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Other wood processing machine operators

Occupation · NOC 2021 94129 · Canada

NOC 2021 code
94129
TEER
4
Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
32
Median wage, Canada
C$25.72 per hour
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
98
NOC94129TEER 4
Year by year
Data as at 2026
OC<CANOTHER<WOOD<PROCESSING<MACHINE<OPERATOR
941297<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

About this occupation

Other wood processing machine operators operate and tend wood processing equipment and machines to remove bark from logs, produce wood chips, preserve and treat wood, and produce waferboards, particleboards, hardboards, insulation boards, plywood, veneers and similar wood products. They are employed in sawmills, woodrooms of pulp mills, planing mills, wood treatment plants, waferboard plants and other wood processing plants.

Example job titles

  • barker operator
  • chipper operator
  • lumber kiln operator
  • particleboard line operator
  • plywood panel assembler
  • timber treating tank operator
  • veneer dryer tender
  • veneer lathe operator
  • waferboard press operator
  • wood treater operator

Main duties

  • This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Operate and tend various wood processing equipment and machines to remove bark, knots and dirt from logs; reduce logs or sawmill waste into wood chips or flakes; stack and band lumber; screen wood chips; and produce waferboards, particleboards, hardboards and insulation boards
  • Operate and tend conveyors, lathes, sanding machines and other equipment to peel and slice veneer from logs and log sections, and to glue, press, trim, sand and splice veneer sheets
  • Operate and tend kilns, treating tanks and other equipment to dry lumber and other wood products, and to treat chemically and impregnate wood products with preservatives
  • Observe equipment, panel indicators, video monitors, and other instruments to detect malfunctions and ensure that processes are operating according to specifications
  • Assemble plywood panels and repair plywood and veneer mechanically or manually
  • Start up, shut down, set up, adjust and assist in maintaining processing equipment and machines as required
  • Complete and maintain production reports.

Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Several weeks of on-the-job training are provided.
  • For lumber kiln operators, particleboard operators and waferboard operators, some combination of college or company courses and up to one year of on-the-job training may be required.
  • Previous experience as a labourer in wood processing may be required.

Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)

Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.

Approved positions by year

51020212022202320242025
51020212022202320242025
Data table
20212
20227
20236
20247
202510
By province or territory
  1. Quebec24
  2. Ontario5
  3. British Columbia3
Employers with the most positions
  1. XYLO-CARBONE INC.8
  2. Placages Lignum inc4
  3. Placages Beaulac Inc3
  4. RK DOORS INC3
  5. 54 Reman INC.2
  6. RIP-O-BEC INC2
  7. 2639-1862 Québec INC (Planchers de bois franc Wickham)2
  8. Les Planchers des Appalaches Lté2
  9. White River Forest Products LP2
  10. Produits Forestiers R. Perron Ltée2
  11. Fabridor1
  12. Harwood Lumber LTD1
By stream
  1. Low-wage stream (TFWP)27
  2. High-wage stream (TFWP)5

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).

YearTFWP permitsIMP permits
2023010

All work permits by year

5102023
5102023
Data table
202310

Wages

Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.

AreaLowMedianHigh
CanadaC$17.50C$25.72C$37.00
AlbertaC$27.69C$35.07C$40.94
British ColumbiaC$26.25C$33.13C$42.73
ManitobaC$20.58C$25.02C$30.99
New BrunswickC$20.50C$25.54C$30.32
OntarioC$18.06C$22.85C$35.13
QuebecC$20.00C$27.50C$46.00
SaskatchewanC$19.80C$27.65C$33.96
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
98
Vacancies advertised
186
Median advertised minimum hourly wage
C$24.97