Express Entry high-wage occupations
A plain-language guide to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes IRCC lists as high-wage occupations for Express Entry, and a searchable copy of that list. This page is general information from Anil Katta, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC #R531377). It is not a decision about any person.
Last verified November 11, 2026. IRCC: High-wage occupations and how we assess them (official page modified October 16, 2026).
What “high-wage occupation” means
Under Express Entry, IRCC treats an occupation as high-wage when the median wage of people in Canada working in that NOC is at least 1.3 times the average median wage of the overall Canadian workforce. The list page states this as “at least 1.3 times higher than” that average median wage. The measure is the occupation across the country. It is not one person’s job title, and it is not that person’s salary.
IRCC groups the occupations into three levels, in this order. The tables on this page use Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 for those three groups. IRCC’s own tables are headed by the wage multiple, which is repeated under each name below.
- Level 131 occupations
- Median wage at least twice the average median wage.
- Level 289 occupations
- Median wage at least 1.5 times, but less than twice, the average median wage.
- Level 366 occupations
- Median wage at least 1.3 times, but less than 1.5 times, the average median wage.
IRCC says it sets each NOC’s level from the last three years of data from Job Bank, the Labour Force Survey, and the Census of Population. The level used is the highest level that NOC’s median wage met during those three years. This list comes into effect on November 3, 2026. IRCC says it is currently based on data from 2023 to 2025. The list page does not print a dollar figure for the average median wage. Check the official page if you need a figure IRCC publishes somewhere else.
If the list changes after IRCC issues an Invitation to Apply, IRCC says it will keep using the level that applied on the invitation date. That rule covers a move between levels, removal from the list, and addition to the list.
Being on this list does not by itself make anyone eligible for Express Entry, and it does not guarantee an invitation to apply. The NOC has to match the duties actually performed, not the job title.
Search the list
186 occupations in total: 31 in Level 1, 89 in Level 2, 66 in Level 3. Codes and titles are the NOC descriptions from the IRCC list page named above.
Showing 186 of 186 occupations.
Level 1
Median wage at least twice the average median wage. 31 occupations in this view.
| NOC code | Occupation title |
|---|---|
| 00011 | Senior government managers and officials |
| 00012 | Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services |
| 00013 | Senior managers - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations |
| 10010 | Financial managers |
| 10011 | Human resources managers |
| 10012 | Purchasing managers |
| 10020 | Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers |
| 10021 | Banking, credit and other investment managers |
| 20010 | Engineering managers |
| 20011 | Architecture and science managers |
| 20012 | Computer and information systems managers |
| 21330 | Mining engineers |
| 21332 | Petroleum engineers |
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians |
| 31103 | Veterinarians |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners |
| 31303 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals |
| 40010 | Government managers - health and social policy development and program administration |
| 40011 | Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration |
| 40012 | Government managers - education policy development and program administration |
| 40019 | Other managers in public administration |
| 40040 | Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services |
| 40041 | Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers |
| 41100 | Judges |
| 41101 | Lawyers and Quebec notaries |
| 41200 | University professors and lecturers |
| 60010 | Corporate sales managers |
| 80010 | Managers in natural resources production and fishing |
| 90011 | Utilities managers |
Level 2
Median wage at least 1.5 times, but less than twice, the average median wage. 89 occupations in this view.
