NOC 72404: Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors

What is NOC 72404?

NOC 72404 is the code for aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include aircraft gas turbine engine technician, aircraft hydraulics mechanic, aircraft inspector and aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) (except avionics). 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, and IRCC lists it for the transport category draw. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $39.00 an hour.

NOC code

72404

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

Transport

Median wage

$39.00 an hour

Job titles under NOC 72404

Aircraft mechanics maintain, repair, overhaul, modify and test aircraft structural, mechanical and hydraulic systems. Aircraft inspectors inspect aircraft and aircraft systems following manufacture, modification, maintenance, repair or overhaul. Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors are employed by aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul establishments, and by airlines and other aircraft operators. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Main job titles

• aircraft gas turbine engine technician
• aircraft hydraulics mechanic
• aircraft inspector
• aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) (except avionics)
• aircraft mechanic
• aircraft repair and overhaul inspector
• aircraft repair shop inspector
• aircraft structural repair technician
• aircraft systems inspector
• aviation mechanical component shop technician
• certified aircraft technician
• flight test inspector

All 84 job titles in the NOC index

aero-engine mechanic, aero-engine technician, aircraft accessories mechanic, aircraft accessories overhaul mechanic, aircraft accessories overhaul technician, aircraft accessories repairer, aircraft accessories repairman/woman, aircraft body repairer, aircraft composite and sheet metal repairer, aircraft engine accessories overhaul mechanic, aircraft engine inspector, aircraft engine mechanic, aircraft engine mechanical systems overhaul inspector, aircraft engine mechanical systems technician, aircraft engine overhaul inspector, aircraft engine overhaul mechanic, aircraft engine repair and overhaul mechanic, aircraft engine technician, aircraft engine tester, aircraft gas turbine engine technician, aircraft hydraulics inspector, aircraft hydraulics mechanic, aircraft hydraulics shop technician, aircraft hydraulics technician, aircraft hydraulics tester, aircraft inspector, aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) (except avionics), aircraft maintenance mechanic apprentice, aircraft maintenance technician, aircraft mechanic, aircraft mechanic experimental, aircraft mechanic learner, aircraft mechanical and fuel systems overhaul and repair mechanic, aircraft mechanical systems flight tests inspector, aircraft mechanical systems inspector, aircraft mechanical systems junior mechanic, aircraft mechanical systems maintenance technician, aircraft mechanical systems mechanic, aircraft mechanical systems modification mechanic, aircraft mechanical systems preflight mechanic, aircraft mechanical systems repair and overhaul inspector, aircraft mechanical systems repair inspector, aircraft mechanical systems repair shop inspector, aircraft mechanical systems technician, aircraft plumbing and hydraulics mechanic, aircraft power plant mechanic, aircraft propeller inspector, aircraft propeller systems technician, aircraft propulsion technician, aircraft reciprocating engine technician, aircraft repair and overhaul inspector, aircraft repair shop inspector, aircraft rotary mechanical systems technician, aircraft safety systems mechanic, aircraft sheet metal technician, aircraft skin repairer, aircraft structural repair technician, aircraft structural technician, aircraft structures technician - Canadian Armed Forces, aircraft systems inspector, airframe mechanic, apprentice aircraft maintenance engineer (AME), apprentice aircraft mechanical systems mechanic, aviation maintenance inspector, aviation mechanical component shop technician, certified aircraft technician, composite repair technician - aircraft, engine accessories overhaul mechanic, experimental aircraft mechanic, flight line mechanic, flight test aircraft mechanic, flight test inspector, gas turbine engine mechanic, helicopter mechanic, helicopter mechanical systems inspector, mechanical systems aircraft maintenance engineer (AME), preflight mechanic, propulsion technician, rotorcraft aircraft maintenance engineer (AME), rotorcraft maintenance engineer, rotorcraft mechanical systems technician, structural repair technician, structures aircraft maintenance engineer (AME), structures mechanic.

Main duties of NOC 72404

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Aircraft mechanics

• Troubleshoot aircraft structural, mechanical or hydraulic systems to identify problems and adjust and repair systems according to specifications, technical drawings, manuals and established procedures
• Repair and overhaul aircraft structural, mechanical or hydraulic systems
• Install or modify aircraft engines and mechanical, hydraulic, flight control, fuel and pneumatic systems
• Dismantle airframes, aircraft engines or other aircraft systems for repair, overhaul and cleaning, and reassemble
• Perform and document routine maintenance
• Order and maintain inventory of parts and supplies.
• Aircraft mechanics usually specialize in working on specific aircraft systems such as engines, engine accessories, airframes, propellers, mechanical components or hydraulic systems and specific kinds of aircraft, such as light aircraft, jet transports and helicopters.

Aircraft inspectors

• Inspect structural and mechanical systems of aircraft and ensure that these systems meet Transport Canada and company standards of performance and safety
• Inspect work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, repair and overhaul, or modification of aircraft and aircraft mechanical systems to ensure adherence to standards and procedures
• Maintain detailed repair, inspection and certification records of aircraft.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• A college diploma in aircraft maintenance or Completion of a four-year apprenticeship program is usually required.
• Several years of on-the-job training are required for aircraft mechanics.
• Aircraft mechanics and inspectors who sign maintenance releases and certify airworthiness require an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer's (AME) licence issued by Transport Canada.
• Trade certification for aircraft maintenance engineers is available, but voluntary, in Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
• Trade certification for aircraft structural technicians is available, but voluntary, in British Columbia.
• Industry certification from the Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council for some occupations in this unit group is available, but voluntary.
• Aircraft inspectors require several years of experience as an aircraft mechanic.

Additional information

• Aircraft mechanics may progress to foreman/woman, shop supervisor or aircraft inspector.
• With experience, aircraft inspectors may progress to shop inspector or supervisor.
• Aircraft mechanics and inspectors may acquire further endorsements to their AME licence allowing them to inspect and certify a broader range of aircraft and aircraft systems.
• AME licences are issued in the following categories: M - Small and Large Aircraft, E - Electronic Systems, S - Aircraft Structures.

Is NOC 72404 eligible for Express Entry?

Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 2 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 72404 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 2023-2024 (Labour Force Survey). 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

• Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors: 93200 Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
• Aircraft engine assembly fitter: 72405 Machine fitters
• Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors: 22313 Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors
• Aircraft mechanics and inspectors foreman/woman: 72020 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
• Airworthiness inspector: 22231 Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers
• Non-destructive test technician: 22230 Non-destructive testers and inspectors

Same minor group (7240 Machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicles))

• 72400 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics, TEER 2
• 72401 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics, TEER 2
• 72402 Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, TEER 2
• 72403 Railway carmen/women, TEER 2
• 72405 Machine fitters, TEER 2
• 72406 Elevator constructors and mechanics, TEER 2

Match my duties with AI

Using NOC 72404 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 72404 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 aircraft gas turbine engine technician?

NOC 72404, Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors, a TEER 2 occupation in NOC 2021.

What TEER is NOC 72404?

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 72404 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 72404 in an Express Entry category-based draw?

Yes. IRCC’s 2026 list puts it in the transport 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 72404 pay in Canada?

The Job Bank median across Canada is $39.00 an hour, with most wages between $24.48 and $52.88. Pay varies by province: see the table above.

Where is the official description?

On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 72404 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.

Your duties fit. Now show employers.

CVMaple turns the work you did into a Canadian resume: the right format, strong bullets and the keywords Canadian applicant tracking systems look for.

Build my resume free

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.