National Occupational Classification, TEER 4
NOC 94123: Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders
Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders inspect and grade lumber, shingles, veneer, waferboard and similar wood products to identify defects, ensure conformance to company specifications and classify products according to industry standards. Below are the main duties, all 32 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 94123?
NOC 94123 is the code for lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include grader - wood processing, grader tallyman/woman - wood processing, lumber grader and particleboard grader - wood processing. 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 $27.50 an hour.
- NOC code
- 94123
- 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
- $27.50 an hour
Job titles under NOC 94123
Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders inspect and grade lumber, shingles, veneer, waferboard and similar wood products to identify defects, ensure conformance to company specifications and classify products according to industry standards. They are employed by sawmills, planing mills, wood treatment plants, waferboard plants and other wood processing companies.
Main job titles
- grader - wood processing
- grader tallyman/woman - wood processing
- lumber grader
- particleboard grader - wood processing
- plywood grader
- plywood inspector
- veneer grader
- wood measurer
All 32 job titles in the NOC index
board grader - wood processing, flooring grader - wood processing, grader - wood processing, grader tallyman/woman - wood processing, green lumber grader, inspector - wood processing, lumber grader, lumber inspector, lumber marker, panel inspector - wood processing, particleboard grader - wood processing, planer grader - wood processing, planer mill grader - wood processing, plywood and veneer matcher - wood processing, plywood grader, plywood grader - wood processing, plywood inspector, plywood inspector - wood processing, pole inspector - wood processing, shake inspector - wood processing, shingle inspector - wood processing, stake grader - wood processing, tie and timber inspector, treated pole tester - wood processing, veneer and plywood grader - wood processing, veneer grader, veneer grader - wood processing, wood marker - wood processing, wood measurer, wood measurer - wood processing, wood processing grader, wood processing inspector.
Main duties of NOC 94123
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Lumber graders
- Examine lumber visually for knots, holes, splits and other defects and sort for further drying, trimming or remanufacturing
- Measure lumber using callipers, gauges and tape measures to ensure specified thickness, length and width
- Classify and sort lumber according to industry standards and stamp lumber to indicate grade, wood type, moisture level and other characteristics
- Tally lumber
- Complete and maintain reports.
Other wood processing inspectors and graders
- Inspect plywood panels, veneer sheets, panelboards, shingles and similar wood products visually for knots, holes, splits, straightness and other defects
- Mark defects and sort for repair or reprocessing
- Measure wood products to ensure conformance to specifications using standard measuring instruments
- Grade and label wood products according to quality standards
- Complete and maintain inspection and grading reports.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- On-the-job training and up to two weeks of classroom training are provided for lumber graders.
- Previous experience as a sawmill machine operator, other wood processing operator or as a labourer in wood processing is usually required for graders and inspectors in this unit group.
- Lumber graders require a lumber grader's licence issued by a provincial lumber association.
Additional information
- There is some mobility between employers processing similar wood products.
Is NOC 94123 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 94123 |
|---|---|
| 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 94123 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 | $20.00 | $27.50 | $38.00 |
| New Brunswick | $19.54 | $24.08 | $25.86 |
| Quebec | $18.96 | $25.00 | $33.75 |
| Ontario | $20.03 | $24.78 | $31.33 |
| Alberta | $27.00 | $34.92 | $44.33 |
| British Columbia | $22.00 | $29.00 | $38.00 |
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 94123 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 94123 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 grader - wood processing?
NOC 94123, Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders, a TEER 4 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 94123?
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 94123 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 94123 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 94123 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $27.50 an hour, with most wages between $20.00 and $38.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 94123 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.
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- Newcomer Resume Guide: Turn international experience into a resume Canadian employers understand.