National Occupational Classification, TEER 3
NOC 93101: Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing
Central control and process operators in petroleum, gas and chemical processing monitor and operate petroleum, petrochemical and chemical plants and monitor, adjust and maintain processing units and equipment in these plants. Below are the main duties, all 132 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 93101?
NOC 93101 is the code for central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include acid plant operator, chemical process operator, chemical processing chief technician and chlor-alkali plant cell room operator. 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 $50.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 93101
- TEER
- 3: College diploma, apprenticeship under 2 years or 6+ months of training
- Broad category
- Occupations in manufacturing and utilities
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $50.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 93101
Central control and process operators in petroleum, gas and chemical processing monitor and operate petroleum, petrochemical and chemical plants and monitor, adjust and maintain processing units and equipment in these plants. They are employed by petroleum and natural gas processing, pipeline and petrochemical companies and industrial, agricultural and specialty chemical and pharmaceutical companies.
Main job titles
- acid plant operator
- chemical process operator
- chemical processing chief technician
- chlor-alkali plant cell room operator
- gas field production operator
- gas plant operator
- gas recovery operator
- master operator - chemical processing
- oil refinery process operator
- panel operator - chemical processing
- petroleum process operator
- pharmaceutical processing operator
- pipeline compressor station operator
- process technician - chemical processing
- refinery process technician
All 132 job titles in the NOC index
absorption operator, absorption plant operator, acid mixer operator, acid plant operator, alkylation chief operator, alkylation operator, alkylation tower tender, alum-liquor plant operator, ammonia plant operator, antibiotics fermenter, assistant operator - chemical processing, batching chemical process operator, batching process chief operator, battery operator - oil and gas, benzol agitator operator, bitumen extraction plant operator, bitumen upgrading plant operator, boardman/woman - chemical processing, brine equipment tender, brine purification operator, burner operator - petroleum, catalytic conversion operator, catalytic cracking unit operator, caustic cell operator, chemical process operator, chemical process unit operator, chemical processing chief technician, chemical roaster, chief operator - chemical processing, chlor-alkali plant cell room operator, chlorination plant operator, chlorine plant operator, coal gas exhaust operator, coal tar distiller, column operator - chemical processing, compressor station operator - pipelines, continuous process chief operator, control panel operator - chemical processing, controller - oil, cracking plant operator, desulphurizer operator, desulphurizing unit operator, dissolver-precipitator, distillation equipment operator, distillation operator, explosives senior operator, field contract operator - oil and gas, filter operator - petroleum, gas and chemical processing, fractionator operator, fractionator operator - petroleum, fuel gas treater, gas control coordinator, gas control operator, gas controller, gas dispatcher, gas field operator, gas field production operator, gas liquefaction and regasification plant operator, gas pipeline operator, gas plant operator, gas pressure regulator, gas processing compressor operator, gas processing controller, gas recovery operator, gasoline catalyst operator, gas-treating unit operator, glycerine refiner, glycerine refinery operator, grease maker, heavy water chemical process operator, hydrogen process plant operator, lead operator - chemical processing, liquefaction plant operator, master operator - chemical processing, naphthalene clarifier, natural gas compressor operator, nitric acid oxidation plant operator, nitrocellulose maker, nitroglycerine maker, nitroglycerine nitrator operator, nitroglycerine separator, nitroglycerine separator operator, oil blender, oil controller, oil dispatcher, oil field production operator, oil field pumper, oil gauger, oil movement controller, oil movement coordinator, oil pipeline operator, oil refiner, oil refinery process operator, operating technician - chemical processing, operations technician - chemical processing, oxygen recovery plant operator, panel operator - chemical processing, petroleum blender, petroleum distillation operator, petroleum process operator, petroleum refiner, petroleum refinery operator, petroleum treater, petroleum unit operator, pharmaceutical processing operator, phosphate process fertilizer maker, pilot plant tender, pipeline compressor station operator, pipeline gauger, polymerization kettle operator, polymerization unit operator, power switchboard operator - chemical, process control system operator, process technician - chemical processing, processing laboratory operator, processing operator - chemical processing, production operator - chemical processing, propellant blender, pump station operator - pipelines, pumping station operator, purification operator - chemical processing, refinery operator, refinery process technician, rotary furnace tender - chemical processing, senior operator - chemical processing, sterile products processor - chemical processing, sulphuric acid plant operator, synthesis chief operator, tank farm operator, thermal acid equipment operator, upgrader process operator - petroleum, wet explosives mixer.
Main duties of NOC 93101
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Operate electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and optimize physical and chemical processes for several processing units
- Control process start-up, shut-down and troubleshooting
- Monitor outside process equipment
- Adjust equipment, valves, pumps and controls and process equipment
- Authorize or co-sign maintenance work orders
- Shut down, isolate and prepare process units or production equipment for maintenance
- Sample products, perform tests, record data, carry out statistical process control on process operations, and write production logs
- Develop operating procedures for normal operation, start-up or shut-down of unit
- Participate in safety audits and programs and provide emergency response when required
- Ensure adherence to safety and environmental regulations
- May rotate between different processing units during shift cycles
- May work in a team with shared supervisory responsibilities and participate in training other workers
- May be cross-trained in a skilled trade and work in the trade during shift cycles.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required. Mathematics, chemistry and physics subjects are often specified.
- A college diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject may be required for some positions.
- Petroleum and chemical process operators and process technicians require completion of several years of formal company training.
- Experience as a petroleum or chemical process operator in all the operating units controlled by the central control room is required for chief operators.
- Company certification as a petroleum process operator or technician may be required.
- A provincial power engineer licence, compressor operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
- Certification in the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), first aid, firefighting, or workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) may be required.
Additional information
- There is considerable mobility among jobs within a company, often as part of a formal development or training program.
- Mobility to other petroleum or chemical processing plants is possible, but may be limited by the usual practice of training and promoting workers from within the establishment.
- Progression to supervisory or managerial positions is possible with experience.
- Personal protective equipment may be required for occupations in this unit group that may involve exposure to hazards of toxic, flammable or explosive chemicals.
Is NOC 93101 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 3 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 93101 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | A 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 93101 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 | $28.00 | $50.00 | $67.64 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $41.00 | $48.08 | $67.00 |
| New Brunswick | $22.12 | $42.82 | $54.95 |
| Quebec | $43.86 | $52.17 | $66.39 |
| Ontario | $25.00 | $48.08 | $65.00 |
| Manitoba | $23.00 | $49.30 | $56.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $30.00 | $52.50 | $63.60 |
| Alberta | $32.00 | $51.92 | $72.12 |
| British Columbia | $24.73 | $51.12 | $81.73 |
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 93101 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 93101 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 acid plant operator?
NOC 93101, Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing, a TEER 3 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 93101?
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 93101 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 93101 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 93101 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $50.00 an hour, with most wages between $28.00 and $67.64. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 93101 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
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CVMaple turns the work you did into a Canadian resume: the right format, strong bullets and the keywords Canadian applicant tracking systems look for.
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.