Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
Occupation · NOC 2021 72100 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 72100
- TEER
- 2
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 5,819
- Median wage, Canada
- C$30.00 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 3,046
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About this occupation
Machinists set up and operate a variety of machine tools to cut or grind metal, plastic or other materials to make or modify parts or products with precise dimensions. Machining and tooling inspectors inspect machined parts and tooling in order to maintain quality control standards. They are employed by machinery, equipment, motor vehicle, automotive parts, aircraft and other metal products manufacturing companies and by machine shops. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Example job titles
- automotive machinist
- aviation machinist
- general machinist
- machine shop inspector
- machined parts inspector
- machining inspector
- machinist
- machinist apprentice
- tooling inspector
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Machinists
- Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, charts and tables or study sample parts to determine machining operation to be performed, and plan best sequence of operations
- Compute dimensions and tolerances and measure and lay out work pieces
- Set up, operate and maintain a variety of machine tools including computer numerically controlled (CNC) tools to perform precision, non-repetitive machining operations such as sawing, turning, milling, boring, planing, drilling, precision grinding and other operations
- Fit and assemble machined metal parts and subassemblies using hand and power tools
- Verify dimensions of products for accuracy and conformance to specifications using precision measuring instruments
- May set up and program machine tools for use by machining tool operators.
- Machining and tooling inspectors
- Verify dimensions of machined parts or tooling using micrometers, verniers, callipers, height gauges, optical comparators, coordinate measuring machines (CMM) or other specialized measuring instruments
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a four-year apprenticeship program or a combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some college and industry courses in machining may be required for trade certification.
- Trade certification for machinists is available, but voluntary, in all provinces and territories.
- Trade certification for tool and gauge inspectors is available, but voluntary, in Ontario.
- Trade certification for machinists (CNC) is available, but voluntary, in New Brunswick, Quebec and Manitoba.
- Several years of experience as a machinist, tool and die maker or machining tool operator may be required for machining and tooling inspectors.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified machinists upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 120 |
| 2017 | 197 |
| 2018 | 262 |
| 2019 | 576 |
| 2020 | 387 |
| 2021 | 463 |
| 2022 | 1,150 |
| 2023 | 1,076 |
| 2024 | 781 |
| 2025 | 650 |
| 2026 | 157 |
- MARMEN INC.152
- Linamar Corporation136
- Rotobec inc.122
- Groupe Meloche inc117
- CIF Métal Ltée105
- CBR Laser inc.86
- Rasakti Inc77
- GROUPE LACASSE INC.72
- Nutech inc.65
- Verbom Inc64
- Boa-Franc s.e.n.c.61
- J.I.T. Laser Inc.55
- Soucy Rivalair inc.51
- Usitech 2000 Inc.51
- Plate 2000 inc.50
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 490 | 180 |
| 2025 | 650 | 85 |
| 2024 | 805 | 75 |
| 2023 | 1,010 | 75 |
| 2022 | 675 | 75 |
| 2021 | 475 | 135 |
| 2020 | 270 | 55 |
| 2019 | 430 | 105 |
| 2018 | 180 | 160 |
| 2017 | 105 | 85 |
| 2016 | 45 | 65 |
| 2015 | 80 | 55 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 135 |
| 2016 | 110 |
| 2017 | 190 |
| 2018 | 340 |
| 2019 | 535 |
| 2020 | 325 |
| 2021 | 610 |
| 2022 | 750 |
| 2023 | 1,085 |
| 2024 | 880 |
| 2025 | 735 |
| 2026 | 670 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
New permanent residents by year
Data table
| 2015 | 115 |
| 2016 | 45 |
| 2017 | 170 |
| 2018 | 305 |
| 2019 | 290 |
| 2020 | 150 |
| 2021 | 1,595 |
| 2022 | 540 |
| 2023 | 820 |
| 2024 | 285 |
| 2025 | 1,010 |
| 2026 | 310 |
- Canadian Experience Class2,640
- Provincial Nominee Program2,280
- Federal Skilled Trades50
- Federal Skilled Worker15
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$21.00 | C$30.00 | C$41.50 |
| Alberta | C$25.00 | C$36.50 | C$45.00 |
| British Columbia | C$25.00 | C$38.00 | C$46.29 |
| Manitoba | C$19.00 | C$28.00 | C$40.00 |
| New Brunswick | C$20.00 | C$30.00 | C$36.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$20.00 | C$30.00 | C$39.00 |
| Nova Scotia | C$21.00 | C$31.00 | C$47.12 |
| Ontario | C$21.00 | C$30.00 | C$40.85 |
| Quebec | C$21.00 | C$27.50 | C$38.00 |
| Saskatchewan | C$28.85 | C$35.00 | C$45.00 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 3,046
- Vacancies advertised
- 4,704
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$28.50
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