National Occupational Classification, TEER 4
NOC 94121: Pulp mill, papermaking and finishing machine operators
Pulp mill and papermaking and finishing machine operators operate and monitor various types of processing machinery and equipment to produce pulp and assist papermaking and coating control operators to produce, coat and finish paper. Below are the main duties, all 131 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 94121?
NOC 94121 is the code for pulp mill, papermaking and finishing machine operators in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include assistant bleacher operator - pulp and paper, assistant coating operator - pulp and paper, calender operator - pulp and paper and cook - pulp and paper. 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 $32.01 an hour.
- NOC code
- 94121
- 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
- $32.01 an hour
Job titles under NOC 94121
Pulp mill and papermaking and finishing machine operators operate and monitor various types of processing machinery and equipment to produce pulp and assist papermaking and coating control operators to produce, coat and finish paper. They are employed by pulp and paper companies.
Main job titles
- assistant bleacher operator - pulp and paper
- assistant coating operator - pulp and paper
- calender operator - pulp and paper
- cook - pulp and paper
- digester operator - pulp and paper
- embossing calender operator - pulp and paper
- fourth hand - pulp and paper
- graderman/woman - pulp and paper
- grinderman/woman - pulp and paper
- paper machine operator
- paper-coating machine operator
- refiner operator - pulp and paper
- sheeter operator - pulp and paper
- thermomechanical pulp assistant operator
- thermomechanical pulp operator
- winder operator - pulp and paper
- winderman/woman - pulp and paper
All 131 job titles in the NOC index
acid maker - pulp and paper, assistant bleacher operator - pulp and paper, assistant coating operator - pulp and paper, assistant digester operator - pulp and paper, baler - pulp and paper, balerman/woman - pulp and paper, baling press tender - pulp and paper, batch digester operator, batch process cook - pulp and paper, beater operator - pulp and paper, bleach boiler tender, bleach field operator - pulp and paper, bleach stock preparation operator - pulp and paper, bleacher operator - pulp and paper, bleacher tender - pulp and paper, blow pit tender - pulp and paper, breaker - pulp and paper, breaker tender - pulp and paper, breakerman/woman - pulp and paper, broke beater tender - pulp and paper, brown stock operator - pulp and paper, brown stock washer - pulp and paper, calender man/woman - pulp and paper, calender operator - pulp and paper, calenderer - pulp and paper, causticizer operator, centri-cleaner tender - pulp and paper, chemical liquor preparation operator - pulp and paper, chemical pulping plant operator - pulp and paper, chemical solutions operator - pulp and paper, chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP) machine assistant operator, chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP) operator, chemi-wash operator - pulp and paper, combiner machine operator - paper mill, continuous digester operator - pulp and paper, continuous process cook - pulp and paper, cook - pulp and paper, cook's first helper - pulp and paper, core cutter and reamer - pulp and paper, core cutter and reamer, crimping head operator - papermaking, decker operator - pulp and paper, decker tender - pulp and paper, deckerman/woman - pulp and paper, digester cook - pulp and paper, digester field operator, digester operator - pulp and paper, digester tender - pulp and paper, embossing calender operator - pulp and paper, evaporator tender - pulp and paper, field operator - pulp and paper, filter operator - pulp and paper, finisher - pulp and paper, fourdrinier machine operator - pulp and paper, fourth hand - pulp and paper, grader - pulp and paper, graderman/woman - pulp and paper, grinder loader - pulp and paper, grinder operator - pulp and paper, grinderman/woman - pulp and paper, insulation board dryer tender, kiln-recaust operator - pulp and paper, label operator - papermaking, laminating machine operator - paper mill, lime kiln operator - pulp and paper, lime sludge mixer, liquor maker - pulp and paper, mixing operator - pulp and paper, packer-wrapper attendant - papermaking, paper grader, paper jogger operation - pulp and paper, paper machine back tender, paper machine hand, paper machine operator, paper machine second hand, paper machine winder, paper pulp tester, paper roll finisher - pulp and paper, paper roll wrapper - pulp and paper, paper-coating machine operator, paper-finishing machine operator, papermaking and finishing machine operator, processed paper rewinder, pulp and paper size maker, pulp bleach liquor maker, pulp cook, pulp dryer operator, pulp grader, pulp maker, pulp mill equipment operator, pulp mill machine operator, pulp press tender, pulp pressman/woman - pulp and paper, pulp refiner operator - pulp and paper, pulp tester - pulp and paper, pulp washer operator - pulp and paper, pulp washer operator, pulp washer, pulpwood products tester, rag stock bleacher, recovery operator - pulp and paper, refiner - pulp and paper, refiner man/woman - pulp and paper, refiner operator - pulp and paper, repulper operator, rewinder - pulp and paper, rewinder tender - pulp and paper, roll finisher - paper, roll wrapper - paper, salvage winder operator - papermaking, screen room operator - pulp and paper, screen tender - pulp and paper, screenman/woman - pulp and paper, sheet paper inspector, sheet paper sampler, sheeter operator - pulp and paper, specialty rewinder operator - papermaking, stock tester - pulp and paper, stock washer - pulp and paper, supercalender operator - pulp and paper, tall oil operator, thermomechanical pulp assistant operator, thermomechanical pulp operator, third hand - pulp and paper, unbleached pulp washer - pulp and paper, washerman/woman - pulp and paper, washing-screening operator - pulp and paper, winder operator - pulp and paper, winderman/woman - pulp and paper, wood pulp caustic liquor maker, wrapline operator - papermaking.
Main duties of NOC 94121
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Operate and monitor paper mill, papermaking and finishing process machinery and equipment such as screening equipment, bleaching equipment, digesters, mixing tanks, and washers to carry out one or more cellulose processing steps and equipment such as dryers, laminators, cutters, coaters, calenders and hoists to carry out one or more papermaking and finishing process steps
- Observe equipment and machinery panel indicators, gauges, level indicators and other equipment instruments to detect machinery and equipment malfunctions and ensure process steps are carried out according to specifications
- Communicate with pulping, papermaking and coating control operators to make process adjustments and start up or shut down machinery and equipment as required
- Collect processing samples and conduct titration tests, pH readings, specific density tests and other routine tests on pulp and solutions
- Inspect paper visually for wrinkles, holes, discolouration, streaks or other defects and take corrective action
- Complete and maintain production reports.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- A college diploma in forest products processing or a related subject may be required.
- Completion of several weeks of formal company training and/or on-the-job training is required.
- Previous experience as a labourer within the same company is usually required.
- A certificate in industrial first aid may be required.
- A competency certificate in natural gas may be required.
Additional information
- There is limited mobility among jobs within this occupational group.
- Progression to pulping or papermaking and coating control operator occupations is possible with experience.
Is NOC 94121 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 94121 |
|---|---|
| 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 94121 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 | $32.01 | $45.50 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $22.00 | $35.00 | $42.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $22.91 | $30.13 | $37.20 |
| New Brunswick | $31.00 | $35.00 | $42.00 |
| Quebec | $25.85 | $32.25 | $46.00 |
| Ontario | $19.00 | $24.94 | $40.00 |
| Manitoba | $22.00 | $32.00 | $42.00 |
| Alberta | $34.04 | $47.71 | $58.42 |
| British Columbia | $26.96 | $38.00 | $47.98 |
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 94121 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 94121 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 assistant bleacher operator - pulp and paper?
NOC 94121, Pulp mill, papermaking and finishing machine operators, a TEER 4 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 94121?
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 94121 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 94121 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 94121 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $32.01 an hour, with most wages between $22.00 and $45.50. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 94121 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.