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Express Entry high-wage occupations list: all 186 NOC codes and their levels

Find your NOC code, see its level, and know how many CRS points it can add from November 3, 2026.

Published October 17, 20263 min readBy the Canadian PRLedger team · sourced from IRCC

Photo by Juan Rojas on Unsplash

Key takeaways

  • 186 NOC codes qualify: 31 at Level 1, 89 at Level 2 and 66 at Level 3.
  • The level comes from the national median wage for your NOC code, not from your own salary.
  • 12 months in a listed NOC adds 20, 40 or 70 CRS points; a job offer in one is worth 50, 70 or 100.
  • The list uses 2023–2025 wage data and takes effect November 3, 2026. Your level is locked on the day you are invited.
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From November 3, 2026, Express Entry gives extra CRS points for Canadian work experience and job offers in high-wage occupations. IRCC publishes the list as NOC 2021 codes grouped into three levels. Search it below, or read what changes on November 3 first.

Showing 186 of 186 occupations · in effect from November 3, 2026 · IRCC source

NOCOccupationLevel
00011Senior government managers and officialsL1
00012Senior managers - financial, communications and other business servicesL1
00013Senior managers - health, education, social and community services and membership organizationsL1
10010Financial managersL1
10011Human resources managersL1
10012Purchasing managersL1
10020Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managersL1
10021Banking, credit and other investment managersL1
20010Engineering managersL1
20011Architecture and science managersL1
20012Computer and information systems managersL1
21330Mining engineersL1
21332Petroleum engineersL1
31100Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicineL1
31101Specialists in surgeryL1
31102General practitioners and family physiciansL1
31103VeterinariansL1
31302Nurse practitionersL1
31303Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionalsL1
40010Government managers - health and social policy development and program administrationL1
40011Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administrationL1
40012Government managers - education policy development and program administrationL1
40019Other managers in public administrationL1
40040Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection servicesL1
40041Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officersL1
41100JudgesL1
41101Lawyers and Quebec notariesL1
41200University professors and lecturersL1
60010Corporate sales managersL1
80010Managers in natural resources production and fishingL1
90011Utilities managersL1
00014Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other servicesL2
00015Senior managers - construction, transportation, production and utilitiesL2
10019Other administrative services managersL2
10022Advertising, marketing and public relations managersL2
10029Other business services managersL2
10030Telecommunication carriers managersL2
11103Securities agents, investment dealers and brokersL2
11201Professional occupations in business management consultingL2
21100Physicists and astronomersL2
21102Geoscientists and oceanographersL2
21103Meteorologists and climatologistsL2
21109Other professional occupations in physical sciencesL2
21111Forestry professionalsL2
21120Public and environmental health and safety professionalsL2
21202Urban and land use plannersL2
21210Mathematicians, statisticians and actuariesL2
21211Data scientistsL2
21220Cybersecurity specialistsL2
21221Business systems specialistsL2
21222Information systems specialistsL2
21223Database analysts and data administratorsL2
21230Computer systems developers and programmersL2
21231Software engineers and designersL2
21232Software developers and programmersL2
21300Civil engineersL2
21301Mechanical engineersL2
21310Electrical and electronics engineersL2
21311Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)L2
21320Chemical engineersL2
21321Industrial and manufacturing engineersL2
21322Metallurgical and materials engineersL2
21331Geological engineersL2
21390Aerospace engineersL2
21399Other professional engineersL2
22231Engineering inspectors and regulatory officersL2
22312Industrial instrument technicians and mechanicsL2
30010Managers in health careL2
31110DentistsL2
31112Audiologists and speech-language pathologistsL2
31120PharmacistsL2
31200PsychologistsL2
31202PhysiotherapistsL2
31203Occupational therapistsL2
31300Nursing coordinators and supervisorsL2
31301Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nursesL2
32111Dental hygienists and dental therapistsL2
40020Administrators - post-secondary education and vocational trainingL2
40021School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary educationL2
40030Managers in social, community and correctional servicesL2
40042Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed ForcesL2
41210College and other vocational instructorsL2
41220Secondary school teachersL2
41221Elementary school and kindergarten teachersL2
41310Police investigators and other investigative occupationsL2
41311Probation and parole officersL2
41320Educational counsellorsL2
