NOC 2021 · 72604 · TEER 2
NOC 72604: Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Railway traffic controllers coordinate passenger and freight train traffic on railways. They are employed by rail transport companies. Marine traffic regulators monitor and regulate coastal and inland marine traffic within assigned waterways. They are employed by port, harbour, canal and lock authorities and by the Canadian Coast Guard.
TEER
TEER 2
Usually needs a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or supervisory work
Median wage (Canada)
$41.00 / hour
Job Bank, 2023-2024
High-wage tier (from 3 Nov 2026)
Tier 2
+40 CRS for Canadian work, or 70 for a job offer
Express Entry categories
None
General and program draws only
Express Entry
How NOC 72604 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: not eligibleNeeds 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 72604 is in tier 2 of IRCC's high-wage list, in effect from 3 November 2026.
| 12+ months of Canadian work | +40 points on top of work-length points |
|---|---|
| Qualifying job offer (no LMIA) | 70 points |
You get whichever option scores higher, not both.
See all 186 high-wage occupationsCategory-based draws
NOC 72604 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:
- Railway traffic controllers
- Operate and monitor centralized traffic control systems to coordinate and follow railway traffic
- Chart train movements, calculate arrival and departure times and record rail traffic information
- Issue instructions to control the movement of passenger and freight train traffic and on-track mobile maintenance equipment
- Receive, record and relay train instructions to train crew by hand or radio telephone
- May supervise and train other railway traffic controllers.
- Marine traffic regulators
- Direct and monitor vessel movements using radar or closed circuit monitors, remote radio systems and other telecommunication equipment
- Obtain position, course, speed and estimated arrival time of vessels and monitor vessel progress through traffic zone
- Issue clearance instructions to vessels, advise vessels of traffic volumes and weather conditions, and relay information to next marine traffic control sector
- Report accidents, distress signals, navigational hazards and other emergencies to authorities
- Maintain radio and telephone contact with adjacent marine control sectors and with vessels within area of jurisdiction
- Maintain log of vessel movements, size and structure.
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
- chief rail traffic controller
- marine traffic regulator
- rail traffic controller
- train operator
All 13 job titles in NOC 72604
- centralized traffic control (CTC) operator - railway traffic
- centralized traffic controller - railway traffic
- chief rail traffic controller
- chief train dispatcher
- head train dispatcher
- locomotive dispatcher
- marine traffic controller
- marine traffic regulator
- rail traffic controller
- train dispatcher
- train dispatchers supervisor
- train operator
- waterway traffic checker
Requirements
Employment requirements
- Railway traffic controllers usually require completion of secondary school and several years of experience in the railway industry.
- Up to 35 weeks of a combination of classroom and on-the-job training is provided for railway traffic controllers.
- Railway traffic controllers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.
- Marine traffic regulators require completion of secondary school and several months of formal traffic regulator training.
Additional information
- There is little mobility between traffic controlling occupations in the railway and marine sectors.
- With experience, railway traffic controllers may progress to supervisory positions in rail transport operations.
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 72604 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 | $31.00 | $41.00 | $54.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Quebec | $31.00 | $41.00 | $52.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Ontario | $30.72 | $40.47 | $51.03 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Alberta | $31.11 | $43.11 | $55.83 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| British Columbia | $30.20 | $42.83 | $61.62 | Small Area Estimation, 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's 3-year employment outlook for this occupation, by province and territory.
ModerateQuebec
The employment outlook will be Moderate for railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators (NOC 72604) in Quebec 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 traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators in Quebec:
Approximately 150 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators mainly work in the following sectors:
Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 485-486, 487, 493): 74%
Transportation equipment manufacturing (NAICS 336): 10%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 10%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 6%
63% of railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators work all year, while 38% 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 42 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 90% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 10% 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: 26% compared to 19% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 28% compared to 19% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 26% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 14% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
ModerateAlberta
The employment outlook will be Moderate for railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators (NOC 72604) 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 traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators in Alberta:
Approximately 500 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators mainly work in the following sectors:
Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 77%
Transit and ground passenger transportation (NAICS 485): 12%
Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 5%
82% of railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators work all year, while 18% 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: 71% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 28% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: 6% compared to 10% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 48% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 10% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 17% compared to 19% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 14% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
LimitedOntario
The employment outlook will be Limited for railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators (NOC 72604) in Ontario 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.
Here are some key facts about railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators in Ontario:
Approximately 400 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators mainly work in the following sectors:
Transit and ground passenger transportation (NAICS 485): 43%
Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 41%
Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 7%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 5%
92% of railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators work all year, while 8% 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 49 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 74% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 26% 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: 40% compared to 25% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 12% compared to 8% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 24% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 16% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
LimitedBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Limited for railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators (NOC 72604) 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 moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators in British Columbia:
Approximately 200 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators mainly work in the following sectors:
Other transportation and warehousing (NAICS 482-483, 486, 487, 493): 46%
Transit and ground passenger transportation (NAICS 485): 26%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 19%
Construction (NAICS 23): 8%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 93% compared to 78% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 7% compared to 22% for all occupations
68% of railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators work all year, while 32% 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 43 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 84% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 16% 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: 53% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 16% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 16% 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.
UndeterminedManitoba
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedSaskatchewan
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 72604 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.
- 70012 Facility operation and maintenance managers
- 72024 Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
- 72023 Supervisors, railway transport operations
Same occupation group
Transportation officers and controllers
Questions
NOC 72604: common questions
What is the NOC code for railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators?
What TEER category is NOC 72604?
Is NOC 72604 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 72604 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 72604 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 72604 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
- 726Transportation officers and controllersSub-major Group
- 7260Transportation officers and controllersMinor Group
- 72604Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
Enquiry
Is NOC 72604 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.
Plan your move to Canada
A first consultation covers eligibility, realistic timelines, total cost and the tax consequences of the move. You leave with a written plan, not a brochure.