National Occupational Classification, TEER 3
NOC 73301: Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators drive buses and operate streetcars, subway trains and light rail transit vehicles to transport passengers on established routes. Below are the main duties, all 27 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 73301?
NOC 73301 is the code for bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include bus driver, bus operator, light rail transit operator and motor coach driver. 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. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $25.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 73301
- TEER
- 3: College diploma, apprenticeship under 2 years or 6+ months of training
- Broad category
- Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $25.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 73301
Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators drive buses and operate streetcars, subway trains and light rail transit vehicles to transport passengers on established routes. Bus drivers are employed by urban transit systems, school boards or transportation authorities and private transportation companies. Streetcar, subway and light rail transit operators are employed by urban transit systems.
Main job titles
- bus driver
- bus operator
- light rail transit operator
- motor coach driver
- public passenger transit driver
- school bus driver
- sightseeing tour driver
- streetcar operator
- subway train operator
- transit operator - transportation
All 27 job titles in the NOC index
articulated bus operator, bus driver, bus driver - special needs passengers, bus operator, bus operator - accessible services, charter bus driver, intercity bus driver, light rail transit operator, long distance bus driver, motor coach driver, public passenger transit driver, school bus driver, school bus driver - special needs passengers, shuttle bus driver, shuttle driver - auto dealership, shuttle driver - car rental company, shuttle operator, sightseeing bus driver, sightseeing tour driver, streetcar conductor, streetcar operator, subway train operator, tour bus operator, transit operator - transportation, trolley bus operator, trolley coach driver, urban transit operator.
Main duties of NOC 73301
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Bus drivers and streetcar operators
- Drive buses or streetcars to transport passengers along established routes to local destinations
- Drive buses to transport passengers and goods to intercity or long distance destinations
- Drive sightseeing tour buses to transport passengers locally or over long distances
- Drive buses equipped for wheelchair accessibility, and aid passengers in boarding
- Provide passengers with information on fares, schedules and stops
- Collect fares, issue and validate transfers, check bus passes and record transactions
- Conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections of vehicle
- Communicate with passengers, dispatchers or other drivers using two-way radio systems
- Report delays, mechanical problems and accidents
- May provide information on points of interest during sightseeing tours
- May load and unload passengers' luggage and express freight.
School bus drivers
- Drive school buses to transport children between school and home or on excursions
- Ensure children's safety when boarding and leaving buses and crossing street while bus is stopped
- Maintain control of student activities during travel to prevent distractions or behaviours that could compromise safety
- May transport adults outside of school hours on chartered trips.
Subway train and light rail transit operators
- Operate subway or rail transit vehicles as part of two-person crew
- Observe signals at crossings and arrival and departure points
- Operate controls to open and close transit vehicle doors
- Report delays, malfunctions and accidents to control unit
- Ensure passenger safety and welfare in emergencies, and direct passengers during evacuation procedures.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Up to three months of on-the-job training, including classroom instruction, is usually provided for all occupations in this unit group.
- A minimum of one year of safe driving experience is required.
- Bus drivers require a Class B, C, E or F driver's licence in Ontario, and a Class 2 driver's licence is required in all other provinces and the territories.
- An air brakes endorsement and first aid certificate may be required.
- Experience as a public transit bus driver is usually required for subway and light rail transit operators.
Additional information
- Progression to transit supervisory positions, inspector or training instructor positions is possible with experience.
Is NOC 73301 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 3 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 73301 |
|---|---|
| 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 73301 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 | $17.18 | $25.00 | $37.68 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $21.00 | $28.85 |
| Prince Edward Island | $17.00 | $23.50 | $28.21 |
| Nova Scotia | $19.98 | $25.00 | $30.40 |
| New Brunswick | $20.00 | $23.60 | $27.50 |
| Quebec | $17.86 | $23.50 | $34.60 |
| Ontario | $17.60 | $22.43 | $38.00 |
| Manitoba | $18.00 | $24.00 | $31.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $16.00 | $22.00 | $30.00 |
| Alberta | $16.25 | $27.50 | $37.00 |
| British Columbia | $21.00 | $31.11 | $40.19 |
| Yukon | $27.10 | $35.96 | $43.83 |
| Northwest Territories | $19.97 | $28.20 | $34.59 |
| Nunavut | $19.00 | $22.50 | $37.71 |
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 73301 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 73301 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 bus driver?
NOC 73301, Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators, a TEER 3 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 73301?
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 73301 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, 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 73301 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 73301 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $25.00 an hour, with most wages between $17.18 and $37.68. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 73301 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.