main Duties for NOC 84101
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 84101
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators is categorized under TEER 4. Occupations in this tier typically require secondary school graduation or job-specific on-the-job training.
Express Entry Alignment
Classified under TEER 4, meaning this occupation does not qualify for direct Express Entry general pools. Candidates should focus on employer-driven Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) or federal pilot pathways.
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 84101.
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) | $25 | $40/hr | $47.3 |
| Quebec → | $19.5/hr | $25.9/hr | $36/hr |
| Ontario → | $22.94/hr | $30/hr | $41.6/hr |
| Manitoba → | $27.79/hr | $41/hr | $47.3/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $26/hr | $41/hr | $47.3/hr |
| Alberta → | $29/hr | $40.63/hr | $47.3/hr |
| British Columbia → | $27.09/hr | $41.75/hr | $47.5/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 required.
- Training of up to three months with an experienced operator is required for oil and gas well services operators.
- Completion of petroleum industry-approved training courses may be required.
- One year of experience as a floorhand, assistant or labourer is usually required.
- Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), cryogenic safety or in other safety concerns may be required.
- Rig technician certification for motorhands and derrickhands may be required by some employers.
- Oil and gas well services operators require a driver's license appropriate to the class of vehicle being driven.
Official Job Titles for NOC 84101
45 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:
- Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services (See 82021 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services)View NOC 82021→
- Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers (See 85111 Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers)View NOC 85111→
- 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→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 84101 (Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators)
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 84101, explore your TEER 4 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.