NOC 2021 · 94105 · TEER 4
Metalworking and forging machine operators
Unit group 94105 of the National Occupational Classification, 2021 Version 1.0.
Check which category draws this code qualifies for
What this group covers
Light metalworking machine operators operate metalworking machines which shape and form sheet or other light metal into parts or products. Heavy metalworking machine operators operate metalworking machines which shape and form steel or other heavy metal into parts or products. Forging machine operators operate forging machines to form and shape metal into various shapes and sizes and impart desired strength, hardness or other characteristics. Light metalworking machine operators are employed by sheet metal products manufacturing companies, sheet metal shops and other light metal products manufacturing establishments. Heavy metalworking machine operators are employed by structural steel fabrication, boiler and platework manufacturing companies, heavy machinery manufacturing companies and in the shipbuilding industry. Forging machine operators are employed primarily in the fabricated metal products, machinery and transportation equipment manufacturing industries.
Example job titles
As Statistics Canada publishes them. Yours may be worded differently and still belong here.
- acetylene torch operator - metal fabrication
- air hammer operator - metal forging
- aluminum sheet cutter - ductwork
- aluminum sheet cutter - metal fabrication
- aluminum sheet trimmer - ductwork
- angle shear operator - metal fabrication
- arc cutter - metal fabrication
- automatic cut-off operator - metal fabrication
- automatic cut-off saw operator - metal products manufacturing
- bender set-up operator - metal products manufacturing
- bending machine operator - metal forging
- bending machine set-up operator - metal fabrication
- bending machine tender - metal fabrication
- bending machine tender - metal products manufacturing
- bending press operator - metal fabrication
- bending roll operator - metal fabrication
- board drop hammer operator
- board hammer operator - metal forging
- brake setter - metalworking
- buffing line setter
- buffing machine set-up operator - metal fabrication
- burning machine operator - metal fabrication
- burning table operator - metal fabrication
- cage builder - metal fabrication
- cold drawn operator - metal forging
- cold press operator - metal forging
- computer numerically controlled (CNC) brake press operator
- computer numerically controlled (CNC) brake press set-up operator
- corrugator sheet metal operator
- disc flanging operator - metal fabrication
- disk flange operator
- disk flange operator - metal fabrication
- drop forge hand
- drop forge operator
- drop forge operator - metal forging
- drop forger
- drop hammer forger
- drop hammer operator - metal forging
- dual action hammer operator - metal forging
- duplicator punch operator - metal fabrication
- electric arc cutter - metal products manufacturing
- expanding machine operator - metal products manufacturing
- flame cutting machine operator - metal fabrication
- flame cutting tracer machine operator - metal fabrication
- flame hardening machine setter
- flying shear operator - metal fabrication
- forge manipulator operator
- forging air hammer operator
- forging machine operator
- forging machine operator group leader
- forging machine operators lead hand
- forging machine setter
- forging machine set-up man/woman
- forging press operator
- forging press tender
- forging roll operator
- forming machine operator - metal fabrication
- forming press operator - metal fabrication
- forming roll set-up operator - metal fabrication
- forming roll tender - metal fabrication
- hammer driver - forging
- hammer operator - metal forging
- heater operator - metal forging
- heavy forger
- heavy-duty press set-up operator - metal fabrication
- hoop bender
- hoop-maker machine operator - metal fabrication
- hot press operator - metal forging
- hydraulic press operator - metal fabrication
- impact hammer operator - metal forging
- impression die press operator - metal fabrication
- laser cutter - metal fabrication
- lay-out marker - metal products manufacturing
- lead fabricator
- leaf spring inspector
- leaf spring maker - metal fabrication
- machine power saw operator
- magnetic flame cutting machine operator - metal fabrication
- manipulator operator - metal forging
- mechanical press operator - metal products manufacturing
- metal cut-off saw operator
- metal fabricating machine operator
- metal parts inspector
- metal power saw operator
- metal sawing machine operator
- metal spinner
- metal table saw operator
- metal-forming machine set-up operator
- metal-forming machine tender
- metal-stamping press operator
- metalworking machine operator
- metalworking machine setter