| NOC code | Occupation title |
|---|---|
| 00014 | Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services |
| 00015 | Senior managers - construction, transportation, production and utilities |
| 10019 | Other administrative services managers |
| 10022 | Advertising, marketing and public relations managers |
| 10029 | Other business services managers |
| 10030 | Telecommunication carriers managers |
| 11103 | Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers |
| 11201 | Professional occupations in business management consulting |
| 21100 | Physicists and astronomers |
| 21102 | Geoscientists and oceanographers |
| 21103 | Meteorologists and climatologists |
| 21109 | Other professional occupations in physical sciences |
| 21111 | Forestry professionals |
| 21120 | Public and environmental health and safety professionals |
| 21202 | Urban and land use planners |
| 21210 | Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries |
| 21211 | Data scientists |
| 21220 | Cybersecurity specialists |
| 21221 | Business systems specialists |
| 21222 | Information systems specialists |
| 21223 | Database analysts and data administrators |
| 21230 | Computer systems developers and programmers |
| 21231 | Software engineers and designers |
| 21232 | Software developers and programmers |
| 21300 | Civil engineers |
| 21301 | Mechanical engineers |
| 21310 | Electrical and electronics engineers |
| 21311 | Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) |
| 21320 | Chemical engineers |
| 21321 | Industrial and manufacturing engineers |
| 21322 | Metallurgical and materials engineers |
| 21331 | Geological engineers |
| 21390 | Aerospace engineers |
| 21399 | Other professional engineers |
| 22231 | Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers |
| 22312 | Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics |
| 30010 | Managers in health care |
| 31110 | Dentists |
| 31112 | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists |
| 31120 | Pharmacists |
| 31200 | Psychologists |
| 31202 | Physiotherapists |
| 31203 | Occupational therapists |
| 31300 | Nursing coordinators and supervisors |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 32111 | Dental hygienists and dental therapists |
| 40020 | Administrators - post-secondary education and vocational training |
| 40021 | School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education |
| 40030 | Managers in social, community and correctional services |
| 40042 | Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces |
| 41210 | College and other vocational instructors |
| 41220 | Secondary school teachers |
| 41221 | Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
| 41310 | Police investigators and other investigative occupations |
| 41311 | Probation and parole officers |
| 41320 | Educational counsellors |
| 41401 | Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts |
| 41402 | Business development officers and market researchers and analysts |
| 41404 | Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers |
| 41407 | Program officers unique to government |
| 42100 | Police officers (except commissioned) |
| 42101 | Firefighters |
| 50010 | Library, archive, museum and art gallery managers |
| 50011 | Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts |
| 51100 | Librarians |
| 70010 | Construction managers |
| 70012 | Facility operation and maintenance managers |
| 70020 | Managers in transportation |
| 70021 | Postal and courier services managers |
| 72011 | Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations |
| 72012 | Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades |
| 72023 | Supervisors, railway transport operations |
| 72103 | Boilermakers |
| 72202 | Power system electricians |
| 72203 | Electrical power line and cable workers |
| 72301 | Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers |
| 72406 | Elevator constructors and mechanics |
| 72600 | Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors |
| 72601 | Air traffic controllers and related occupations |
| 72604 | Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators |
| 73310 | Railway and yard locomotive engineers |
| 82020 | Supervisors, mining and quarrying |
| 82021 | Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services |
| 83101 | Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers |
| 90010 | Manufacturing managers |
| 92011 | Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities |
| 92100 | Power engineers and power systems operators |
| 93100 | Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing |
| 93101 | Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing |
Level 3
Median wage at least 1.3 times, but less than 1.5 times, the average median wage. 66 occupations in this view.
| NOC code | Occupation title |
|---|---|
| 00010 | Legislators |
| 11100 | Financial auditors and accountants |
| 11101 | Financial and investment analysts |
| 11102 | Financial advisors |
| 11109 | Other financial officers |
| 11200 | Human resources professionals |
| 12201 | Insurance adjusters and claims examiners |
| 12203 | Assessors, business valuators and appraisers |
| 21101 | Chemists |
| 21110 | Biologists and related scientists |
| 21112 | Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists |
| 21200 | Architects |
| 21201 | Landscape architects |
| 21203 | Land surveyors |
| 21234 | Web developers and programmers |
| 22214 | Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology |
| 22232 | Occupational health and safety specialists |
| 22233 | Construction inspectors |
| 22310 | Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians |
| 22313 | Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors |
| 31121 | Dietitians and nutritionists |
| 32102 | Paramedical occupations |
| 32103 | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists |
| 32120 | Medical laboratory technologists |
| 32121 | Medical radiation technologists |
| 32122 | Medical sonographers |
| 41300 | Social workers |
| 41400 | Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers |
| 41403 | Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers |
| 41405 | Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers |
| 41409 | Other professional occupations in social science |
| 43201 | Correctional service officers |
| 43203 | Border services, customs, and immigration officers |
| 50012 | Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors |
| 51101 | Conservators and curators |
| 51102 | Archivists |
| 51111 | Authors and writers (except technical) |
| 51112 | Technical writers |
| 51120 | Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations |
| 52112 | Broadcast technicians |
| 60020 | Retail and wholesale trade managers |
| 60031 | Accommodation service managers |
| 60040 | Managers in customer and personal services |
| 72010 | Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations |
| 72013 | Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades |
| 72014 | Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers |
| 72020 | Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades |
| 72021 | Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews |
| 72102 | Sheet metal workers |
| 72105 | Ironworkers |
| 72201 | Industrial electricians |
| 72302 | Gas fitters |
| 72320 | Bricklayers |
| 72321 | Insulators |
| 72401 | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
| 72403 | Railway carmen/women |
| 72404 | Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors |
| 72500 | Crane operators |
| 72602 | Deck officers, water transport |
| 72603 | Engineer officers, water transport |
| 73311 | Railway conductors and brakemen/women |
| 82010 | Supervisors, logging and forestry |
| 83100 | Underground production and development miners |
| 83120 | Fishing masters and officers |
| 92010 | Supervisors, mineral and metal processing |
| 93102 | Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators |
How IRCC uses the list in Express Entry
The list page identifies the occupations and the level of each one. How those levels feed Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points is set out in IRCC’s backgrounder, Changes to Express Entry for high-wage occupations. The summary below follows that backgrounder. It is not a CRS calculation.
