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NOC 73310: Railway and yard locomotive engineers

Railway locomotive engineers operate railway locomotives to transport passengers and freight. They are employed by railway transport companies. Yard locomotive engineers operate locomotives within yards of railway, industrial or other establishments. They are employed by railway transport companies and industrial or commercial users of rail transport.

Last reviewed 2026-11-02 · Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Quick answer

NOC 73310 (Railway and yard locomotive engineers) is a TEER 3 occupation, so it counts as skilled work for Express Entry. It is on IRCC's high-wage list at Level 2: +40 CRS for 12+ months of Canadian work, or 70 for a job offer. It isn't on any current category-based draw list.

TEER

TEER 3

Skilled for Express Entry

High-wage

Level 2

+40 work · 70 job offer

Category draws

None

IRCC 2026 lists

NOC 2021 code73310
TitleRailway and yard locomotive engineers
Broad categoryTrades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
TEERTEER 3 — usually requires a college diploma or apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or 6+ months of on-the-job training

CRS points for this occupation

Under the Labour Market Integration factor, IRCC gives you the higher of: your Canadian work-length points plus 40 for 12+ months of qualifying work in a Level 2 occupation, or 70 points for a valid job offer in it. How job offer points work.

Example job titles

  • locomotive engineer - railway
  • railway engineer
  • switch engineer - railway
  • transfer hostler - railway
  • yard engineer - railway

Main duties

  • Railway locomotive engineers
  • Operate locomotives to transport passengers and freight on railways
  • Operate communication systems to communicate with train crews and traffic controllers to ensure safe operation and scheduling of trains
  • Inspect assigned locomotives and test operating controls and equipment.
  • Yard locomotive engineers
  • Operate locomotives to switch, couple and uncouple cars for loading and unloading
  • Perform switching operations according to written switching orders or dispatched instructions
  • Inspect locomotives, replenish fuel or perform routine maintenance on locomotives.

Your duties should match the lead statement and most of the main duties to use this NOC — check the full profile on the official NOC site.

Related occupations

← NOC 73301 Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators · NOC 73311 Railway conductors and brakemen/women →

Calculate your CRS score → · All NOC codes · High-wage list

TEER 3 also matters for work permits: see the spousal open work permit (TEER rules for spouses of workers), LMIA explained and the Atlantic Immigration Program (job offers in TEER 0–4).

Sources: Statistics Canada NOC 2021 V1.0; IRCC high-wage occupations; IRCC category-based selection; IRCC who can apply.

Frequently asked questions

Is NOC 73310 eligible for Express Entry?+

NOC 73310 is a TEER 3 occupation. IRCC counts work in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations as skilled work experience for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, as long as all other program requirements are met.

Is NOC 73310 a high-wage occupation?+

Yes. It's on IRCC's high-wage list at Level 2. From November 3, 2026, 12+ months of qualifying Canadian work in it adds 40 CRS points, or a valid job offer in it is worth 70 points (whichever is higher).

Which Express Entry category draws include NOC 73310?+

None of IRCC's current category-based selection lists include NOC 73310. Candidates can still be invited in general, program-specific (such as CEC) or PNP rounds.