National Occupational Classification, TEER 2
NOC 72604: Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
Railway traffic controllers coordinate passenger and freight train traffic on railways. Below are the main duties, all 13 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 72604?
NOC 72604 is the code for railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include chief rail traffic controller, marine traffic regulator, rail traffic controller and train operator. 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 $41.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 72604
- 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
- $41.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 72604
Railway traffic controllers coordinate passenger and freight train traffic on railways. They are employed by rail transport companies. Marine traffic regulators monitor and regulate coastal and inland marine traffic within assigned waterways. They are employed by port, harbour, canal and lock authorities and by the Canadian Coast Guard.
Main job titles
- chief rail traffic controller
- marine traffic regulator
- rail traffic controller
- train operator
All 13 job titles in the NOC index
centralized traffic control (CTC) operator - railway traffic, centralized traffic controller - railway traffic, chief rail traffic controller, chief train dispatcher, head train dispatcher, locomotive dispatcher, marine traffic controller, marine traffic regulator, rail traffic controller, train dispatcher, train dispatchers supervisor, train operator, waterway traffic checker.
Main duties of NOC 72604
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Railway traffic controllers
- Operate and monitor centralized traffic control systems to coordinate and follow railway traffic
- Chart train movements, calculate arrival and departure times and record rail traffic information
- Issue instructions to control the movement of passenger and freight train traffic and on-track mobile maintenance equipment
- Receive, record and relay train instructions to train crew by hand or radio telephone
- May supervise and train other railway traffic controllers.
Marine traffic regulators
- Direct and monitor vessel movements using radar or closed circuit monitors, remote radio systems and other telecommunication equipment
- Obtain position, course, speed and estimated arrival time of vessels and monitor vessel progress through traffic zone
- Issue clearance instructions to vessels, advise vessels of traffic volumes and weather conditions, and relay information to next marine traffic control sector
- Report accidents, distress signals, navigational hazards and other emergencies to authorities
- Maintain radio and telephone contact with adjacent marine control sectors and with vessels within area of jurisdiction
- Maintain log of vessel movements, size and structure.
Employment requirements
- Railway traffic controllers usually require completion of secondary school and several years of experience in the railway industry.
- Up to 35 weeks of a combination of classroom and on-the-job training is provided for railway traffic controllers.
- Railway traffic controllers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
- Marine traffic regulators require completion of secondary school and several months of formal traffic regulator training.
Additional information
- There is little mobility between traffic controlling occupations in the railway and marine sectors.
- With experience, railway traffic controllers may progress to supervisory positions in rail transport operations.
Is NOC 72604 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 72604 |
|---|---|
| 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 | Not a listed 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 72604 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 | $31.00 | $41.00 | $54.00 |
| Quebec | $31.00 | $41.00 | $52.00 |
| Ontario | $30.72 | $40.47 | $51.03 |
| Alberta | $31.11 | $43.11 | $55.83 |
| British Columbia | $30.20 | $42.83 | $61.62 |
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.
Using NOC 72604 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 72604 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 chief rail traffic controller?
NOC 72604, Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators, a TEER 2 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 72604?
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 72604 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. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.
Is NOC 72604 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 72604 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $41.00 an hour, with most wages between $31.00 and $54.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 72604 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.
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.