- metalworking machine set-up man/woman
- metalworking machine set-up operator
- multi-operation forming machine tender
- multiple punch press operator - metal fabrication
- musical instrument tube bender
- nibbling machine operator - metal fabrication
- ornamental metal worker - metal fabrication
- pantograph burner - metal fabrication
- pantograph flame cutter - metal fabrication
- pipe-bending machine operator - metal fabrication
- plate burner - metal fabrication
- plate shear operator - metal fabrication
- power brake operator - metal fabrication
- power hammer operator - metal forging
- power press operator
- power press operator - metal fabrication
- power press operator - metal products manufacturing
- power press set-up operator - metal fabrication
- power shear operator - metal fabrication
- power shear tender - metal fabrication
- press brake operator
- press brake operator - metal products manufacturing
- press tender - pierce and shave
- punch and shear machine operator - metal fabrication
- punch press operator
- punch press operator - metal fabrication
- punch press setter - metalworking
- puncher and shearer - metal products manufacturing
- restrike hammer operator - metal forging
- ring mill operator - metal forging
- rod-bending machine operator - metal fabrication
- roll bender operator - metal products manufacturing
- roll forger
- roll operator - metal fabrication
- roll-forming machine setter - metalworking
- rolling machine operator - metal forging
- rotary shear operator - metal fabrication
- saw operator - metal fabrication
- shear operator
- shear operator - metal fabrication
- shear setter - metal fabrication
- shearer - metal working
- sheet metal brake tender
- sheet metal corrugation machine operator
- sheet metal corrugator
- sheet metal cutter - metal fabrication
- sheet metal fabrication inspector
- sheet metal roll operator - metal fabrication
- sheet metal spinner - metal fabrication
- sheet-metal-embossing machine operator
- sheet-metal-working machine operator - metal products manufacturing
- sheet-metal-working machine set-up operator
- sheet-metal-working machine tender - metal fabrication
- slide forming machine setter - metal fabrication
- slide forming machine set-up operator
- slide forming machine tender - metal fabrication
- steam hammer operator - metal forging
- steel shot machine operator
- straight line press setter - metal fabrication
- straightener hand - metal fabrication
- straightening press operator - metal fabrication
- strip-roll-forming machine operator - metal fabrication
- strip-roll-forming machine tender - metal fabrication
- threader - metal products manufacturing
- trip hammer operator - metal forging
- tube-bending machine operator - metal fabrication
- tubular metal products fabricator
- turret press operator
- turret press set-up operator
- turret punch press operator - metal fabrication
- upsetter operator - metal forging
- upsetting machine operator - metal forging
- vehicle spring repairer - metal forging
- vertical press operator
- vertical press operator - metal fabrication
- vertical roll operator - metal fabrication
What it pays, and where it is hiring
Job Bank publishes a wage estimate and a three-year employment outlook for each occupation, region by region. Both are below as published — where an estimate is missing from the source it is missing here too, because the alternative is inventing one.
Across Canada
$25.00 an hour
Low $19.00, high $34.68
Where it pays most
- Cariboo · British Columbia$30.61
- Lower Mainland · British Columbia$30.00
- Thompson--Okanagan · British Columbia$28.42
- Vancouver Island and Coast · British Columbia$28.15
- Calgary · Alberta$27.93
Economic regions only. A province’s figure is an average over the regions inside it, so including one would rank a province above its own best region and read as a finding.
By province and territory
| Where | Median hourly | Low to high | Outlook 2025–2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Not published | Not published | Undetermined |
| Prince Edward Island | Not published | Not published | Undetermined |
| Nova Scotia | $19.49 | $16.62 – $28.12 | Moderate |
| New Brunswick | $20.00 | $15.65 – $24.00 | Undetermined |
| Quebec | $27.60 | $20.00 – $37.77 | Good |
| Ontario | $24.91 | $19.00 – $31.50 | Limited |
| Manitoba | $21.75 | $20.00 – $32.00 | Moderate |
| Saskatchewan | $24.00 | $20.00 – $45.18 | Limited |
| Alberta | $28.00 | $18.50 – $52.10 | Limited |
| British Columbia | $30.00 | $24.25 – $35.00 | Moderate |
| Yukon Territory | Not published | Not published | Undetermined |
| Northwest Territories | Not published | Not published | Undetermined |
| Nunavut | Not published | Not published | Undetermined |
By economic region
The 45 economic regions where Job Bank publishes a wage or a rated outlook, of 72.
