NOC 2021 · 72403 · TEER 2
NOC 72403: Railway carmen/women
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Railway carmen/women inspect, troubleshoot, maintain and repair structural and mechanical components of railway freight, passenger and urban transit rail cars. They are employed by railway transport companies and urban transit systems. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
TEER
TEER 2
Usually needs a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or supervisory work
Median wage (Canada)
$42.00 / hour
Job Bank, 2023-2024
High-wage tier (from 3 Nov 2026)
Tier 3
+20 CRS for Canadian work, or 50 for a job offer
Express Entry categories
None
General and program draws only
Express Entry
How NOC 72403 counts for Express Entry
- Federal Skilled Worker: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of continuous skilled (TEER 0–3) work in the last 10 years and 67 points on the FSW grid.
- Canadian Experience Class: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of skilled (TEER 0–3) work in Canada in the last 3 years.
- Federal Skilled Trades: eligible occupationNeeds 2 years of work in an eligible trade group in the last 5 years, plus a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.
High-wage CRS points
NOC 72403 is in tier 3 of IRCC's high-wage list, in effect from 3 November 2026.
| 12+ months of Canadian work | +20 points on top of work-length points |
|---|---|
| Qualifying job offer (no LMIA) | 50 points |
You get whichever option scores higher, not both.
See all 186 high-wage occupationsCategory-based draws
NOC 72403 is not on any of IRCC's 2026 occupation categories. You can still be invited through general, program-specific or French-language draws.
IRCC category listsDuties
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Inspect interior and exterior components of freight, passenger and urban transit rail cars to determine defects and extent of wear and damage
- Repair and install railway car parts such as compressors, air valves, bearings, couplings, air cylinders and piping
- Repair and maintain electrical and electronic controls for propulsion and braking systems
- Repair defective or damaged metal and wood components, using hand and power tools
- Repair and repaint wooden fixtures
- Replace damaged windows and repair upholstery
- Test and adjust parts using testing gauges and other test equipment
- Perform and document routine maintenance.
For Express Entry, your experience must match the lead statement and most of these duties, not only the job title.
Job titles
Example job titles
- rail vehicle mechanic
- railway car inspector
- railway carman/woman
- railway carman/woman apprentice
- streetcar and subway car mechanic
All 21 job titles in NOC 72403
- air brake inspector - railway car
- apprentice carman/woman - railway
- car inspector - railway
- car repairer - railway
- car repairer apprentice - railway
- carman/woman - railway
- carman/woman inspector - railway
- inspector-carman/woman - railway
- rail vehicle mechanic
- railcar mechanic apprentice
- railway car brake inspector
- railway car inspector
- railway car wheel and axle inspector
- railway carman/woman
- railway carman/woman apprentice
- railway carman/woman inspector
- railway coach repairer
- railway equipment inspector
- streetcar and subway car mechanic
- streetcar mechanic
- subway car mechanic
Requirements
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of an industry-offered apprenticeship program or three to four years of on-the-job training is usually required.
- Trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
Additional information
- Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
This occupation may be regulated in some provinces. You may need a licence or certificate from the provincial regulator before you can work in it in Canada, even if you hold permanent residence.
Wages
Wages for NOC 72403 in Canada
Low, median and high wages per hour in Canadian dollars, from ESDC Job Bank's 2025 wage data.
| Region | Low | Median | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $32.00 | $42.00 | $47.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| New Brunswick | $33.18 | $42.32 | $51.47 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Quebec | $30.07 | $41.48 | $52.44 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Ontario | $29.88 | $40.13 | $47.12 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Manitoba | $35.00 | $44.00 | $47.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Saskatchewan | $32.00 | $42.79 | $45.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Alberta | $36.00 | $40.00 | $40.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| British Columbia | $43.00 | $46.00 | $54.29 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
Provinces with too little data are not shown. Wages vary by city and employer; see Job Bank for regional figures.
Job outlook
Job outlook by province, 2025–2027
Job Bank rates the 3-year outlook as good or very good in Ontario.
