National Occupational Classification, TEER 3
NOC 73401: Printing press operators
Printing press operators set up and operate sheet and web-fed presses to print text, illustrations and designs on a wide variety of materials such as paper, plastic, glass, leather and metal. Below are the main duties, all 80 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 73401?
NOC 73401 is the code for printing press operators in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include apprentice pressman/woman, assistant pressman/woman, first pressman/woman and flexographic press 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. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $25.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 73401
- 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 73401
Printing press operators set up and operate sheet and web-fed presses to print text, illustrations and designs on a wide variety of materials such as paper, plastic, glass, leather and metal. They are employed by commercial printing companies; newspapers, magazines, and other publishing companies; and establishments in the public and private sectors that have in-house printing departments. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main job titles
- apprentice pressman/woman
- assistant pressman/woman
- first pressman/woman
- flexographic press operator
- offset press operator
- printing press operator
- rotogravure pressman/woman - printing
All 80 job titles in the NOC index
apprentice press operator, apprentice press operator - printing, apprentice pressman/woman, apprentice pressman/woman - printing, apprentice printing press operator, assistant press operator - printing, assistant pressman/woman, assistant pressman/woman - printing, commercial press operator, cylinder press operator - printing, cylinder press set-up operator, cylinder pressman/woman - printing, cylinder printing press set-up operator, first press operator - printing, first pressman/woman, first pressman/woman - printing, flat-bed press set-up operator, flexographic press adjuster, flexographic press operator, flexographic press set-up technician - printing, flexographic pressman/woman, gravure press operator, gravure pressman/woman, gravure printer - printing, gravure printing press operator, gravure proof press operator - printing, gravure proof puller - printing, gravure proof wallpaper puller, ink evaluation and press operator - printing, ink evaluation pressman/woman - printing, intaglio printer - printing, intaglio printing press operator, job printer, letterpress operator - printing, letterpress proof press operator - printing, letterpress proof puller - printing, lithographic offset proofer, lithographic offset proofing hand, lithographic press operator - printing, lithographic pressman/woman - printing, lithographic printer, newspaper press operator, newspaper pressman/woman, offset lithographic proof press operator - printing, offset machine operator, offset press operator, offset press operator - printing, offset pressman/woman - printing, offset printer, photoengraved plate proof press operator - printing, photoengraved plate proof puller - printing, plastic sheet offset press operator, platen press operator - printing, platen press tender, press operator - printing, pressman/woman - printing, printer, printing press assistant operator, printing press operator, printing technologist, proof press operator, proof press operator - printing, proof pressman/woman - printing, proofer - printing, proofing hand - printing, proofing press operator, rotary offset press operator, rotary press operator, rotogravure press operator - printing, rotogravure pressman/woman - printing, rotoprinter - printing, senior press operator - printing, senior pressman/woman - printing, sheet metal lithographic press operator, sheet metal lithographic pressman/woman, thermographic printer, wallpaper gravure proof press operator, wallpaper rotogravure press operator, Web press operator - printing, Web pressman/woman - printing.
Main duties of NOC 73401
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Review job orders to determine job specifications such as production time, colour sequence and quantities required, and advise press crew of these specifications
Mount plates or cylinders and make necessary adjustments
- Fill ink fountains and take measurements, make adjustments and determine settings to control colour and viscosity
- Set up press and check samples for ink coverage, alignment and registration
- Monitor regular press runs for quality and consistency using computer control console and make adjustments as required
- Remove and clean plates and cylinders at end of press run
- Direct activities of press crew and ensure that safety procedures are adhered to.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a college program in printing technology or A combination of on-the-job training and specialized high school, college or industry courses is usually required.
- Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Québec.
Additional information
- Progression to supervisory positions, such as pressroom supervisor, is possible with experience.
Is NOC 73401 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 73401 |
|---|---|
| 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 73401 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 | $18.27 | $25.00 | $35.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $17.25 | $20.00 | $25.50 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $21.50 | $30.00 |
| Quebec | $20.60 | $26.65 | $37.00 |
| Ontario | $19.00 | $25.00 | $35.00 |
| Manitoba | $18.00 | $24.00 | $31.50 |
| Alberta | $19.86 | $27.56 | $34.51 |
| British Columbia | $19.00 | $28.00 | $40.00 |
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 73401 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 73401 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 apprentice pressman/woman?
NOC 73401, Printing press operators, a TEER 3 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 73401?
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 73401 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 73401 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 73401 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $25.00 an hour, with most wages between $18.27 and $35.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 73401 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.