IRCC says that on November 3, 2026 Express Entry will add points for eligible Canadian work experience, or for a qualifying job offer, in a high-wage occupation. It also says a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) will not be required for a qualifying job offer used to meet program eligibility and to receive CRS points. A person who could count both Canadian work experience and a job offer receives the option that produces more points. The two are not added together.
IRCC caps the labour market integration factor at 150 points for a candidate without an accompanying spouse or common-law partner, and 140 points for a candidate with one. Additional points do not guarantee an invitation. Invitation rounds keep their own requirements and CRS cut-off scores.
Canadian work experience
Duration of eligible Canadian work experience still has its own points, up to 80 points for five years. High-wage experience can add the points below. IRCC says the duration points and these additional points together can reach up to 150 points for Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation. Experience that is not in a high-wage occupation still receives the duration points.
| CRS points | What IRCC’s backgrounder ties those points to |
|---|---|
| 70 | At least 12 months in one or more occupations at twice the median wage |
| 40 | If the 70-point rule is not met: at least 12 months combined in occupations at 1.5 times the median wage or above |
| 20 | If the 70- and 40-point rules are not met: at least 12 months combined in occupations at 1.3 times the median wage or above |
IRCC says eligible Canadian work experience generally has to be gained in Canada within the previous 10 years, in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. The backgrounder also says specific provisions apply to certain physicians who provide publicly funded medical services.
Qualifying job offer
IRCC’s backgrounder assigns these CRS points to a qualifying job offer. The three rows use the wage multiples below. The occupations list defines the levels as separate bands, so read the backgrounder with the list before relying on a number.
| CRS points | What IRCC’s backgrounder ties those points to |
|---|---|
| 100 | At least twice the median wage |
| 70 | At least 1.5 times the median wage |
| 50 | At least 1.3 times the median wage |
A qualifying job offer generally has to be for full-time, continuous work in Canada for at least one year after the person becomes a permanent resident. Specific requirements apply to some occupations, including skilled trades and physicians who provide publicly funded medical services. An offer that is revoked no longer qualifies. An officer still has to be satisfied that the offer is genuine, including the employer’s business, the need for the role, the employer’s ability to meet the terms, the person’s ability to do the work, and compliance with employment and recruitment laws.
The backgrounder says that, beginning November 3, 2026, an LMIA is not required for a qualifying job offer to receive these points. It also describes a temporary public policy for people invited on or after that date, about LMIA and LMIA-exemption requirements for qualifying job offers used toward eligibility in the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, where the person meets the conditions of that policy. The policy text itself is on Canada.ca; use the backgrounder link above as the starting point.
IRCC’s backgrounder says people who may qualify for job-offer points should review the job-offer information in an Express Entry profile before November 3, 2026 and confirm that it is complete and accurate.
What this means for you
- Find the code, then compare that NOC’s main duties with the work you did or with the work a job offer actually describes. A similar title is not the same thing as the same NOC. The NOC and TEER finder is a starting point for the code. It does not decide which code an officer will accept.
- Your wage on a pay stub does not place the occupation on this list, and a code on this list does not by itself make you eligible for Express Entry or guarantee an invitation.
- Any points still depend on the separate rules for Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer. A CRS calculator on this site is an estimate tool. It is not IRCC’s score, and it is not an invitation.
- If you already have an invitation, the level that matters under IRCC’s published rule is the level on the invitation date, even if the list changes later.
- Anil Katta, RCIC #R531377, can discuss the requirements that apply to your duties, work history, and any job offer. That conversation does not promise an outcome. The Individuals & Families consultation is 30 minutes and CAD $55.
Book a consultation to discuss the requirements for your situation
Questions about the list
Related pages: Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class, permanent residence, and the resources hub.
Discuss the requirements for your situation
Anil Katta, RCIC #R531377, reviews facts against the rules that apply to that file. Individuals & Families consultation: 30 minutes, CAD $55. No outcome is promised.
Book a consultation to discuss the requirements for your situation