National Occupational Classification, TEER 4
NOC 94100: Machine operators, mineral and metal processing
Machine operators in mineral and metal processing operate machinery to process mineral ore and metal. Below are the main duties, all 287 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 94100?
NOC 94100 is the code for machine operators, mineral and metal processing in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include aluminum classifier, asbestos dryer, billet heater and brick and tile crusher 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 $35.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 94100
- TEER
- 4: High school or several weeks of training
- Broad category
- Occupations in manufacturing and utilities
- Express Entry
- Not skilled
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $35.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 94100
Machine operators in mineral and metal processing operate machinery to process mineral ore and metal. They are employed in mineral ore and metal processing plants such as copper, lead and zinc refineries, uranium processing plants, steel mills, aluminum plants, precious metal refineries and cement processing plants.
Main job titles
- aluminum classifier
- asbestos dryer
- billet heater
- brick and tile crusher operator
- cement miller
- extrusion press operator
- foil-winding machine operator
- ladle pourer
- lead refiner
- lime kiln operator
- mica sheet laminator
- quenching car operator
- scrap metal shredder
- sintering machine operator
- slurry equipment operator
- steel roller
- uranium classifier operator
- zinc cell operator
All 287 job titles in the NOC index
alumina clarifier operator, alumina recovery operator, aluminum classifier, aluminum electrolytic tank reconditioner, aluminum electrolytic tank tender, aluminum oxide controller, aluminum pourer - primary metal processing, aluminum powder maker, aluminum slurry pump tender, aluminum stretcher-leveller operator, aluminum-briquetting equipment operator, aluminum-casting machine operator - primary metal processing, amalgamation process tender, annealer - primary metal processing, anode caster, anode caster - primary metal processing, anode operator, anode paste plant operator, anode press operator, arsenic recovery operator, asbestos dryer, asbestos screen tender, auxiliary equipment operator - primary metal processing, baghouse operator, ball mill operator, bar-straightening machine operator - metal processing, billet heater, blast furnace tapper, blender tender - primary metal and mineral products processing, brick and tile crusher operator, brine maker - mineral products processing, briquetting machine operator, bulk cement-blender tender, cadmium control operator - zinc leaching, cadmium plant operator, cadmium recoverer, cadmium zinc leacher, calciner operator - mineral products processing, case hardener - primary metal processing, casting machine operator - primary metal processing, cathode-stripping machine operator - zinc electrolysis, cell operator - primary metal and mineral processing, cement miller, cement mixer - primary metal and mineral products processing, cement pumping tender, cementation equipment operator, charge control operator, charging car operator, charging machine operator - mineral and metal processing, classifier operator, coal breaker, coal screener, coal separator, coal washer, coarse salt equipment operator, coiler operator - primary metal processing, coke by-products pump operator - primary metal processing, coke calciner operator, coke grinder, coke oven door operator, coke oven heater, coke oven operator, coke screen tender, coke-screen and coke-blender tender, cold steel roller - steel production, cold steel rolling mill operator, concrete batch plant operator - cement manufacturing, condenser setter - primary metal processing, cone tender, continuous drossing operator, cooling bed operator - steel mill, copper billet piercer, copper billet piercing mill operator, copper flotation operator, copper ore slime treater, copper-briquetting machine operator, Cottrell tender, crane ladle pourer, crucible pourer, crusher and blender operator, crusher setter, crushing equipment operator, cryolite recovery equipment operator, dental amalgam processor, dewaterer tender - primary metal processing, dewatering equipment operator, diamond powder blender, digester operator - primary metal and mineral processing, discharge door attendant, dross treatment operator - zinc melting, dryer operator - mineral and metal processing, dust operator, dust pump operator - slag furnace, electrolytic cleaner operator - primary metal processing, electrolytic descaler - primary metal processing, electrolytic tank maintainer - primary metal and mineral products processing, electrostatic separator tender - primary metal processing, extrusion press operator, finisher - primary metal processing, flame annealing tender - primary metal processing, flotation cell tender - primary metal processing, fluorspar recovery tender, flux-mixing machine tender - metal processing, foil-winding machine operator, foil-winding machine operator - primary metal processing, fume scrubber operator, gold recoverer, granulator operator - phosphate, grinder and classifier tender, grinding and flotation tender, gypsum calciner, hardener - primary metal processing, heat-treat furnace operator - primary metal processing, heavy media separation tender - mineral and metal processing, hot strip finishing mill tender - primary metal processing, hot strip roughing mill tender - primary metal processing, hydrate thickener operator, indium refiner, induction machine setter - primary metal processing, induction machine tender - primary metal processing, induration attendant - iron ore, ingot buggy operator, ingot finishing operator, ingot header, iron ore pellet agglomerating attendant, jumbo casting operator - zinc melting, kettle charger, kettle tender - primary metal processing, ladle operator - primary metal processing, ladle pourer, ladle pourer - primary metal processing, larry car operator, leaching operator - primary metal processing, lead and copper refiner, lead caster - primary metal processing, lead dust treater, lead extruder operator - primary metal processing, lead refiner, lead wheel operator, lead-casting machine operator - primary metal processing, lead-melting furnace tender - metal processing, lead-melting kettle tender - metal processing, lead-smelting furnace tender - metal processing, lead-smelting kettle tender - metal processing, lime kiln operator, lime kiln operator - mineral and metal processing, machine operator - mineral and metal processing, machine wire drawer, magnetic separator operator - primary metal processing, manipulator machine operator - primary metal processing, metal annealing tender, metal extrusion press operator - primary metal processing, metal hardener - primary metal processing, metal mixer - primary metal processing, metal mixer operator - primary metal processing, metal pointer operator - primary metal processing, metal pourer - metal processing, metal reclaimer, mica crusher tender, mica plate tender, mica press tender, mica sheet laminator, mica sheet salvager, mica splitter, mica trimmer, milling