GoodOntario
The employment outlook will be Good for railway carmen/women (NOC 72403) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about railway carmen/women in Ontario:
Approximately 950 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Railway carmen/women mainly work in the following sectors:
Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 75%
Transit and ground passenger transportation (NAICS 485): 25%
74% of railway carmen/women work all year, while 26% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: less than 5% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 20% compared to 25% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 28% compared to 8% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 38% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 8% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
ModerateSaskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Moderate for railway carmen/women (NOC 72403) in Saskatchewan for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about railway carmen/women in Saskatchewan:
Approximately 200 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Railway carmen/women mainly work in the following sectors:
Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 95%
81% of railway carmen/women work all year, while 19% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: more than 95% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: less than 5% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: 11% compared to 11% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 51% compared to 33% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 27% compared to 15% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: n/a
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
ModerateAlberta
The employment outlook will be Moderate for railway carmen/women (NOC 72403) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about railway carmen/women in Alberta:
Approximately 350 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Railway carmen/women mainly work in the following sectors:
Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 90%
Transit and ground passenger transportation (NAICS 485): 8%
81% of railway carmen/women work all year, while 19% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: more than 95% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: less than 5% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 30% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 38% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 21% compared to 19% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
LimitedQuebec
The employment outlook will be Limited for railway carmen/women (NOC 72403) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about railway carmen/women in Quebec:
Approximately 350 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Railway carmen/women mainly work in the following sectors:
Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 485-486, 487, 493): more than 95%
73% of railway carmen/women work all year, while 27% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 93% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 7% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 13% compared to 19% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 62% compared to 19% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 18% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
LimitedManitoba
The employment outlook will be Limited for railway carmen/women (NOC 72403) in Manitoba for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about railway carmen/women in Manitoba:
Approximately 550 people work in this occupation.
Railway carmen/women mainly work in the following sectors:
Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): more than 95%
85% of railway carmen/women work all year, while 15% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 48 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 95% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 5% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 34% compared to 31% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 38% compared to 12% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 19% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
LimitedBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Limited for railway carmen/women (NOC 72403) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.
Here are some key facts about railway carmen/women in British Columbia:
Approximately 300 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Railway carmen/women mainly work in the following sectors:
Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): more than 95%
78% of railway carmen/women work all year, while 22% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 48 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: more than 95% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: less than 5% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: 30% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 55% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 12% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
UndeterminedNewfoundland and Labrador
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedPrince Edward Island
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNova Scotia
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNew Brunswick
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNorthwest Territories
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNunavut
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
Source: ESDC Job Bank, 3-year employment outlooks 2025–2027 (released December 2025).
Provinces
Provincial Nominee Programs
A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. Most provinces run occupation-targeted draws or in-demand lists, and some accept TEER 4 and 5 occupations that Express Entry does not.
Provincial lists change often, sometimes between draws. We check whether NOC 72403 is being targeted by any province as part of a consultation.
Similar occupations
Related NOC codes
Classified elsewhere
If your duties fit one of these better, use that code instead.
Same occupation group
Machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicles)
Questions
NOC 72403: common questions
What is the NOC code for railway carmen/women?
What TEER category is NOC 72403?
Is NOC 72403 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 72403 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 72403 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 72403 in Canada?
Classification
Where it sits in NOC 2021
- 7Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupationsBroad Category
- 72Technical trades and transportation officers and controllersMajor Group
- 724Technical maintenance tradesSub-major Group
- 7240Machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicles)Minor Group
- 72403Railway carmen/women
Enquiry
Is NOC 72403 your occupation? Ask us about your options.
Tell us your duties, experience and language scores. We will confirm your NOC code and the Canadian routes that fit.
Sources: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0, Job Bank wages (2025), Job Bank outlooks 2025–2027 and IRCC. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Checked 21 October 2026.
NOC 2026 is due from Statistics Canada in December 2026. IRCC still uses NOC 2021 codes, and this page will show any change once IRCC switches.
This page is general information, not immigration advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada, IRCC or ESDC.
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