41401Economists and economic policy researchers and analystsL2
41402Business development officers and market researchers and analystsL2
41404Health policy researchers, consultants and program officersL2
41407Program officers unique to governmentL2
42100Police officers (except commissioned)L2
42101FirefightersL2
50010Library, archive, museum and art gallery managersL2
50011Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing artsL2
51100LibrariansL2
70010Construction managersL2
70012Facility operation and maintenance managersL2
70020Managers in transportationL2
70021Postal and courier services managersL2
72011Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupationsL2
72012Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting tradesL2
72023Supervisors, railway transport operationsL2
72103BoilermakersL2
72202Power system electriciansL2
72203Electrical power line and cable workersL2
72301Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installersL2
72406Elevator constructors and mechanicsL2
72600Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructorsL2
72601Air traffic controllers and related occupationsL2
72604Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulatorsL2
73310Railway and yard locomotive engineersL2
82020Supervisors, mining and quarryingL2
82021Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and servicesL2
83101Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workersL2
90010Manufacturing managersL2
92011Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilitiesL2
92100Power engineers and power systems operatorsL2
93100Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processingL2
93101Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processingL2
00010LegislatorsL3
11100Financial auditors and accountantsL3
11101Financial and investment analystsL3
11102Financial advisorsL3
11109Other financial officersL3
11200Human resources professionalsL3
12201Insurance adjusters and claims examinersL3
12203Assessors, business valuators and appraisersL3
21101ChemistsL3
21110Biologists and related scientistsL3
21112Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialistsL3
21200ArchitectsL3
21201Landscape architectsL3
21203Land surveyorsL3
21234Web developers and programmersL3
22214Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorologyL3
22232Occupational health and safety specialistsL3
22233Construction inspectorsL3
22310Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and techniciansL3
22313Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectorsL3
31121Dietitians and nutritionistsL3
32102Paramedical occupationsL3
32103Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologistsL3
32120Medical laboratory technologistsL3
32121Medical radiation technologistsL3
32122Medical sonographersL3
41300Social workersL3
41400Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officersL3
41403Social policy researchers, consultants and program officersL3
41405Education policy researchers, consultants and program officersL3
41409Other professional occupations in social scienceL3
43201Correctional service officersL3
43203Border services, customs, and immigration officersL3
50012Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directorsL3
51101Conservators and curatorsL3
51102ArchivistsL3
51111Authors and writers (except technical)L3
51112Technical writersL3
51120Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupationsL3
52112Broadcast techniciansL3
60020Retail and wholesale trade managersL3
60031Accommodation service managersL3
60040Managers in customer and personal servicesL3
72010Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupationsL3
72013Contractors and supervisors, carpentry tradesL3
72014Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicersL3
72020Contractors and supervisors, mechanic tradesL3
72021Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crewsL3
72102Sheet metal workersL3
72105IronworkersL3
72201Industrial electriciansL3
72302Gas fittersL3
72320BricklayersL3
72321InsulatorsL3
72401Heavy-duty equipment mechanicsL3
72403Railway carmen/womenL3
72404Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectorsL3
72500Crane operatorsL3
72602Deck officers, water transportL3
72603Engineer officers, water transportL3
73311Railway conductors and brakemen/womenL3
82010Supervisors, logging and forestryL3
83100Underground production and development minersL3
83120Fishing masters and officersL3
92010Supervisors, mineral and metal processingL3
93102Pulping, papermaking and coating control operatorsL3

How the three levels work

IRCC compares the median wage of everyone in Canada working in a NOC code with the average median wage of the whole Canadian workforce:

LevelMedian wage for the NOCCodesExperience bonusJob offer points
Level 1At least 2× the average median31+70100
Level 2At least 1.5×, under 2×89+4070
Level 3At least 1.3×, under 1.5×66+2050

The experience bonus needs at least 12 months (1,560 hours) of qualifying Canadian work in listed occupations. For the 70-point bonus, all 12 months must be in Level 1 jobs. For 40 points, they can be any mix of Level 1 and 2 jobs, and for 20 points any mix of listed jobs.

