NOC 74204: Utility maintenance workers

Utility maintenance workers locate, repair, install and perform maintenance work to various equipment and facilities, such as water filtration and distribution plants, waste water treatment plants and power plants. They may also work on exterior and underground gas mains and distribution lines. They are employed by municipal, provincial and federal public works departments, private contractors under contract with government public works departments and gas distribution companies.

Express Entry eligibility

• Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): no, TEER 4 does not count for Express Entry.
• Canadian Experience Class: does not count.
• Federal Skilled Worker Program: does not count.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: not one of the eligible trades.
• High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): no. No high-wage add-on, and a job offer in it earns no CRS points.

TEER 4: Occupations that usually need a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

NOC 74204 is not on any of IRCC’s occupation category lists. You can still be invited in general, Canadian Experience Class or other program draws if you qualify through other experience.

Category lists checked on canada.ca on 2026-10-17. IRCC category-based selection

CRS points for work in NOC 74204

None. Work in TEER 4 and 5 occupations earns no Canadian work points in the CRS.

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Waterworks maintenance workers
• Check, clean and lubricate waterworks equipment, such as pumping equipment, chlorination equipment and compressors
• Adjust and repair waterworks equipment under the direction of qualified tradesperson
• Search and locate reported water leaks and repair water-mains, valves or outlets
• Install water meters using hand and power tools.
• Gas maintenance workers
• Check and lubricate gas pipeline valves
• Conduct routine survey of gas mains and distribution lines to detect and locate escaping gas using gas detecting devices
• Investigate reports of gas leaks to determine the exact location and extent of leaks
• Dig ground to expose gas lines and repair damaged pipes
• Keep record of work performed and location and condition of pipelines
• Provide information on underground gas distribution lines and observe excavation work to ensure that underground gas facilities are protected.
• Other utility workers
• Operate equipment and instruments to locate and mark underground utility lines and pipes
• Provide information on underground utility lines
• Operate equipment and hand tools to inspect and test utility poles for decay and deterioration.

For Express Entry your duties must match the lead statement and most of the main duties above.

Example job titles

• gas leak locator
• gas maintenance worker
• gas utility operator
• pipeline maintenance worker
• pipeline patrolman/woman
• power pole inspector
• utility locator
• utility plant maintenance worker
• waterworks maintenance worker

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school may be required.
• Several years of experience as a labourer in the same company may be required.
• On-the-job training is provided.
• Drinking water certification is required in Quebec and Ontario for waterworks maintenance workers.

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