NOC 94106: Machining tool operators
Official definition · Statistics Canada NOC 2021 v1.0 · statcan.gc.ca ↗
Machining tool operators set up and operate or tend metal-cutting machines designed for repetitive machining work. They are employed by metal products and other manufacturing companies and in machine shops. This unit group also includes workers who etch or chemically mill metal pieces.
Median Pay$25/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 4PNP streams
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles154 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool
Official Main Duties for NOC 94106
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.
154 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 — officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.
Live Match Score⚠ Needs 4 More
0%
0 of 6 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 94106, 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 94106
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Machining tool 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 94106.
Former NOC 94174-Digit Legacy
Machining tool operators
VC1 - Code Change
Job Bank Open Data (2025/2026)
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) | $17.5 | $25/hr | $33.08 |
| Nova Scotia → | $21.52/hr | $26.76/hr | $33.66/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $23.21/hr | $26.7/hr | $33.47/hr |
| Quebec → | $20.61/hr | $25.26/hr | $33.53/hr |
| Ontario → | $17.6/hr | $24/hr | $34.5/hr |
| Manitoba → | $17.5/hr | $25/hr | $28/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $22.16/hr | $26.3/hr | $30.29/hr |
| Alberta → | $22/hr | $30/hr | $40.87/hr |
| British Columbia → | $22/hr | $26.4/hr | $31.75/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.
Montréal
$24.2/hr
$19.39 - $30.3
Ottawa
$26.43/hr
$21.68 - $32.12
Toronto
$26.23/hr
$20.27 - $33.17
Calgary
$28.09/hr
$23.06 - $33.16
Edmonton
$28.49/hr
$22.66 - $33.65
Vancouver
$26.39/hr
$22.43 - $32.21
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- Secondary school education is required.
- College or other courses in machining may be required.
- Several weeks of on-the-job training are provided.
- Senior positions in this unit group, such as set-up operator, require experience as a machine operator.
Official Job Titles for NOC 94106
154 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:
aircraft parts etcherboring mill operator - metal machiningcomputer numerical control (CNC) machining tool operatorlathe machining operatormachining tool operatormilling machine set-up operatorradial drill operator - metal machiningaircraft engine parts machine tool set-up operatorautomated machine tool set-up operatorautomatic screw machine operatorautomatic transfer machine operator - metal machiningaxle lathe operatorbarrel riflerbearing borerbearing grinderbench machine tool set-up operatorbolt-threading machine operatorboring machine operator - metal machiningboring mill set-up operator - metal machiningbrake drum lathe operatorbroaching machine operator - metal machiningbroaching machine set-up operator - metal machiningBullard multiple-spindle lathe operatorcamming machine operator - metal machiningcentreless cylindrical grinder set-up operatorcentreless cylindrical-grinder operatorcentreless grinder operatorcentreless grinder set-up operator - metal machiningchucking machine set-up operatorcomputer numerical control (CNC) lathe operator - metal machiningcomputer numerical control (CNC) profile mill operatorcomputer numerically controlled (CNC) machine set-up operator - metal machiningcomputer numerically controlled (CNC) machining centre operatorconnecting rod borercountersinker - metal machiningcustom screw machine operatorcutlery and tool etchercylinder grinder - metal machiningcylinder honer - metal machiningdiesinking machine set-up operatordrill press operator - metal machiningdrill press set-up operator - metal machiningdrilling and milling machine operator - metal machiningdrilling machine operator - metal machiningelectrical discharge machine (EDM) operatorelectrical discharge machine (EDM) set-up operatorelectrical discharge machine (EDM) tenderelectrochemical machining tool operatorelectrolytic etcher - metal machiningengine lathe set-up operatorexternal cylindrical grinder set-up operatorexternal cylindrical-grinder operatorfile cutter - metal machiningfile maker - metal machiningfirearms etchergear cuttergear grindergear-hob-milling machine set-up operatorgear-lapping machine operatorgear-milling machine set-up operatorgear-rolling machine operatorgear-shaper operatorgeneral machine tool set-up operatorgrinder set-up operator - metal machininggrooving machine set-up operator - metal machininghand lapper - metal machininghand tool filer - metal machiningheavy chucking lathe operator - metal