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NOC 84120: Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators

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

Specialized livestock workers carry out feeding, health and breeding programs on dairy, beef, sheep, poultry, swine and other livestock farms. Farm machinery operators operate and maintain farm machinery and equipment. They are employed on crop, livestock, fruit, vegetable and specialty farms.

Median Pay$22/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 4PNP streams
Priority StreamAgriculture PriorityCategory draws
Official Titles52 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 84120

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.

52 official aliases
Checklist (19 official duties):Click each to toggle
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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 12 More
0%
0 of 19 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 84120, your employer letter should verify at least 12 main duties. Select 12 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed12 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 84120

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery 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

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 84120.

Former NOC 82524-Digit Legacy
Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
RC4.2 - Split off

8252 continues as 82030 and part transferred to 72600 and part split off to emerging item 84120 and 85100

Former NOC 84314-Digit Legacy
General farm workers
RC4.1 - Breakdown

8431 expired, part transferred to 85101 and part split off to emerging item 84120 and 85100

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)$15$22/hr$32
Prince Edward Island โ†’$16.5/hr$20.18/hr$28.75/hr
Nova Scotia โ†’$16.5/hr$19/hr$31.95/hr
New Brunswick โ†’$15.65/hr$20/hr$31.41/hr
Quebec โ†’$16.1/hr$21/hr$30/hr
Ontario โ†’$17.6/hr$21.15/hr$32.5/hr
Manitoba โ†’$16/hr$21.54/hr$33/hr
Saskatchewan โ†’$17/hr$27.5/hr$40/hr
Alberta โ†’$15/hr$25/hr$32/hr
British Columbia โ†’$17.85/hr$20/hr$32/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
$20/hr
$17.6 - $41.79
Toronto
$20/hr
$17.6 - $28.85
Calgary
$23.16/hr
$16.87 - $32.78
Edmonton
$25/hr
$15 - $32
Vancouver
$22.56/hr
$17.85 - $32.53

Employment Requirements

These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:

  • Specialized livestock workers may require a college certificate or other specialized training in agriculture or livestock husbandry.
  • There are no specific education or training requirements for farm machinery operators. However, a college certificate or specialized courses related to farming, such as farm equipment mechanics, agricultural welding and pesticide application, are available.
  • Basic farm knowledge, usually obtained from working on a family farm, may be required for employment.
  • A course or certificate in first aid may be required.

Official Job Titles for NOC 84120

52 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:

artificial inseminatorcattle herdspersondairy herdspersonfarm machinery operatorharvester machine operatorhorse trainerpork production technicianswine herdspersonapiary technicianbaler - agriculturebaling machine operator - farmbeef cattle herdspersonbeekeeping technicianbinder operator - agriculturechick sexercombine operatorcowhandcropsprayer machine operatorcultivator operatorcustom combine operatorcustom harvest crewpersoncustom harvesterdressage and stunt horse trainerfarm equipment operatorfarm machinery custom operatorfarrowing techniciangrain custom harvesterhay baler operator - agricultureherd attendantherd superintendentherder - stockyardsherdsman/womanherdspersonhop-picking machine operatorhorse breakerlivestock attendantlivestock driverlivestock yard attendantlivestock yardman/womanpasture riderpenriderpork production technician apprenticeracehorse exerciserracehorse trainersheep handlersheep herdspersonshepherdstock attendantswine technicianthreshing machine operatortobacco harvesting machine operatortractor operator - farm

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 84120 (Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators)

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

NOC 84120 is in TEER 4, which is not directly eligible for standard Express Entry pools. However, you can apply through Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) semi-skilled streams or employer-sponsored work permits.
For an LMIA work permit, your employer must offer at least the median wage of $22/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, Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators was categorized under NOC 8252 (Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers) and 8431 (General farm workers). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 84120 under TEER 4.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 84120 is $20/hr in Ottawa, $20/hr in Toronto, $23.16/hr in Calgary, $25/hr in Edmonton, $22.56/hr in Vancouver.
Because TEER 4 is not eligible for direct Express Entry, your best routes are employer-supported Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) semi-skilled streams (such as SINP in Saskatchewan, AAIP in Alberta, or MPNP in Manitoba) or federal pilot programs like the Agri-Food Pilot.
Next Steps for NOC 84120

Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs

Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 84120, explore your TEER 4 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026