Express Entry high-wage occupations list: which jobs are on it

How IRCC decides

IRCC says a job is a high-wage occupation if the median wage of all people in Canada doing that job is at least 1.3 times the average median wage of the overall Canadian workforce. “It is not determined based on a person’s specific job position or salary.”

IRCC uses data from the Job Bank, the Labour Force Survey and the Census of Population for the last 3 years. Each NOC gets the highest level its median wage met in that period. Read the IRCC high-wage occupations page. IRCC does not say how often it will update the list.

The three levels, with examples

These are examples copied from IRCC’s tables, not the full list.

Level 1: at least twice the average median wage

• 20012 Computer and information systems managers
• 10010 Financial managers; 20010 Engineering managers
• 31100, 31101, 31102 Physicians (including general practitioners and family physicians)
• 31302 Nurse practitioners
• 31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
• 41101 Lawyers and Quebec notaries
• 41200 University professors and lecturers

Level 2: 1.5 times, but less than twice

• Tech: 21211 Data scientists; 21220 Cybersecurity specialists; 21221 Business systems specialists; 21222 Information systems specialists; 21223 Database analysts; 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers; 21231 Software engineers and designers; 21232 Software developers and programmers
• Engineering: 21300 Civil, 21301 Mechanical and 21310 Electrical and electronics engineers
• Health: 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses; 31120 Pharmacists; 31110 Dentists; 31202 Physiotherapists; 30010 Managers in health care
• Teaching: 41220 Secondary school teachers; 41221 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
• Other: 11201 Management consultants; 72600 Air pilots

Level 3: 1.3 times, but less than 1.5 times

• Finance and HR: 11100 Financial auditors and accountants; 11101 Financial and investment analysts; 11102 Financial advisors; 11200 Human resources professionals
• Tech: 21234 Web developers and programmers; 22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
• Health: 32120 Medical laboratory technologists; 32121 Medical radiation technologists; 32122 Medical sonographers
• Social services: 41300 Social workers
• Business and trades: 60020 Retail and wholesale trade managers; 72201 Industrial electricians; 72401 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics; 72404 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors

Close pairs to notice

• Software engineers (21231) and software developers (21232) are Level 2, but web developers (21234) are Level 3.
• Registered nurses (31301) are Level 2, but nurse practitioners (31302) are Level 1.

If the list changes after your ITA

IRCC says: “we’ll keep using the level that applied on the date we invited you.” This applies if your job moves levels, is removed from the list or is added to the list.

What this means for you

• Check the NOC, not your salary. Your NOC must match your real duties. Do not choose a NOC because of the level you want.
• For point values and how job-offer and experience points work, read our guide to high-wage points from November 3. This IRCC page does not give point values.
• Choosing your NOC: see high-wage points: your NOC counts, not your pay.

Frequently asked questions

Is my salary used to decide if my job is high-wage?

No. IRCC says it is not based on a person’s specific job position or salary.

When does the list take effect?

November 3, 2026.

What years of data does the list use?

It is currently based on data from 2023 to 2025.

Where is the full list?

On IRCC’s high-wage occupations page, linked in Sources.

Sources

• IRCC: High-wage occupations for Express Entry

Facts as provided in our research brief dated October 22, 2026.