NOC 74205: Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers

What is NOC 74205?

NOC 74205 is the code for public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include garbage truck driver, municipal maintenance equipment operator, public works maintenance equipment operator and salt truck operator. 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 $28.50 an hour.

NOC code

74205

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

$28.50 an hour

Job titles under NOC 74205

Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers operate vehicles and equipment to maintain streets, highways and sewer systems and operate trucks to collect garbage and recyclable materials. This unit group also includes workers who clear vegetation close to power lines. They are employed by municipal, provincial and federal public works departments, private contractors under contract with government public works departments and private companies involved in the collection of refuse and recyclable materials.

Main job titles

• garbage truck driver
• municipal maintenance equipment operator
• public works maintenance equipment operator
• salt truck operator
• sand spreader operator
• sewer-flushing truck operator - public works
• snow removal equipment operator - public works
• street flusher operator
• street sweeper operator
• utility arborist

All 43 job titles in the NOC index

collection truck driver - public works, drain roto servicer - public works, electrical forester, equipment operator - municipal public work, garbage collector - driver, garbage truck driver, garbage truck driver - public works, highway snow removal equipment operator, highway snowplow operator, maintenance equipment operator - public works, mechanical sweeper operator - public works, municipal maintenance equipment operator, municipal servicer drain roto, power sweeper operator - public works, public works maintenance equipment operator, recycling truck driver, recycling truck driver - public works, refuse truck driver - public works, road snowplow operator - public works, salt truck operator, salt truck operator - public works, sand spreader operator, sand spreader operator - public works, sanding truck operator - public works, sanitation truck driver, sewer flusher operator-driver - public works, sewer jet cleaner operator - public works, sewer jet machine operator - public works, sewer-flushing truck operator, sewer-flushing truck operator - public works, sewer-pipe-cleaning machine operator - public works, snow removal equipment operator - public works, sprinkling truck driver - public works, street flusher operator, street flusher operator - public works, street sprinkler operator - public works, street sweeper operator, street sweeper operator - public works, urban snow removal equipment operator - public works, utility arborist, utility forester, utility tree trimmer, utility tree worker.

Main duties of NOC 74205

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Operate garbage trucks to remove garbage and other refuse and dump loads at designated sites
• Operate street cleaning equipment such as street sweepers or other vehicles equipped with rotating brushes to remove sand, litter and trash
• Operate snowplows or trucks fitted with plow blades to remove snow from streets, highways, parking lots and similar areas
• Operate sewer maintenance equipment such as rodders and sewer jet cleaners to maintain and repair sewer systems
• Operate trucks equipped with apparatuses for spreading sand, salt or abrasives on roadways
• Operate chainsaws and other clearing equipment to fell trees and cut back vegetation close to power lines
• Check, lubricate, refuel and clean equipment and report any malfunctions to supervisor.

Employment requirements

• Some secondary school may be required.
• Experience as a public works labourer is usually required.
• On-the-job training is provided.
• A driver's licence appropriate to a specific type of equipment may be required.
• Trade certification for utility arborists is available, but voluntary, in Ontario and British Columbia.

Additional information

• Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Is NOC 74205 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.

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 74205 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

• Heavy equipment operators: 73400 Heavy equipment operators
• Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers: 85121 Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers
• Public works and maintenance labourers: 75212 Public works and maintenance labourers
• Public works maintenance equipment operators supervisor: 72021 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
• Transport truck drivers: 73300 Transport truck drivers

Same minor group (7420 Transport equipment operators, utility maintenance and related maintenance workers)

• 74200 Railway yard and track maintenance workers, TEER 4
• 74201 Water transport deck and engine room crew, TEER 4
• 74202 Air transport ramp attendants, TEER 4
• 74203 Automotive and heavy truck and equipment parts installers and servicers, TEER 4
• 74204 Utility maintenance workers, TEER 4

Match my duties with AI

Using NOC 74205 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 74205 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 garbage truck driver?

NOC 74205, Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers, a TEER 4 occupation in NOC 2021.

What TEER is NOC 74205?

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 74205 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 74205 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 74205 pay in Canada?

The Job Bank median across Canada is $28.50 an hour, with most wages between $22.00 and $35.33. Pay varies by province: see the table above.

Where is the official description?

On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 74205 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.