NOC 43204: Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces

What is NOC 43204?

NOC 43204 is the code for operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include airborne electronic sensor operator, assault pioneer, combat engineer and naval combat information operator. It is a TEER 3 occupation (usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, and IRCC lists it for the skilled military recruits category draw. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $34.35 an hour.

NOC code

43204

TEER

3: College diploma, apprenticeship under 2 years or 6+ months of training

Broad category

Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

Express Entry

Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)

Category draws

Skilled military recruits

Median wage

$34.35 an hour

Job titles under NOC 43204

Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces provide operational support to soldiers including the proper functioning and testing of military equipment such as vehicles, ships and weapons. They follow the military and strategic policies established by the leadership of the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Airforce and the Royal Canadian Navy.

Main job titles

• airborne electronic sensor operator
• assault pioneer
• combat engineer
• naval combat information operator
• sonar operator

All 8 job titles in the NOC index

airborne electronic sensor operator, assault pioneer, combat engineer, mortarman/woman, naval acoustics operator, naval combat information operator, reconnaissance patrolman, sonar operator.

Main duties of NOC 43204

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Analyze equipment and system performance on all combat information equipment
• Maintain and operate engineering equipment, including weapons, vehicles, heavy equipment and supplies
• Inspect motors in operation, road test motor vehicles, and test automotive systems and components using computerized diagnostic and other testing devices to diagnose and isolate faults
• Configure and operate intelligence, surveillance and recognizance systems
• Oversee the construction of tools and devices to enable infantry soldiers to cross natural and man-made obstacles and break through enemy defenses
• Operate weapons and missile related equipment for defense.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• Three months of basic military training is required and provided.
• Occupational qualification training of at least six months is required.
• Specialized training in the operation and maintenance of military equipment and systems is provided.

Additional information

• Members of this unit group who demonstrate the required abilities and potential will be offered advanced training.

Is NOC 43204 eligible for Express Entry?

Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 3 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.

Read how TEER categories work and the full list of NOC codes in each 2026 category draw. Category draws also need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation within the past 3 years.

How much does NOC 43204 pay?

Job Bank wages for this occupation, per hour. Low and high are, in most cases, the 10th and 90th percentiles, so 8 in 10 workers earn somewhere between them.

Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2024 (Small Area Estimation). Wages for job offers in LMIA and provincial programs are compared with these figures, so check the current numbers on Job Bank before you rely on them.

Similar NOC codes to compare

If your work leans toward one of these, read its duties too. The closest match is the one whose lead statement and main duties describe most of what you did.

Classified somewhere else

• Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces: 40042 Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces
• Primary combat members of the Canadian Armed Forces: 44200 Primary combat members of the Canadian Armed Forces
• Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces: 42102 Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces

Same minor group (4320 Assisting occupations in legal and public protection)

• 43200 Sheriffs and bailiffs, TEER 3
• 43201 Correctional service officers, TEER 3
• 43202 By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers, TEER 3
• 43203 Border services, customs, and immigration officers, TEER 3

Match my duties with AI

Using NOC 43204 duties on your resume

Canadian resumes do not list NOC codes. Employers read your job titles, what you did and what came of it. The NOC duties are still a useful checklist: if you did these tasks, say so in your own words and add the numbers that prove it.

For Express Entry, the reference letter from your employer should describe the duties you really performed, in line with this lead statement and most of the main duties, without copying the NOC text word for word. The free reference letter generator checks your duties against NOC 43204 as you write.

• Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result: how many, how often, how fast.
• Use the job title your employer used, even if the NOC title is different.
• Keep immigration details such as your NOC code and permit type off the resume.

Turn my duties into a resume Free to start, no card.

Where this information comes from

Occupation codes, titles and descriptions are adapted from Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.

Wages come from Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.

Express Entry rules come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): the program pages for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the category-based selection page as modified on June 22, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the NOC code for a airborne electronic sensor operator?

NOC 43204, Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces, a TEER 3 occupation in NOC 2021.

What TEER is NOC 43204?

TEER 3. Usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.

Is NOC 43204 eligible for Express Entry?

Yes. As a TEER 3 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.

Is NOC 43204 in an Express Entry category-based draw?

Yes. IRCC’s 2026 list puts it in the skilled military recruits category. You need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same part-time) in it within the past 3 years.

How much does NOC 43204 pay in Canada?

The Job Bank median across Canada is $34.35 an hour, with most wages between $25.95 and $44.57. Pay varies by province: see the table above.

Where is the official description?

On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 43204 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.

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More on NOC codes and Canadian resumes

• NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
• NOC Codes Canada: Full List: All 516 NOC 2021 codes with their TEER, duties and wages.
• TEER Categories Explained: What TEER 0 to 5 means, which count for Express Entry, and every job in each one.
• Express Entry Category Draws: NOC Codes: Every NOC code on the 2026 healthcare, STEM, trades, education and other lists.
• Canadian Resume Examples by Job: Real examples for cashiers, caregivers, trades, tech, students and more.
• Newcomer Resume Guide: Turn international experience into a resume Canadian employers understand.