NOC 85111: Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers
Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers carry out a variety of general labouring duties and operate equipment to assist in the drilling and servicing of oil and gas wells. This unit group also includes labourers who assist in geophysical prospecting for oil and gas. They are employed by drilling and well servicing contractors and by petroleum producing companies.
Official Main Duties for NOC 85111
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 85111
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers is categorized under TEER 5. Occupations in this tier typically require secondary school graduation or job-specific on-the-job training.
Express Entry Alignment
Classified under TEER 5, 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 85111.
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) | $21.52 | $31/hr | $39.5 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $20/hr | $28/hr | $40/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $22/hr | $33/hr | $41/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $19/hr | $25/hr | $38/hr |
| Quebec → | $18/hr | $23/hr | $31.5/hr |
| Ontario → | $20.5/hr | $34/hr | $40.6/hr |
| Manitoba → | $26.5/hr | $38/hr | $40/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $24/hr | $34/hr | $40/hr |
| Alberta → | $23/hr | $31.86/hr | $39.5/hr |
| British Columbia → | $25/hr | $32/hr | $40/hr |
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- Completion of secondary school may be required.
- Completion of introductory college or petroleum industry-approved training courses may be required.
- Certificates in hydrogen sulphide awareness, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) or transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) may be required.
Official Job Titles for NOC 85111
44 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 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 85111 (Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers)
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 85111, explore your TEER 5 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.