Skip to main content

NOC 93101: Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing

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

Central control and process operators in petroleum, gas and chemical processing monitor and operate petroleum, petrochemical and chemical plants and monitor, adjust and maintain processing units and equipment in these plants. They are employed by petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline and petrochemical companies and industrial, agricultural and specialty chemical and pharmaceutical companies.

Median Pay$50/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 3Express Entry pool
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles132 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 93101

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.

132 official aliases
Checklist (13 official duties):Click each to toggle
๐Ÿ’ก
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 8 More
0%
0 of 13 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 93101, your employer letter should verify at least 8 main duties. Select 8 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed8 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 93101

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing is categorized under TEER 3. 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

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 93101.

Former NOC 92324-Digit Legacy
Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing
VC1 - Code Change
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)$28$50/hr$67.64
Newfoundland and Labrador โ†’$41/hr$48.08/hr$67/hr
New Brunswick โ†’$22.12/hr$42.82/hr$54.95/hr
Quebec โ†’$43.86/hr$52.17/hr$66.39/hr
Ontario โ†’$25/hr$48.08/hr$65/hr
Manitoba โ†’$23/hr$49.3/hr$56/hr
Saskatchewan โ†’$30/hr$52.5/hr$63.6/hr
Alberta โ†’$32/hr$51.92/hr$72.12/hr
British Columbia โ†’$24.73/hr$51.12/hr$81.73/hr

Employment Requirements

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

  • Completion of secondary school is required. Mathematics, chemistry and physics subjects are often specified.
  • A college diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject may be required for some positions.
  • Petroleum and chemical process operators and process technicians require completion of several years of formal company training.
  • Experience as a petroleum or chemical process operator in all the operating units controlled by the central control room is required for chief operators.
  • Company certification as a petroleum process operator or technician may be required.
  • A provincial power engineer licence, compressor operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
  • Certification in the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), first aid, firefighting, or workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) may be required.

Official Job Titles for NOC 93101

132 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:

acid plant operatorchemical process operatorchemical processing chief technicianchlor-alkali plant cell room operatorgas field production operatorgas plant operatorgas recovery operatormaster operator - chemical processingoil refinery process operatorpanel operator - chemical processingpetroleum process operatorpharmaceutical processing operatorpipeline compressor station operatorprocess technician - chemical processingrefinery process technicianabsorption operatorabsorption plant operatoracid mixer operatoralkylation chief operatoralkylation operatoralkylation tower tenderalum-liquor plant operatorammonia plant operatorantibiotics fermenterassistant operator - chemical processingbatching chemical process operatorbatching process chief operatorbattery operator - oil and gasbenzol agitator operatorbitumen extraction plant operatorbitumen upgrading plant operatorboardman/woman - chemical processingbrine equipment tenderbrine purification operatorburner operator - petroleumcatalytic conversion operatorcatalytic cracking unit operatorcaustic cell operatorchemical process unit operatorchemical roasterchief operator - chemical processingchlorination plant operatorchlorine plant operatorcoal gas exhaust operatorcoal tar distillercolumn operator - chemical processingcompressor station operator - pipelinescontinuous process chief operatorcontrol panel operator - chemical processingcontroller - oilcracking plant operatordesulphurizer operatordesulphurizing unit operatordissolver-precipitatordistillation equipment operatordistillation operatorexplosives senior operatorfield contract operator - oil and gasfilter operator - petroleum, gas and chemical processingfractionator operatorfractionator operator - petroleumfuel gas treatergas control coordinatorgas control operatorgas controllergas dispatchergas field operatorgas liquefaction and regasification plant operatorgas pipeline operatorgas pressure regulatorgas processing compressor operatorgas processing controllergasoline catalyst operatorgas-treating unit operatorglycerine refinerglycerine refinery operatorgrease makerheavy water chemical process operatorhydrogen process plant operatorlead operator - chemical processingliquefaction plant operatornaphthalene clarifiernatural gas compressor operatornitric acid oxidation plant operatornitrocellulose makernitroglycerine makernitroglycerine nitrator operatornitroglycerine separatornitroglycerine separator operatoroil blenderoil controlleroil dispatcheroil field production operatoroil field pumperoil gaugeroil movement controlleroil movement coordinatoroil pipeline operatoroil refineroperating technician - chemical processingoperations technician - chemical processingoxygen recovery plant operatorpetroleum blenderpetroleum distillation operatorpetroleum refinerpetroleum refinery operatorpetroleum treaterpetroleum unit operatorphosphate process fertilizer makerpilot plant tenderpipeline gaugerpolymerization kettle operatorpolymerization unit operatorpower switchboard operator - chemicalprocess control system operatorprocessing laboratory operatorprocessing operator - chemical processingproduction operator - chemical processingpropellant blenderpump station operator - pipelinespumping station operatorpurification operator - chemical processingrefinery operatorrotary furnace tender - chemical processingsenior operator - chemical processingsterile products processor - chemical processingsulphuric acid plant operatorsynthesis chief operatortank farm operatorthermal acid equipment operatorupgrader process operator - petroleumwet explosives mixer

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 plant machine operators (See 94110 Chemical plant machine operators)View NOC 94110โ†’
  • Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities (See 92011 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities)View NOC 92011โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 93101 (Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing)

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

Yes. Because NOC 93101 is classified as TEER 3, it qualifies for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry.
For an LMIA work permit, your employer must offer at least the median wage of $50/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, Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing was categorized under NOC 9232 (Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 93101 under TEER 3.
Next Steps for NOC 93101

Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs

Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 93101, explore your TEER 3 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026