NOC 92101: Water and waste treatment plant operators
Water treatment plant operators monitor and operate computerized control systems and related equipment in water filtration and treatment plants to regulate the treatment and distribution of water. Liquid waste plant operators monitor and operate computerized control systems and related equipment in wastewater, sewage treatment and liquid waste plants to regulate the treatment and disposal of sewage and wastes. They are employed by municipal governments and industrial facilities. This unit group also includes waste treatment plant operators in composting plants and other waste management facilities.
Official Main Duties for NOC 92101
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 92101
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Water and waste treatment plant operators is categorized under TEER 2. 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 92101.
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 | $36.06/hr | $48 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $25.4/hr | $32.78/hr | $41.08/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $23.39/hr | $30.29/hr | $37.43/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $23.39/hr | $30.85/hr | $37.77/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $23.39/hr | $30.29/hr | $37.43/hr |
| Quebec → | $22/hr | $31/hr | $48.3/hr |
| Ontario → | $27/hr | $38.11/hr | $52/hr |
| Manitoba → | $24.1/hr | $27.88/hr | $40/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $23/hr | $31.23/hr | $45/hr |
| Alberta → | $28/hr | $41/hr | $49.45/hr |
| British Columbia → | $28.8/hr | $36.8/hr | $45.07/hr |
| Yukon → | $22.83/hr | $34.17/hr | $54.89/hr |
| Northwest Territories → | $23.07/hr | $34.05/hr | $49.08/hr |
| Nunavut → | $19/hr | $34.8/hr | $54/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.
- College or industry training courses in chemistry, pollution control or related subjects are usually required.
- Certification in water treatment and distribution (level according to the classification of the plant) is required for water treatment plant operators.
- Drinking water certification is required in Quebec and Ontario for operators whose work involves water treatment and distribution.
- Certification in wastewater collection and wastewater treatment (level according to the classification of the plant) is required for wastewater treatment plant operators.
- Solid waste, landfill or compost facility operator certification may be required for operators in waste treatment plants.
- Certification in workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), and courses in safety practices may be required.
- On-the-job training is provided.
- Previous experience as a worker in the water treatment or wastewater field may be required.
Official Job Titles for NOC 92101
31 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:
- Chemical engineers (See 21320 Chemical engineers)View NOC 21320→
- Chemical technologists and technicians (See 22100 Chemical technologists and technicians)View NOC 22100→
- Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities (See 92011 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities)View NOC 92011→
- Utility Maintenance Workers (See 74204 Utility maintenance workers)View NOC 74204→
- Waterworks labourer (See 95102 Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities)View NOC 95102→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 92101 (Water and waste treatment plant 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 92101, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.