NOC 94153: Photographic and film processors
What photographic and film processors do
Photographic and film processors process and finish still photographic film and motion picture film. They are employed in film processing laboratories and retail photofinishing establishments.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Operate equipment to develop negatives and slides, and to print black and white and colour photographs
- Operate photographic enlarging equipment to produce prints and enlargements from negatives
- Operate equipment to develop motion picture film
- Tend automatic equipment in retail establishments to develop colour negatives, prints and slides
- Operate equipment to transfer film to video tape
- Retouch photographic negatives or original prints to correct defects
- Splice film and mount film on reels
- Measure and mix chemicals required for processing
- Inspect rolls of photographic prints for conformance to specifications; or motion picture film to detect defects in developing and printing.
Job titles under NOC 94153
54 job titles are classified here, including darkroom technician, film developer, film printing machine operator.
- chemical mixer - photographic processing
- colour film analyzer - photographic processing
- copy camera operator - photographic processing
- darkroom technician
- darkroom technician - photographic processing
- developer-printer machine tender
- developing machine operator - photographic processing
- enlarger operator - photographic processing
- film developer
- film printing machine operator
- film processing technician
- film processor
- film splicer - photographic processing
- film-developing machine tender
- film-printing machine tender
- film-processing machine operator
- motion picture film developer
- motion picture film examiner - photographic processing
- motion picture film printer
- negative cutter - film processing
- negative restorer - photographic processing
- negative retoucher
- negative spotter - film processing
- negative-contact-frame operator
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- For employment in film processing laboratories, completion of a college or other specialized photography program or Extensive related experience is required.
- For employment as a film printing machine operator in retail outlets, on-the-job training is provided.
Photographic and film processors wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $16.20/hr | $20.00/hr | $30.78/hr |
Using NOC 94153 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 54 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Film stripper-assembler (NOC 94151)
- Negative spotter - printing (NOC 94151)
- Photographic and film processing supervisor (NOC 72022)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for photographic and film processors?
Photographic and film processors are NOC 2021 unit group 94153. Example job titles in this group include darkroom technician, film developer, film printing machine operator, film processor.
What TEER is NOC 94153?
NOC 94153 is TEER 4 (High school and on-the-job training). Usually requires completion of secondary school, or several weeks of on-the-job training. TEER 4 and 5 work does not count as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do photographic and film processors earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $20.00/hr, about $39,000 a year full-time, with a range of $16.20/hr to $30.78/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.