machininghoning machine operator - metal machininghoning machine set-up operator - metal machininghorizontal boring and milling machine set-up operatorimpressing machine tender - metal machiningjig grinder set-up operatorkeyseating machine operatorlapping machine operatorlathe hand - metal machininglathe operator - metal machiningmachine operator - metal machiningmachine router - metal machiningmachine shop layer-outmachine shop layout markermachine tool operator - metal machiningmachine tool settermachine tool set-up man/womanmachine tool set-up operatormachine-tool setter - metal machiningmachining equipment set-up operatormain bearing borer - metal machiningmetal band saw operatormetal saw tooth grindermilling machine operator - metal machiningmilling machine settermotor vehicle cylinder grindermulti-function metal-cutting tool operatormultiple-spindle drill press operator - metal machiningmultiple-spindle screw machine operatormultiple-spindle vertical boring mill set-up operatormultiple-spindle vertical turret lathe set-up operatorname plate stampernumerical control (NC) drilling machine operator - metal machiningnumerical control (NC) machining tool operatornumerical control/computer numerical control (NC/CNC) machining tool operatornumerically controlled (NC) machine operator - metal machiningnumerically controlled (NC) machine tool operatornumerically controlled (NC) tracer operator - metal machiningpantograph milling machine set-up operatorpedestal drill operator - metal machiningpipe-threading machine operatorplaner operator - metal machiningprecision grinder operator - metal machiningprecision grinder set-up operatorprecision honing machine operator - metal machiningprecision lapper - metal machiningprecision lathe operator - metal machiningprinting-roller finisherprinting-roller grinderprinting-roller polisherproduction machine tool operatorproduction metal grinder operatorprofile milling machine operator - metal machiningprofiling machine operator - metal machiningradial drill press operator - metal machiningradial drill set-up operator - metal machiningrotary-head milling machine set-up operatorrouter operator - metal machiningscrew machine operator - metal machiningscrew threaderset-up operator - metal machiningshaper set-up operatorsingle-spindle drill press set-up operator - metal machiningsmall arms barrel threaderspiral bevel-gear cutting machine set-up operatorspiral bevel-gear generator set-up operatorspiral gear-generator operatorstraight bevel-gear cutting machine set-up operatorstraight bevel-gear generator set-up operatorsurface grinder set-up operatorthread cutter - metal machiningthread grinder set-up operatorthreader - metal machiningthread-grinder operatorthreading machine operatorthread-milling machine set-up operatortool grinder - metal machiningtool grinder set-up operatortool lapper - metal machiningtool-dresser operatortransfer machine tender - metal machiningturret lathe operator - metal machiningturret lathe set-up operatoruniversal grinder set-up operatorvertical boring mill operator - metal machiningvertical machining centre operatorvertical-spindle milling machine operator - metal machining
Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)
Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:
- Computer numerical control (CNC) programmer (See 22302 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians)View NOC 22302→
- Computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) programmer (See 22302 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians)View NOC 22302→
- Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations (See 72010 Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations)View NOC 72010→
- Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors (See 72100 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors)View NOC 72100→
- Tool and die makers (See 72101 Tool and die makers)View NOC 72101→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 94106 (Machining tool operators)
Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.
NOC 94106 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 $25/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, Machining tool operators was categorized under NOC 9417 (Machining tool operators). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 94106 under TEER 4.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 94106 is $24.2/hr in Montréal, $26.43/hr in Ottawa, $26.23/hr in Toronto, $28.09/hr in Calgary, $28.49/hr in Edmonton.
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 94106
Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs
Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 94106, explore your TEER 4 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.
NOC data: Statistics Canada NOC 2021 v1.0
··Last verified: September 2026