Express Entry “high-wage” points: your occupation’s NOC counts, not your paycheque

Key takeaways

IRCC says high-wage is based on “all the people in Canada working under the same National Occupational Classification (NOC)”
IRCC adds that it “is not determined based on a person’s specific job position or salary”
A job is high-wage if the NOC’s median wage is at least 1.3 times the average median wage of the overall Canadian work force
The list is by NOC code, starts November 3, 2026 and uses 2023 to 2025 data
The IRCC pages we checked set no minimum for your own pay, but your offer letter must state your pay
Only jobs in the 3 high-wage occupation levels count for the new points

The short answer: it is your occupation, not your pay

IRCC’s high-wage occupations page says: “a job is considered a high-wage occupation if the median wage of all people in Canada performing that job is at least 1.3 times higher than the average median wage of the overall Canadian work force. This is based on all the people in Canada working under the same National Occupational Classification (NOC). It is not determined based on a person’s specific job position or salary.”

So the test looks at the occupation, not at what you are paid.

How the list works

IRCC says high-wage occupations “are grouped into 3 levels using NOC codes”. For each NOC, the level is “determined based on the highest level its median wage met in the last 3 years”. IRCC names Job Bank, the Labour Force Survey and the Census as data sources.

The list “comes into effect on November 3, 2026” and is “based on data from 2023 to 2025”.

IRCC’s backgrounder says candidates “may receive additional CRS points based on the wage level of their occupation”. Its job-offer tiers are labelled “High-wage occupation level”, for example “At least 2 times the median wage”.

What your work experience or job offer must meet

IRCC’s changes page says: “Only jobs listed in those 3 high-wage occupation levels are eligible for high-wage occupation points or job offer points.”

Work experience: at least 1 year (12 months or 1,560 hours) of qualifying Canadian work experience that meets the existing Express Entry requirements and was gained in one or more eligible high-wage occupations.
Job offer: your offer must be valid under Express Entry and be for a position in an eligible high-wage occupation.

What IRCC says about your own pay

The IRCC pages we checked do not set a minimum wage for your own job offer or past work. They do not ask you to compare your pay with the NOC median.

Your pay still appears on the offer. IRCC’s job offer page says the written offer must “set out details of the job”, such as “your pay and deductions; your duties; the conditions of employment”.

IRCC also says officers check that the employer “can fulfill the terms of their offer” and that the offer “reflects the employer’s reasonable employment needs”. It must also follow employment and recruitment laws. These are general genuineness checks, not a wage floor.

What IRCC has not said on the pages we checked

A minimum for your own wage on an offer or on past experience.
What happens if your pay is far below the NOC median, beyond the general genuineness checks.
A way to turn a salary into an hourly rate to compare with the median. Your own pay is not part of the test, so we do not give one.
Separate instructions for people already in the pool who answered “No” to the LMIA question.

We do not say whether a wage floor exists in law. We only say that IRCC’s public pages set none.

What this means for you

Find your NOC code on IRCC’s list. That decides whether your job counts.
Earning more or less than the median: IRCC says this does not move you between levels, because the level belongs to the occupation.
Claim the NOC that matches your real duties. The existing Express Entry rules still apply to the work you list.

What to do next

Look up your NOC on the official high-wage list (our step-by-step guide).
For the LMIA question, the “00000” steps and the points tables, read our articles on the steps before November 3 and the new CRS points.
Check your current score with our CRS calculator.
Read the Express Entry guide for the full process.

Frequently asked questions

Does “high-wage” mean I must earn a high wage?

No. IRCC says it is based on everyone working under the same NOC and “is not determined based on a person’s specific job position or salary”.

What counts as a high-wage occupation?

A job where the median wage of all people in Canada in that job is at least 1.3 times the average median wage of the overall Canadian work force.

When does the list start?

November 3, 2026. It is based on data from 2023 to 2025.

Does IRCC set a minimum pay for my job offer?

Not on the pages we checked. The offer must state your pay, but no threshold is given.

Sources

Facts as provided in our research brief dated October 17, 2026.

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. For your situation, consult a licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.