NOC 84120: Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
8252 continues as 82030 and part transferred to 72600 and part split off to emerging item 84120 and 85100
8431 expired, part transferred to 85101 and part split off to emerging item 84120 and 85100
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) | $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 |
๐๏ธTop 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:
- 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 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:
- Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors (See 82030 Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors)View NOC 82030โ
- Harvesting labourers (See 85101 Harvesting labourers)View NOC 85101โ
- Livestock labourers (See 85100 Livestock labourers)View NOC 85100โ
- Managers in agriculture (See 80020 Managers in agriculture)View NOC 80020โ
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.
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.