Skip to main content

NOC 94132: Industrial sewing machine operators

Official definition · Statistics Canada NOC 2021 v1.0 · statcan.gc.ca ↗

Industrial sewing machine operators operate sewing machines to sew fabric, fur, leather or synthetic materials to produce or repair garments and other articles. They are employed in clothing, footwear, textile products, fur products and other manufacturing establishments and by furriers.

Median Pay$18/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 4PNP streams
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles87 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 94132

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.

87 official aliases
Checklist (9 official duties):Click each to toggle
💡
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 6 More
0%
0 of 9 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 94132, your employer letter should verify at least 6 main duties. Select 6 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed6 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 94132

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Industrial sewing 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

Open Full NOC Converter Tool

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 94132.

Former NOC 94464-Digit Legacy
Industrial sewing machine operators
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)$15.3$18/hr$23
Newfoundland and Labrador$16.13/hr$16.77/hr$17.37/hr
Nova Scotia$16.5/hr$18.71/hr$22.91/hr
New Brunswick$15.65/hr$16.88/hr$20.37/hr
Quebec$16.1/hr$18/hr$21/hr
Ontario$17.6/hr$17.6/hr$23/hr
Manitoba$16/hr$16/hr$18.9/hr
Alberta$17/hr$21/hr$21/hr
British Columbia$17.85/hr$20/hr$25/hr

🏙️Top Metropolitan Cities Wage Rates (ESDC 2025/2026)

Economic Region Benchmarks

Official ESDC prevailing median wages across major Canadian metropolitan regions. Crucial for LMIA prevailing wage compliance and local job offer evaluations.

Montréal
$18.01/hr
$16.39 - $20.59
Ottawa
$19.52/hr
$17.6 - $24.33
Toronto
$17.6/hr
$17.6 - $23
Calgary
$20.64/hr
$17.83 - $25.45
Edmonton
$20.3/hr
$17.78 - $25.69
Vancouver
$20/hr
$17.85 - $25

Employment Requirements

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

  • Some secondary school education is usually required.
  • Experience operating a sewing machine is usually required.
  • On-the-job training may be provided.

Official Job Titles for NOC 94132

87 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:

fur sewing machine operatorleather products sewing machine operatorlining stitchersample sewerserging machine operatorsewing machine operatorshoe sewerautomatic basting sewing machine operatorautomatic sewing machine operatorbag sewer - textile manufacturingbasting machine operator - sewingbinding machine operator - sewingbinding sewing machine operatorbinding stitcher - footwear manufacturingblindstitch-sewing machine operatorbutton stayerbuttonhole finisherbuttonhole machine operatorbuttonhole makerbuttonhole stayercanvas goods sewing machine operatorcarpet bindercarpet sewercloser - sewingcloser sewing machine operatorcloth mendercommercial sewing machine operatordomestic sewing machine operatordouble needle sewing machine operatordouble needle sewing machine stitcherdrapery headerdrapery heading makerdrapery sewerfabric menderfabric repairerfactory hat sewerfancy stitch machine operatorfootwear sewerfur goods sewerfur sewergarment braid maker - garment manufacturinggarment braider - garment manufacturinggarment mender - sewingglove stitcherhemmer machine operator - sewingindustrial sewing machine operatorjoiner sewing machine operatorleather bag sewerleather garment sewerleather garment sewing machine operatorleather glove repairerleather sewerleather-glove-stitching machine operatorleather-sewing machine operatorlining sewermachine button sewermachine operator - garment manufacturingmaterial mendermoccasin sewermultineedle sewing machine operatorovercaster - garment manufacturingovercasting machine operatoroveredging machine operatoroverlock sewing machine operatoroverseamer - garment manufacturingpiping-sewing machine operatorpocket setterprofile-pocket sewing machine operatorrug joinerrug sewerserger - garment manufacturingsewer - garment manufacturingshoe parts sewershoe stitchersingle-needle sewing machine operatorslide-fastener-sewing machine operatorslipper makerstitcher - garment manufacturingstitching machine operator - industrial sewing machinestocking stitchertacking machine operator - sewingtextile products mendertextile products sewertufted carpet menderunderwear sewervamp stitcherzipper-sewing machine operator

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

  • Embroidery machine operator (See 94131 Weavers, knitters and other fabric making occupations)View NOC 94131
  • Inspectors and graders, textile, fabric, fur and leather products manufacturing (See 94133 Inspectors and graders, textile, fabric, fur and leather products manufacturing)View NOC 94133
  • Mattress sewing machine operator (See 94131 Weavers, knitters and other fabric making occupations)View NOC 94131
  • Sewing machine operators supervisor (See 95105 Labourers in textile processing and cutting)View NOC 95105

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 94132 (Industrial sewing machine operators)

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

NOC 94132 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 $18/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, Industrial sewing machine operators was categorized under NOC 9446 (Industrial sewing machine operators). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 94132 under TEER 4.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 94132 is $18.01/hr in Montréal, $19.52/hr in Ottawa, $17.6/hr in Toronto, $20.64/hr in Calgary, $20.3/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 94132

Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs

Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 94132, explore your TEER 4 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026