NOC 94120: Sawmill machine operators
Sawmill machine operators operate, monitor and control automated lumbermill equipment to saw timber logs into rough lumber; saw, trim and plane rough lumber into dressed lumber of various sizes; and saw or split shingles and shakes. They are employed in sawmills and planing mills.
Last reviewed 2026-11-02 · Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Quick answer
NOC 94120 (Sawmill machine operators) is a TEER 4 occupation — not skilled work for FSW or CEC. It is not on IRCC's high-wage list. It isn't on any current category-based draw list.
TEER
TEER 4
Not skilled for FSW/CEC
High-wage
Not listed
No extra CRS points
Category draws
None
IRCC 2026 lists
| NOC 2021 code | 94120 |
|---|---|
| Title | Sawmill machine operators |
| Broad category | Occupations in manufacturing and utilities |
| TEER | TEER 4 — usually requires a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training |
Example job titles
- circular saw operator
- edgerman/woman
- head sawyer
- log cut-off operator
- planer operator
- resaw operator
- shake splitter
- trimmerman/woman
Main duties
- Operate front-end loaders and stationary deck cranes to feed logs into the sawmill
- Examine logs and rough lumber to determine size, condition, quality and other characteristics to decide best lumber cuts to carry out, or use automated equipment to convey logs through laser scanners which determine the most productive and profitable cutting patterns
- Operate automated lumbermill from control rooms or consoles to saw logs into rough lumber; saw, trim and plane rough lumber into dressed lumber of various sizes; and saw or split shingles and shakes
- Start conveyor system to move logs and lumber to and from saws
- Set up and adjust saw equipment and replace blades or bands using wrenches, gauges and other hand tools
- Operate equipment to sort and stack lumber by length and thickness, move stacks to storage areas or drying kilns, and feed lumber through planers
- Monitor movement of lumber and computer screens to ensure cuts are made according to specifications, and print production reports
- Clean and lubricate sawmill equipment.
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 94100 — Machine operators, mineral and metal processing
- NOC 94101 — Foundry workers
- NOC 94102 — Glass forming and finishing machine operators and glass cutters
- NOC 94103 — Concrete, clay and stone forming operators
- NOC 94104 — Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing
- NOC 94105 — Metalworking and forging machine operators
- NOC 94106 — Machining tool operators
- NOC 94107 — Machine operators of other metal products
- NOC 94110 — Chemical plant machine operators
- NOC 94111 — Plastics processing machine operators
← NOC 94112 Rubber processing machine operators and related workers · NOC 94121 Pulp mill, papermaking and finishing machine operators →
Calculate your CRS score → · All NOC codes · High-wage list
TEER 4 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 94120 eligible for Express Entry?+
NOC 94120 is a TEER 4 occupation. IRCC only counts TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 work as skilled experience for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, so this occupation alone generally won't meet those requirements. Provincial programs may differ.
Is NOC 94120 a high-wage occupation?+
No. NOC 94120 isn't on IRCC's Express Entry high-wage occupations list, so it doesn't earn the extra high-wage or job offer CRS points. Canadian work-length points can still apply for TEER 0–3 work.
Which Express Entry category draws include NOC 94120?+
None of IRCC's current category-based selection lists include NOC 94120. Candidates can still be invited in general, program-specific (such as CEC) or PNP rounds.