National Occupational Classification, TEER 4
NOC 74200: Railway yard and track maintenance workers
Railway yard workers regulate yard traffic, couple and uncouple trains and perform related yard activities. Below are the main duties, all 109 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 74200?
NOC 74200 is the code for railway yard and track maintenance workers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include ballast regulator operator - railway, car controller - railway, control tower operator - railway and machine operator - railway. It is a TEER 4 occupation (usually a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training), so it does not count as skilled work for Express Entry. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $36.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 74200
- TEER
- 4: High school or several weeks of training
- Broad category
- Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
- Express Entry
- Not skilled
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $36.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 74200
Railway yard workers regulate yard traffic, couple and uncouple trains and perform related yard activities. Railway track maintenance workers operate machines and equipment to lay, maintain and repair railway tracks. They are employed by railway transport companies.
Main job titles
- ballast regulator operator - railway
- car controller - railway
- control tower operator - railway
- machine operator - railway
- rail saw operator
- railway equipment operator
- railway track patroller
- railway trackman/woman
- section worker - railway
- signal tower operator - railway
- spike machine operator - railway
- switch tender - railway yard
- tie tamper operator - railway
- towerman/woman - railway transport
- yard coupler - railway
- yard worker - railway
All 109 job titles in the NOC index
aligner-tamper operator - railway, anchor-applicator operator - railway, automatic anchor-applicator operator - railway, ballast regulator operator - railway, ballast-equalizer operator - railway, ballast-leveller operator - railway, car controller - railway, car retarder operator - railway yard, control tower operator - railway, coupler - railway yard, fitter tracks - railway, freight car distributor - railway yard, gandy dancer - railway, interlocking cabin switcher - railway yard, interlocking signal box switcher - railway yard, journal box greaser - railway yard, lag bolter operator - railway, locomotive attendant - railway yard, locomotive distributor - railway yard, locomotive engine servicer, locomotive maintenance attendant, locomotive servicer, machine operator - railway, maintenance of way employee - railway, maintenance of way inspector - railway, mechanical tamper operator - railway, motor vehicle operator - pole yard, rail grinder - railway, rail sander, rail saw operator, rail saw operator - railway, rail-aligner operator - railway, rail-grinder operator - railway, rail-lifter operator - railway, railway car controller - railway yard, railway car distributor, railway car greaser, railway car lubricating specialist, railway car lubricator, railway car oiler, railway equipment operator, railway line inspector, railway maintenance equipment operator, railway signalman/woman, railway tank car servicer, railway tie inspector, railway track inspector, railway track maintenance equipment operator, railway track maintenance worker, railway track patroller, railway track repairer, railway track tamper operator, railway trackman/woman, railway train engine maintenance worker, railway-tie-injector operator, retarder operator - railway yard, section worker - railway, signal tower operator - railway, signalman/woman - railway transport, snowblower operator - railway, spike machine operator - railway, spike puller machine operator - railway, spike-driver operator - railway, spiker operator - railway, spiking machine operator - railway, switch tender - railway yard, switcher - railway yard, switching station switcher - railway yard, switchman/woman - railway, tamper operator - railway, tamper-aligner operator - railway, tamping machine operator - railway, tank car controller - railway yard, tie axe unit operator - railway, tie crane operator - railway, tie plate jack operator - railway, tie saw operator - railway, tie shear operator - railway, tie tamper operator - railway, tie-bed-scarifier operator - railway, tie-cutter operator - railway, tie-cutting machine operator - railway, tie-end-remover operator - railway, tie-injector operator - railway, tie-placer operator - railway, tie-plate-placer operator - railway, tower operator - railway transport, towerman/woman - railway transport, track broom machine operator - railway, track dresser - railway, track fitter - railway, track layer - railway, track maintenance worker - railway, track repairman/woman - railway, track tamper - railway, track-liner operator - railway, track-maintenance-machine operator - railway, trackman/woman - railway yard, trackmobile operator - railway, track-surfacing machine operator - railway, trackwalker - railway, trainman/woman - railway yard, transfer table operator - railway yard, turntable operator - railway yard, yard coupler - railway, yard switchman/woman - railway transport, yard trainman/woman, yard worker - railway, yardman/woman - railway.
Also included in this group
- motor vehicle operator - pole yard
Main duties of NOC 74200
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Railway yard workers
- Operate control panel switches from railway yard tower to set traffic signals and to activate train switches that regulate railway traffic in railway yards
- Operate car retarders, turntables and track switches to align locomotives and cars as required for coupling, uncoupling or servicing
- Switch cars according to instructions which indicate the location, disposition and number of cars
- Lubricate moving parts of railway cars and locomotives.
Railway track maintenance workers
- Operate machines and equipment such as sleeper sliders, anchors, rail lifters, drag drills, drag diggers, rail saws and tie-bar cranes to lay, maintain, repair, and align railway tracks, to transfer, spread, level and tamp ballast around ties and rails and to clear snow from tracks
- Clean and make minor repairs to machines and equipment
- Patrol assigned track sections to identify and report damaged or broken track
- Perform other track maintenance duties as directed.
Employment requirements
- Some secondary school education is usually required.
- Experience as a railway labourer is required.
- On-the-job training is provided.
- Railway yard workers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
Additional information
- Progression to a position such as brakeman is possible with experience.
Is NOC 74200 eligible for Express Entry?
Not for the main Express Entry programs, which need TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 work. TEER 4 jobs can still lead to permanent residence through some provincial and other programs, so check each program's own list.
| Program or draw | NOC 74200 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Does not count (TEER 4) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Does not count (TEER 4) |
| 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 74200 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 | $26.00 | $36.00 | $42.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $29.27 | $40.57 | $50.98 |
| Nova Scotia | $20.61 | $28.35 | $41.07 |
| New Brunswick | $27.88 | $34.00 | $42.00 |
| Quebec | $33.30 | $38.50 | $40.00 |
| Ontario | $28.85 | $37.00 | $40.00 |
| Manitoba | $23.90 | $35.00 | $41.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $26.52 | $34.19 | $44.41 |
| Alberta | $26.82 | $35.64 | $45.52 |
| British Columbia | $25.00 | $33.00 | $43.00 |
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 74200 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 74200 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.
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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 ballast regulator operator - railway?
NOC 74200, Railway yard and track maintenance workers, a TEER 4 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 74200?
TEER 4. Usually a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 74200 eligible for Express Entry?
Not for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Trades Program, which need TEER 0 to 3 work. Some provincial nominee programs and other pathways accept TEER 4 jobs.
Is NOC 74200 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 74200 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $36.00 an hour, with most wages between $26.00 and $42.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 74200 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.