Are you planning to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry but confused about the new High-Wage Occupation List? Canada's immigration system is introducing changes that could benefit certain skilled workers through additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.
Effective November 3, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will recognise eligible Canadian work experience and qualifying job offers in high-wage occupations.
But what exactly makes an occupation high-wage? Does your personal salary matter? Which NOC codes are included?
Here is a practical guide from Can-America Immigration to help you understand the new classification.
1. What Is a High-Wage Occupation?
An occupation qualifies as high-wage under Express Entry when its Canadian national median wage is at least 1.3 times the overall median wage of the Canadian workforce.
IRCC assesses the occupation using its National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. It does not determine eligibility based on an individual's actual salary.
For example, earning a high salary does not automatically qualify your occupation. Likewise, someone working in a listed occupation does not personally need to earn twice the national median wage.
IRCC uses Job Bank, Labour Force Survey and Census of Population data from 2023–2025 to establish the current classifications.
2. The Three High-Wage Occupation Levels
The list contains three categories:
Level 1: Median occupation wage is at least twice the national workforce median.
Level 2: At least 1.5 times but less than twice the national median.
Level 3: At least 1.3 times but less than 1.5 times the national median.
The higher the category, the more additional CRS points you can earn, subject to separate work experience or job offer requirements.
3. Complete High-Wage Occupation NOC Codes – 2026
Below are the NOC codes included in the IRCC list, organised by wage level. These are five-digit NOC codes.
Level 1 – At Least Twice the National Median
NOC code | Occupation |
00011 | Senior government managers |
00012 | Senior business managers |
00013 | Senior health, education and social services managers |
10010 | Financial managers |
10011 | Human resources managers |
10012 | Purchasing managers |
10020 | Insurance and financial brokerage managers |
10021 | Banking and investment managers |
20010 | Engineering managers |
20011 | Architecture and science managers |
20012 | Computer and information systems managers |
21330 | Mining engineers |
21332 | Petroleum engineers |
31100 | Clinical and laboratory medicine specialists |
31101 | Specialists in surgery |
31102 | General practitioners and family physicians |
31103 | Veterinarians |
31302 | Nurse practitioners |
31303 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals |
40010–40012 | Senior government policy managers |
40019 | Other public administration managers |
40040–40041 | Senior police and firefighting officers |
41100 | Judges |
41101 | Lawyers and Quebec notaries |
41200 | University professors and lecturers |
60010 | Corporate sales managers |
80010 | Natural resources and fishing managers |
90011 | Utilities managers |
Level 2 – At Least 1.5 Times the National Median
Management, business and finance: 00014, 00015, 10019, 10022, 10029, 10030, 11103, 11201.
Science, research and technology: 21100, 21102, 21103, 21109, 21111, 21120, 21202, 21210, 21211, 21220, 21221, 21222, 21223, 21230, 21231, 21232.
Engineering and technical professions: 21300, 21301, 21310, 21311, 21320, 21321, 21322, 21331, 21390, 21399, 22231, 22312.
Healthcare: 30010, 31110, 31112, 31120, 31200, 31202, 31203, 31300, 31301, 32111.
Education, government and public services: 40020, 40021, 40030, 40042, 41210, 41220, 41221, 41310, 41311, 41320, 41401, 41402, 41404, 41407, 42100, 42101.
Culture, construction, transportation and skilled trades: 50010, 50011, 51100, 70010, 70012, 70020, 70021, 72011, 72012, 72023, 72103, 72202, 72203, 72301, 72406, 72600, 72601, 72604, 73310, 82020, 82021, 83101, 90010, 92011, 92100, 93100, 93101.
Level 3 – At Least 1.3 Times the National Median
Finance and business: 00010, 11100, 11101, 11102, 11109, 11200, 12201, 12203.
Science, architecture and technology: 21101, 21110, 21112, 21200, 21201, 21203, 21234, 22214, 22232, 22233, 22310, 22313.
Healthcare and social services: 31121, 32102, 32103, 32120, 32121, 32122, 41300, 41400, 41403, 41405, 41409.
Public services, culture and management: 43201, 43203, 50012, 51101, 51102, 51111, 51112, 51120, 52112, 60020, 60031, 60040.
Construction, trades and transportation: 72010, 72013, 72014, 72020, 72021, 72102, 72105, 72201, 72302, 72320, 72321, 72401, 72403, 72404, 72500, 72602, 72603, 73311, 82010, 83100, 83120, 92010, 93102.
For the complete official occupation titles and descriptions, consult IRCC's high-wage occupation directory.
4. Does Being on the List Automatically Give You CRS Points?
No. This is an important distinction. Working in a listed occupation does not automatically qualify you for additional points. You must meet the applicable conditions for either eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying Canadian job offer.
The additional points range from 20 to 70 for eligible Canadian work experience and 50 to 100 for qualifying job offers, depending on the wage level. Foreign work experience alone does not qualify for these new additional points.
Plan Your Canadian Immigration Journey With Can-America Immigration
Understanding the new occupation classification is an important step for skilled workers considering Canadian permanent residence.
At Can-America Immigration, we help applicants understand their NOC classification, Express Entry eligibility and potential immigration pathways.
Not sure whether your occupation qualifies? Contact Can-America Immigration to explore your options.
Official IRCC reference: High-Wage Occupations and How We Assess Them
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Inclusion on the list does not guarantee CRS points or permanent residence. Always verify your occupation and eligibility against current IRCC requirements.
