National Occupational Classification, TEER 4
NOC 84101: Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators
Oil and gas well drilling workers operate drilling and service rig machinery as intermediate members of the rig crew. Below are the main duties, all 45 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 84101?
NOC 84101 is the code for oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include acidizer - oil field services, blender operator - oil field services, control room operator - offshore drilling and derrickhand. 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 $40.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 84101
- TEER
- 4: High school or several weeks of training
- Broad category
- Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations
- Express Entry
- Not skilled
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $40.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 84101
Oil and gas well drilling workers operate drilling and service rig machinery as intermediate members of the rig crew. Oil and gas well services operators drive trucks and operate specialized hydraulic pumping systems to place cement in wells or to treat wells with chemicals, sand mixtures or gases to stimulate production. They are employed by drilling and well service contractors and by petroleum producing companies.
Main job titles
- acidizer - oil field services
- blender operator - oil field services
- control room operator - offshore drilling
- derrickhand
- motorhand - oil and gas drilling
- offshore drilling rig technician
- oil well cementer - oil field services
- pumper operator - oil field services
All 45 job titles in the NOC index
acid treater - oil field services, acid truck driver - oil field services, acidizer - oil field services, ballast control operator - offshore drilling rig, blender operator - oil field services, blending machine operator - oil field services, carbon dioxide truck operator - oil field services, cement truck driver - oil field services, cementer - oil field services, cementing equipment operator - oil field services, chemical services operator - oil field services, chemical truck operator - oil field services, coiled tubing operator - oil field services, control room operator - offshore drilling, derrick worker - oil and gas drilling, derrickhand, derrickhand - offshore drilling, derrickhand - oil and gas drilling, derrickman/woman, derrickman/woman - oil and gas drilling, dynamic positioning operator - offshore drilling, formation fracturing operator, formation fracturing operator - oil field services, frac driver - oil field services, motorhand - offshore drilling, motorhand - oil and gas drilling, motorman/woman - oil and gas drilling, nitrogen operator, nitrogen operator - oil field services, nitrogen truck operator - oil field services, offshore drilling rig technician, oil well acidizer, oil well cementer - oil field services, pipeline locator - oil field services, power-tong operator, production tubing operator - oil field services, pumper - oil field services, pumper operator - oil field services, reeled tubing operator - oil field services, rig technician - motorhand, rig technician - oil field services, seismic buried facilities locator, snubbing-unit operator, well treatment blender operator - oil field services, well treatment pump operator - oil field services.
Also included in this group
- seismic buried facilities locator
Main duties of NOC 84101
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Oil and gas well drilling workers
- Use specialized equipment, information and maps to determine and document the location of buried pipelines and other utilities in preparation for seismic exploration and drilling activities
- Align and manipulate sections of pipe or drill stem from platform on rig derrick during removal and replacement of strings of pipe, or drill stem and drill bit
- Operate and maintain drilling mud systems and pumps during drilling, and mix mud, chemicals and additives
- Record mud flows and volumes and take samples
- Operate and maintain drilling rig diesel motors, transmissions and other mechanical equipment
- Assist in setting up, taking down and transporting drilling and service rigs
- Supervise floorhands and labourers.
- Oil and gas well services operators
- Drive well services truck to well site
- Assemble pumping equipment and attach pumps and hoses to wellhead
- Operate hydraulic pumping systems to pump chemicals, gases, sand, cement or other material into well
- Read gauges to monitor pressure, density, rate and concentration and adjust pumping procedure as required
- May mix chemicals and cements.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- Training of up to three months with an experienced operator is required for oil and gas well services operators.
- Completion of petroleum industry-approved training courses may be required.
- One year of experience as a floorhand, assistant or labourer is usually required.
- Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), cryogenic safety or in other safety concerns may be required.
- Rig technician certification for motorhands and derrickhands may be required by some employers.
- Oil and gas well services operators require a driver's license appropriate to the class of vehicle being driven.
Additional information
- Progression to oil and gas well driller or service rig operator is possible with experience.
- Progression to supervisor of well services is possible for gas and oil well services operators.
Is NOC 84101 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 84101 |
|---|---|
| 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 84101 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 | $25.00 | $40.00 | $47.30 |
| Quebec | $19.50 | $25.90 | $36.00 |
| Ontario | $22.94 | $30.00 | $41.60 |
| Manitoba | $27.79 | $41.00 | $47.30 |
| Saskatchewan | $26.00 | $41.00 | $47.30 |
| Alberta | $29.00 | $40.63 | $47.30 |
| British Columbia | $27.09 | $41.75 | $47.50 |
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 84101 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 84101 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 acidizer - oil field services?
NOC 84101, Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators, a TEER 4 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 84101?
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 84101 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 84101 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 84101 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $40.00 an hour, with most wages between $25.00 and $47.30. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 84101 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.