National Occupational Classification, TEER 5
NOC 85111: Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers
Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers carry out a variety of general labouring duties and operate equipment to assist in the drilling and servicing of oil and gas wells. Below are the main duties, all 44 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 85111?
NOC 85111 is the code for oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include floorman/woman - oil and gas drilling, leasehand, oil field labourer and roughneck. It is a TEER 5 occupation (usually a short work demonstration and no formal education), so it does not count as skilled work for Express Entry. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $31.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 85111
- TEER
- 5: Short work demonstration, no formal education
- Broad category
- Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations
- Express Entry
- Not skilled
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $31.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 85111
Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers carry out a variety of general labouring duties and operate equipment to assist in the drilling and servicing of oil and gas wells. This unit group also includes labourers who assist in geophysical prospecting for oil and gas. They are employed by drilling and well servicing contractors and by petroleum producing companies.
Main job titles
- floorman/woman - oil and gas drilling
- leasehand
- oil field labourer
- roughneck
- roustabout
- service rig helper
- shakerhand
- swamper - oil and gas
- well treatment helper
- wireline helper
All 44 job titles in the NOC index
floorhand - offshore drilling rig, floorhand - oil and gas drilling, floorhand - service rig, floorman/woman - offshore drilling rig, floorman/woman - oil and gas drilling, gravity prospecting observer helper, leasehand, leasehand - oil and gas drilling, observer helper - gravity prospecting, observer helper - seismic prospecting, oil field labourer, oil well cementer helper, perforator helper - oil field services, perforator loader helper - oil field services, reeled tubing helper - oil field services, roughneck, roughneck - offshore drilling rig, roughneck - oil and gas drilling, roustabout, roustabout - offshore drilling rig, roustabout - oil and gas drilling, seismic GPS rover, seismic line cutter, seismic prospecting observer helper, seismic survey helper, service rig helper, service rig helper - oil field services, service rig operator helper, service rig roughneck - oil field services, shakerhand, shakerhand - oil and gas drilling, shooter - seismograph, shooter helper - seismic prospecting, slasher - oil and gas, slasher - oil field services, swamper - oil and gas, swamper - oil field services, tubing helper - oil field services, vibrator operator - seismic prospecting, well puller helper - oil field services, well treatment helper, well treatment helper - oil field services, wireline helper, wireline helper - oil field services.
Also included in this group
- seismic survey helper
Main duties of NOC 85111
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Manipulate sections of pipe or drill stem at the rig floor during drilling and during the removal and replacement of strings of pipe or drill stem and drill bit
- Maintain drilling equipment on the drill floor
- Handle, sort and move drill tools, pipe, cement and other materials
- Clean up rig areas
- Assist in setting up, taking down and transporting drilling and service rigs and service equipment
- May drive trucks to transport materials and well service equipment.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school may be required.
- Completion of introductory college or petroleum industry-approved training courses may be required.
- Certificates in hydrogen sulphide awareness, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) or transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) may be required.
Additional information
- Progression to more senior operating positions is possible with experience.
Is NOC 85111 eligible for Express Entry?
Not for the main Express Entry programs, which need TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 work. TEER 5 jobs can still lead to permanent residence through some provincial and other programs, so check each program's own list.
| Program or draw | NOC 85111 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Does not count (TEER 5) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Does not count (TEER 5) |
| 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 85111 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 | $21.52 | $31.00 | $39.50 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $20.00 | $28.00 | $40.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $22.00 | $33.00 | $41.00 |
| New Brunswick | $19.00 | $25.00 | $38.00 |
| Quebec | $18.00 | $23.00 | $31.50 |
| Ontario | $20.50 | $34.00 | $40.60 |
| Manitoba | $26.50 | $38.00 | $40.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $24.00 | $34.00 | $40.00 |
| Alberta | $23.00 | $31.86 | $39.50 |
| British Columbia | $25.00 | $32.00 | $40.00 |
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 85111 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 85111 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 floorman/woman - oil and gas drilling?
NOC 85111, Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers, a TEER 5 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 85111?
TEER 5. Usually a short work demonstration and no formal education. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 85111 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 5 jobs.
Is NOC 85111 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 85111 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $31.00 an hour, with most wages between $21.52 and $39.50. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 85111 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.