National Occupational Classification, TEER 2
NOC 72104: Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters fabricate, assemble, fit and install steel or other metal components for buildings, bridges, tanks, towers, boilers, pressure vessels and other similar structures and products. Below are the main duties, all 56 job titles it covers, what it means for Express Entry and what it pays in each province.
Updated
- Official NOC 2021 data
- Job Bank wages
What is NOC 72104?
NOC 72104 is the code for structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include metal fabricator, plater, platework fitter and shipfitter. It is a TEER 2 occupation (usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or a supervisory role), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $29.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 72104
- TEER
- 2: College diploma or apprenticeship of 2+ years
- Broad category
- Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $29.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 72104
Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters fabricate, assemble, fit and install steel or other metal components for buildings, bridges, tanks, towers, boilers, pressure vessels and other similar structures and products. They are employed in structural steel, boiler and platework fabrication plants and by heavy machinery manufacturing and shipbuilding companies. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main job titles
- metal fabricator
- plater
- platework fitter
- shipfitter
- shipfitter apprentice
- steel fabricator
- structural steel fitter
All 56 job titles in the NOC index
apprentice fitter - shipbuilding, apprentice metal fabricator, apprentice metal shipwright, apprentice shipfitter, apprentice ship's plater, apprentice steel fabricator, apprentice structural metal and platework fabricator, apprentice structural steel and platework fitter, apprentice structural steel fabricator, bridge and girder plater, fabricator - structural metal, fitter - metal fabrication, fitter - shipbuilding, fitter - structural metal fabrication, fitter lead hand - structural metal and platework, marine steel fitter, metal fabricator, metal fabricator - structural metal and platework, metal fabricator (fitter), metal preparation lead hand - structural metal and platework, metal shipwright, plater, plater - shipbuilding, plater-welder, platework fabricator, platework fabricator and fitter, platework fitter, shaper, structural steel plates, shipbuilding fitter, shipfitter, shipfitter apprentice, ship's plater, steel fabricator, steel fabricator - structural metal and platework, steel fitter - metal platework, steel fitter - structural metal, steel plate shaper - ships, structural metal and platework fabricator, structural metal and platework fabricator apprentice, structural metal and platework fitter, structural metal and platework fitter-welder, structural metal and platework layout developer, structural metal and platework layout marker, structural metal and platework plater, structural metal fabricator, structural metal fitter, structural metal fitter-assembler, structural metal layout marker, structural metal worker, structural steel and platework fitter, structural steel fabricator, structural steel fitter, structural steel plate shaper, structural steel plate worker-fitter, structural steelwork and platework fitter, tube fitter - structural metal and platework.
Main duties of NOC 72104
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Study engineering drawings and blueprints, determine the materials required, and plan the sequence of tasks to cut metal most efficiently
- Construct patterns and templates as guides for layouts
- Lay out reference points and patterns on heavy metal according to component specifications
- Rig, hoist and move materials to storage areas or within worksite
- Assemble and fit metal sections and plates to form complete units or subunits using tack welding, bolting, riveting or other methods
- Set up and operate various heavy-duty metal-working machines such as brake presses, shears, cutting torches, grinders and drills, including computer numerical control (CNC) equipment, to bend, cut, form, punch, drill or otherwise form heavy-metal components
- Install fabricated components in final product.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in structural steel and platework fabrication is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
- Trade certification for metal fabricators (fitters) is available, but voluntary, in all provinces.
- Trade certification for marine technicians is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia and British Columbia.
- Trade certification for piledriver and bridgeworker is available in British Columbia.
- Trade certification for boiler and related equipment assemblers and structural metal fabricators (non-construction) is available, but voluntary, in Quebec.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified metal fabricators (fitters) upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Additional information
- The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
- Some structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters may also be certified as skilled welders.
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Is NOC 72104 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 2 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 72104 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | A listed skilled trade |
| Occupation category draws (2026) | Not on any occupation list |
| French-language proficiency (category draw) | Open to any occupation with NCLC 7 in French |
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 72104 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.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $21.00 | $29.00 | $43.30 |
| Nova Scotia | $21.49 | $30.00 | $42.00 |
| New Brunswick | $20.00 | $25.75 | $40.24 |
| Quebec | $20.00 | $26.80 | $43.46 |
| Ontario | $20.00 | $27.48 | $37.00 |
| Manitoba | $18.00 | $24.00 | $30.80 |
| Saskatchewan | $21.00 | $28.00 | $38.50 |
| Alberta | $22.00 | $33.00 | $44.00 |
| British Columbia | $24.00 | $35.00 | $46.15 |
Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Employment Insurance Survey Data). 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.
Using NOC 72104 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 72104 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 metal fabricator?
NOC 72104, Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters, a TEER 2 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 72104?
TEER 2. Usually a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or a supervisory role. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 72104 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes. As a TEER 2 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, and it is also a listed Federal Skilled Trades occupation. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.
Is NOC 72104 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
No. It is not on any 2026 occupation list. The French-language proficiency category is open to any occupation if you reach NCLC 7 in French. See every category.
How much does NOC 72104 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $29.00 an hour, with most wages between $21.00 and $43.30. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 72104 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.