| Where | Province | Median hourly | Low to high | Outlook 2025–2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Breton | Nova Scotia | Not published | Not published | Moderate |
| North Shore | Nova Scotia | Not published | Not published | Moderate |
| Annapolis Valley | Nova Scotia | Not published | Not published | Moderate |
| Southern | Nova Scotia | Not published | Not published | Moderate |
| Halifax | Nova Scotia | $23.01 | $18.36 – $27.78 | Undetermined |
| Moncton--Richibucto | New Brunswick | $21.42 | $18.49 – $29.03 | Undetermined |
| Bas-Saint-Laurent | Quebec | $24.06 | $20.84 – $28.71 | Moderate |
| Capitale-Nationale | Quebec | $25.00 | $20.00 – $30.75 | Moderate |
| Chaudière-Appalaches | Quebec | $27.60 | $20.00 – $37.77 | Moderate |
| Estrie | Quebec | $24.00 | $19.00 – $35.90 | Moderate |
| Centre-du-Québec | Quebec | $27.60 | $20.00 – $37.77 | Good |
| Montérégie | Quebec | $27.60 | $20.00 – $37.77 | Good |
| Montréal | Quebec | $23.68 | $19.75 – $30.73 | Good |
| Laval | Quebec | $26.00 | $20.00 – $35.25 | Good |
| Lanaudière | Quebec | $26.22 | $20.39 – $27.12 | Good |
| Laurentides | Quebec | $27.60 | $20.00 – $37.77 | Good |
| Mauricie | Quebec | Not published | Not published | Moderate |
| Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean | Quebec | Not published | Not published | Limited |
| Ottawa | Ontario | $25.59 | $21.41 – $31.43 | Limited |
| Kingston--Pembroke | Ontario | $23.48 | $20.35 – $30.40 | Limited |
| Muskoka--Kawarthas | Ontario | $25.74 | $21.23 – $31.59 | Very limited |
| Toronto | Ontario | $25.00 | $20.00 – $32.37 | Limited |
| Kitchener--Waterloo--Barrie | Ontario | $22.00 | $18.00 – $29.00 | Limited |
| Hamilton--Niagara Peninsula | Ontario | $24.91 | $19.00 – $34.30 | Limited |
| London | Ontario | $25.00 | $20.00 – $30.00 | Limited |
| Windsor--Sarnia | Ontario | Not published | Not published | Limited |
| Stratford--Bruce Peninsula | Ontario | Not published | Not published | Limited |
| Northeast | Ontario | Not published | Not published | Limited |
| Southeast | Manitoba | $22.70 | $20.05 – $27.00 | Undetermined |
| South Central | Manitoba | $21.58 | $19.37 – $26.74 | Moderate |
| Southwest | Manitoba | $23.72 | $20.37 – $28.43 | Undetermined |
| North Central | Manitoba | Not published | Not published | Moderate |
| Winnipeg | Manitoba | $21.75 | $20.11 – $32.00 | Moderate |
| Interlake | Manitoba | $23.14 | $20.24 – $27.96 | Undetermined |
| Regina--Moose Mountain | Saskatchewan | $24.00 | $21.00 – $45.18 | Moderate |
| Saskatoon--Biggar | Saskatchewan | $24.87 | $21.56 – $32.09 | Limited |
| Prince Albert | Saskatchewan | $24.60 | $20.58 – $31.49 | Undetermined |
| Lethbridge--Medicine Hat | Alberta | $25.10 | $20.67 – $29.62 | Limited |
| Calgary | Alberta | $27.93 | $21.71 – $41.61 | Limited |
| Banff--Jasper--Rocky Mountain House | Alberta | $27.26 | $22.92 – $33.01 | Undetermined |
| Edmonton | Alberta | $27.59 | $21.98 – $35.95 | Limited |
| Vancouver Island and Coast | British Columbia | $28.15 | $23.26 – $34.32 | Undetermined |
| Lower Mainland | British Columbia | $30.00 | $17.85 – $35.00 | Moderate |
| Thompson--Okanagan | British Columbia | $28.42 | $22.25 – $34.93 | Limited |
| Cariboo | British Columbia | $30.61 | $24.10 – $35.71 | Undetermined |
Job Bank rates employment prospects for each occupation in each economic region from very good to very limited over 2025–2027, and says “undetermined” where it has not got enough to rate. It is an assessment of prospects, not a count of vacancies.
The estimates on this page come from Labour Force Survey (2023-2024) · Small Area Estimation (2024).
Job Bank publishes an estimate for 24,364 of the 44,376 occupation-and-place pairs in this release. The rest are suppressed rather than modelled, and appear here as not published.
Wage estimates from the 2025 Wages release, revised 19 November 2025; employment outlooks from 2025-2027 Employment Outlooks - NOC 2021, released 8 December 2025. Both are updated annually. Estimates for different regions come from different surveys, so comparing two regions is exactly as sound as Job Bank’s own regional comparison and no more.
Source: Statistics Canada — National Occupational Classification 2021 V1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada — Job Bank wages; Employment and Social Development Canada — Job Bank 3-year employment outlooks. Data current as of 13 August 2026. NOC 2021 Version 1.0. The classification is versioned rather than dated — IRCC moved to it in November 2022, and a new version would be a new classification rather than an update.