NOC 94120: Sawmill machine operators
Sawmill machine operators operate, monitor and control automated lumbermill equipment to saw timber logs into rough lumber; saw, trim and plane rough lumber into dressed lumber of various sizes; and saw or split shingles and shakes. They are employed in sawmills and planing mills.
Official Main Duties for NOC 94120
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 94120
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Sawmill machine 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 94120.
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) | $19 | $27.35/hr | $37 |
| Nova Scotia → | $18.91/hr | $21.66/hr | $25.2/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $16/hr | $21.21/hr | $24.6/hr |
| Quebec → | $19/hr | $27/hr | $30/hr |
| Ontario → | $19.7/hr | $23.72/hr | $31.41/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $20.7/hr | $28.76/hr | $37.05/hr |
| Alberta → | $17/hr | $35/hr | $40/hr |
| British Columbia → | $25/hr | $32.5/hr | $37/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 usually required.
- College courses in wood processing technology may be required.
- Several weeks of on-the-job training are usually provided.
- Head sawyers and planer operators usually require several years of experience in other sawmill machine operating positions in the same company.
- A certificate in industrial first aid may be required.
Official Job Titles for NOC 94120
73 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:
- Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing (See 95103 Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing)View NOC 95103→
- Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders (See 94123 Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders)View NOC 94123→
- Other wood processing machine operators (See 94129 Other wood processing machine operators)View NOC 94129→
- Supervisors, forest products processing (See 92014 Supervisors, forest products processing)View NOC 92014→
- Woodworking machine operators (See 94124 Woodworking machine operators)View NOC 94124→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 94120 (Sawmill machine 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 94120, explore your TEER 4 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.