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NOC 94104: Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing

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

Inspectors and testers in mineral and metal processing inspect, grade, sample or test raw materials and products from mineral ore and metal processing operations. They are employed in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries, cement processing plants, clay, glass and stone processing plants and foundries.

Median Pay$26.24/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 4PNP streams
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles66 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 94104

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.

66 official aliases
Checklist (6 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 4 More
0%
0 of 6 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 94104, your employer letter should verify at least 4 main duties. Select 4 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed4 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 94104

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing 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 94104.

Former NOC 94154-Digit Legacy
Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal 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)$19.5$26.24/hr$40.12
Quebec โ†’$20/hr$25.88/hr$37.52/hr
Ontario โ†’$18.65/hr$25/hr$36.25/hr
Alberta โ†’$20/hr$32.65/hr$63.75/hr

Employment Requirements

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

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Experience as a machine or process operator in mineral and metal processing is usually required.

Official Job Titles for NOC 94104

66 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:

asbestos graderbrick and tile inspectorcastings tester - primary metal and mineral products processingclay products gradercore tester - foundryfibreglass testerglass quality control inspectorheat treating inspector - metal processingmetal processing inspectormineral sampler - mineral products processingmolten metal sampler - primary metal processingsalvage glass inspectorsheet steel inspector - primary metal processingsteel tester - primary metal processingabrasive and clay products graderabrasive wheel testeranode adjuster - primary metal processingasbestos classifierasbestos fibre inspector and testerasbestos shingle inspectorbrick and tile testerbrick gradercastings inspector - foundrycell tester - primary metal processingcement plant inspectorclay tile grader - mineral products processingcoke inspector - primary metal processingcoke sampler and tester - primary metal processingconcrete products inspectorconcrete products testercore inspector - foundryelectrolytic cell tester - primary metal processingfinishing inspector - primary metal and mineral products processingfoundry sand testerfurnace combustion tester - primary metal processingglass container testerglass inspectorglass testergravel grader - mineral products processinghardness tester - primary metal processingingots inspector - primary metal processinginspector - metal processinginspector - primary metal and mineral products processingiron pellet hardness tester - metal processinglaminated asbestos products inspectormetal strength tester - primary metal processingmetal tensile strength tester - primary metal processingmonument inspector - mineral products processingore sample tester - mineral products processingore sampler - mineral products processingphysical tester - steel millplasterboard inspector - mineral products processingpottery and porcelain ware inspectorquality assurance inspector - steel millsample tester - primary metal and mineral products processingsampler - primary metal and mineral products processingsheet and plate inspector - steel millsteel inspector - primary metal processingsteel sheet inspector - primary metal processingstone inspector - mineral products processingstonework gradertester and inspector - primary metal and mineral products processingtin plate inspector and graderuranium ore evaluatorwire products inspectorwire tester and inspector - primary metal processing

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

  • Assayer - mineralogy (See 22101 Geological and mineral technologists and technicians)View NOC 22101โ†’
  • Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing (See 93100 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing)View NOC 93100โ†’
  • Chemical technologists and technicians (See 22100 Chemical technologists and technicians)View NOC 22100โ†’
  • Machine operators, mineral and metal processing (See 94100 Machine operators, mineral and metal processing)View NOC 94100โ†’
  • Metallurgical control analyst (See 22101 Geological and mineral technologists and technicians)View NOC 22101โ†’
  • Non-destructive testers and inspectors (See 22230 Non-destructive testers and inspectors)View NOC 22230โ†’
  • Supervisors, mineral and metal processing (See 92010 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing)View NOC 92010โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 94104 (Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing)

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

NOC 94104 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 $26.24/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, Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing was categorized under NOC 9415 (Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 94104 under TEER 4.
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 94104

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Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 94104, explore your TEER 4 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026