machine operator - mineral and metal processing, mint precious metal refiner - primary metal processing, molten metal mixer operator, molybdenum flotation operator, molybdenum leaching plant operator, ore crushing worker, ore dryer operator, ore grinding worker, ore milling worker, ore screen tender, ore screener, ore separator tender - primary metal and mineral products processing, pan tender, peat moss dehydrator tender, pellet press tender - primary metal processing, pellet segregator - primary metal processing, pickle line operator - primary metal processing, pickler operator - primary metal processing, piercing mill operator - primary metal processing, pig caster - primary metal processing, pig iron pourer, pipe and tube roll setter - primary metal processing, plate roller - primary metal processing, plate rolling mill operator - primary metal processing, pointer operator - primary metal processing, pot liner - metal processing, pot tender - primary metal processing, pourer - metal processing, precious metal recoverer, precipitator tender - primary metal processing, process assistant - zinc pressure leach, purification operator - zinc oxide leach, quenching car operator, reagent tender - primary metal processing, recovery equipment operator - primary metal and mineral processing, red mud thickener tender, reeling machine operator - primary metal processing, residual metal recoverer, residue filter operator - zinc oxide leach, reversing mill operator - primary metal processing, reversing rolling mill operator - primary metal processing, rivet heater - primary metal processing, rock crusher tender - primary metal and mineral products processing, rod drawer - primary metal processing, rod mill operator - primary metal processing, roll setter - primary metal processing, roll table operator - primary metal processing, roller - primary metal processing, roller plate mill - primary metal processing, roller-leveller operator, rolling mill guide setter - metal processing, rolling mill operator - mineral and metal processing, rolling mill preparer - primary metal processing, roll-straightener operator - primary metal processing, rotary kiln operator - primary metal and mineral products processing, rotary kiln tender - primary metal processing, roughing mill operator - metal processing, salt compactor operator, salt compressor operator, salt crusher, salt processor, salt refiner, scalehouse operator - zinc melting, scrap metal remelter - primary metal processing, scrap metal shredder, scrap metal shredder operator - primary metal processing, scrubber operator, seamless steel billet piercer - primary metal processing, seamless tube roller - primary metal processing, sheet roller - primary metal processing, sheet rolling mill operator - primary metal processing, sheet rougher - primary metal processing, sink-float equipment operator - metal processing, sintering machine operator, slab caster - steel rolling mill, slag pelletizer - primary metal processing, slime recoverer - primary metal processing, slime recovery operator - primary metal processing, slime treater - primary metal processing, slurry equipment operator, slurry equipment operator - primary metal and mineral products processing, solution operator - primary metal and mineral processing, spiral conveyor attendant, stack dust leach operator - zinc casting, steel pourer, steel roller, steel rougher, steel straightener operator, steel treater - primary metal processing, straightening feeder operator, straightening machine operator, stretcher-leveller operator - primary metal processing, sulphur control operator - zinc pressure leach, tailings thickener tender - primary metal processing, tandem roller - primary metal processing, tank tender, tank tender - primary metal processing, tankhouse equipment operator - primary metal processing, temper mill roller - primary metal processing, thallium recoverer, thickener equipment tender - primary metal processing, tilting table tender - metal processing, transfer bed operator - primary metal processing, tube drawer - primary metal processing, tube rolling mill operator - primary metal processing, tube straightener operator - primary metal processing, tubing machine tender - primary metal processing, uranium classifier operator, waste treatment operator - metal processing, water treatment plant operator - primary metal processing, wet plant recovery equipment tender - primary metal processing, wire drawer, wire drawer operator, wire drawing machine operator, wire roller operator - primary metal processing, wire sample former, wire sheather - primary metal processing, zinc billet caster, zinc cell operator, zinc chloride separator tender, zinc pressure leach operator, zinc vapour condenser.
Main duties of NOC 94100
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Set up, prepare and adjust mineral ore, metal and cement processing machinery to carry out one step in the overall mineral ore or metal processing operation
- Operate single-function machinery to grind, separate, filter, mix, treat, cast, roll, refine or otherwise process mineral ores
- Observe gauges, meters, computer printouts, video monitors and products to ensure correct operation of machinery and verify processing conditions
- Make adjustments to machinery as required
- Record production information and complete reports
- May assist with machinery maintenance or repair.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- On-the-job training is provided.
- Experience as a labourer in mineral and metal processing is usually required for machine operators.
Additional information
- There is little mobility among the various types of machine operators within the mineral and metal processing industry.
- With experience, machine operators may progress to central control and process operators in mineral and metal processing.
Is NOC 94100 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 94100 |
|---|---|
| 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 94100 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 | $22.00 | $35.00 | $50.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $22.91 | $34.77 | $55.30 |
| Nova Scotia | $18.11 | $25.96 | $31.15 |
| New Brunswick | $19.86 | $23.67 | $26.44 |
| Quebec | $28.00 | $40.00 | $52.35 |
| Ontario | $20.00 | $28.00 | $40.00 |
| Manitoba | $22.00 | $29.00 | $38.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $21.00 | $35.00 | $43.00 |
| Alberta | $24.78 | $36.58 | $49.56 |
| British Columbia | $29.30 | $38.00 | $46.00 |
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 94100 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 94100 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 aluminum classifier?
NOC 94100, Machine operators, mineral and metal processing, a TEER 4 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 94100?
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 94100 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 94100 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 94100 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $35.00 an hour, with most wages between $22.00 and $50.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 94100 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.