It's your NOC code, not your salary

This catches people out. IRCC says the assessment "is not based on an individual's job position or salary." Two consequences:

  • A high salary in an unlisted NOC earns no bonus. For example, an experienced electrician classified under NOC 72200 (Electricians, except industrial and power system) gets no high-wage bonus, even though industrial electricians (72201, Level 3) and power system electricians (72202, Level 2) do.
  • An entry-level salary in a listed NOC still qualifies, as long as the NOC is right for your duties.

So the NOC code on your profile has to match what you actually do. If you're unsure, read how to find your NOC code. Picking a higher-paying NOC that doesn't match your duties is misrepresentation.

Popular occupations at a glance

OccupationNOCLevel
Nurse practitioners313021
General practitioners and family physicians311021
Lawyers and Quebec notaries411011
Computer and information systems managers200121
Software engineers and designers212312
Software developers and programmers212322
Data scientists212112
Cybersecurity specialists212202
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses313012
Pharmacists311202
Civil, mechanical and electrical engineers21300, 21301, 213102
Secondary and elementary school teachers41220, 412212
Construction managers700102
Financial auditors and accountants111003
Financial and investment analysts111013
Web developers and programmers212343
Industrial electricians722013
Retail and wholesale trade managers600203

Common jobs that are not on the list

Cooks (63200), transport truck drivers (73300), retail sales supervisors (62010), administrative assistants (13110), carpenters (72310), welders (72106), web designers (21233) and computer network and web technicians (22220) are not high-wage occupations. If your NOC isn't listed, you keep your normal Canadian work experience points, you just don't get the bonus.

Where the list comes from and when it changes

  • Data: Job Bank, the Labour Force Survey and the Census of Population, covering the last three years (currently 2023 to 2025).
  • Highest level wins: each NOC gets the highest level its median wage reached in any year of that period.
  • Updates: IRCC will maintain the list. If an occupation moves level, is removed or is added after you receive an Invitation to Apply, IRCC keeps using the level that applied on the date of your invitation.
  • TEER: every listed code is TEER 0 to 3, so it also counts as skilled work for Express Entry.

Frequently asked questions

How many high-wage occupations are there for Express Entry?

186 NOC 2021 codes: 31 at Level 1 (median wage at least twice the average median), 89 at Level 2 (at least 1.5 times) and 66 at Level 3 (at least 1.3 times).

Is software engineering a high-wage occupation?

Yes. Software engineers and designers (21231) and software developers and programmers (21232) are Level 2. Web developers and programmers (21234) are Level 3. Web designers (21233) are not on the list.

Are registered nurses on the high-wage list?

Yes. Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (31301) are Level 2, nursing coordinators and supervisors (31300) are Level 2, and nurse practitioners (31302) are Level 1.

My salary is above the median but my NOC isn't listed. Do I qualify?

No. IRCC decides high-wage status by NOC code using national wage data, not by your individual salary. You still get your regular Canadian work experience points.

What if my occupation's level changes after I'm invited?

IRCC keeps using the level that applied on the date of your Invitation to Apply, whether the occupation later moves level, is removed or is added.

Official sources

Figures and rules in this guide are checked against IRCC program pages. If anything conflicts, trust the government page.

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Canadian PRLedger is a free tracking and calculator tool — not a law firm, not an RCIC practice, and not affiliated with IRCC. These guides summarize public program rules for planning purposes only. For case-specific advice, speak with a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer.

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