National Occupational Classification, TEER 3

NOC 83120: Fishing masters and officers

Fishing masters and officers manage and operate saltwater and freshwater fishing vessels greater than 100 gross tonnes to pursue and land fish and other marine life. Below are the main duties, all 13 job titles it covers, what it means for Express Entry and what it pays in each province.

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  • Official NOC 2021 data
  • Job Bank wages

What is NOC 83120?

NOC 83120 is the code for fishing masters and officers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include fishing vessel boatswain, fishing vessel deck officer, fishing vessel first mate and fishing vessel master. 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 $40.26 an hour.

NOC code
83120
TEER
3: College diploma, apprenticeship under 2 years or 6+ months of training
Broad category
Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations
Express Entry
Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
Category draws
None
Median wage
$40.26 an hour

Job titles under NOC 83120

Fishing masters and officers manage and operate saltwater and freshwater fishing vessels greater than 100 gross tonnes to pursue and land fish and other marine life. They are employed by establishments engaged in operating commercial fishing vessels.

Main job titles

  • fishing vessel boatswain
  • fishing vessel deck officer
  • fishing vessel first mate
  • fishing vessel master
  • offshore fishing vessel captain
  • trawler captain

All 13 job titles in the NOC index

factory freezer trawler captain, fishing master, fishing vessel boatswain, fishing vessel bo'sun, fishing vessel captain, fishing vessel deck officer, fishing vessel first mate, fishing vessel master, fishing vessel mate, fishing vessel navigation officer, fishing vessel second mate, offshore fishing vessel captain, trawler captain.

Main duties of NOC 83120

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Command fishing vessels to catch fish and other marine life
  • Determine areas for fishing, plot courses and compute navigational positions using compasses, charts, tables and other aids
  • Steer vessels and operate navigational instruments and electronic fishing aids such as echo sounders and chart plotters
  • Direct fishing operations and supervise crew activities
  • Record fishing progress, crew activities, weather and sea conditions on ship's log
  • Select and train vessel crews.

Employment requirements

  • Some secondary school education is usually required.
  • One to two years of experience as a fishing vessel deckhand is required.
  • Captains require one year of service as officer in charge of the watch.
  • A Fishing Master's Certificate is required for all occupations in this unit group.
  • Marine Emergency Duties Certificate is required by Transport Canada.
  • A valid Fishing Vessel Operator Certificate is required for all occupations in this unit group.
  • A commercial fishing licence is required.

Additional information

  • Completion of Transport Canada examinations is required to advance from Fishing Master Class IV through Class I. Training programs are provided in provincial training centres.
  • Progression to merchant or government vessel officer positions (which require a Marine Officer Certificate) is possible with additional training and experience.

Is NOC 83120 eligible for Express Entry?

Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 3 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.

NOC 83120 and Express Entry
Program or drawNOC 83120
Federal Skilled Worker ProgramCounts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3)
Canadian Experience ClassCounts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3)
Federal Skilled Trades ProgramA 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 83120 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.

NOC 83120 wages by province and territory
AreaLowMedianHigh
Canada$20.00$40.26$100.00

Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Employment Insurance Survey Data). 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 83120 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 83120 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 fishing vessel boatswain?

NOC 83120, Fishing masters and officers, a TEER 3 occupation in NOC 2021.

What TEER is NOC 83120?

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 83120 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 83120 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 83120 pay in Canada?

The Job Bank median across Canada is $40.26 an hour, with most wages between $20.00 and $100.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.

Where is the official description?

On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 83120 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.

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