How Do LMIA Wage Floors Connect to Your NOC Code?
Short answer: ESDC publishes a prevailing-wage table for every NOC code in every province. Your LMIA-based work permit application requires the employer to pay at least the prevailing wage for your NOC in the work location. The wage tied to your NOC code determines whether your job falls in the high-wage or low-wage LMIA stream, which carries different recruitment rules, processing timelines, and employer caps.
The high-wage versus low-wage split is set at the provincial median hourly wage. If the wage offered for your NOC in your work location is at or above the median, your file goes through the high-wage stream. Below the median, it goes through the low-wage stream, which carries:
- Stricter advertising requirements (8 weeks of advertising as of April 1, 2026, doubled from 4 weeks)
- Mandatory Canadian youth recruitment outreach documentation
- A workforce cap of 10% for low-wage TFWs in most provinces (15% in rural areas through March 2027)
- Mandatory transportation, housing assistance, and health insurance until provincial coverage starts
Look up your NOC's prevailing wage per province at Job Bank's wage report tool.
For full coverage of the new April 2026 LMIA rules, see our LMIA Changes April 2026 guide.
What Are the Most Common NOC Code Mistakes?
Short answer: The five most common NOC mistakes are claiming a higher TEER than your actual duties support, picking by job title without reading the main duties, mixing up NOC 2016 (4-digit) and NOC 2021 (5-digit) codes, ignoring the lead statement, and assuming the same NOC code carries the same eligibility across all immigration programs. Each mistake is a documented refusal driver in our refusal-recovery practice.
In rough order of frequency at our Toronto office:
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Claiming a higher TEER than actual duties support. A retail supervisor who manages 3 cashiers is typically TEER 4 (NOC 64100 or 62010), not TEER 0 (NOC 60010). IRCC checks duties against the NOC main duties. Misalignment triggers refusal and a 5-year misrepresentation ban under IRPA Section 40 is possible if IRCC concludes the misclaim was intentional.
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Picking the NOC by job title without reading the duties. Two "Project Coordinator" jobs can fall under different NOCs (10010, 11202, or 13100) depending on whether the role involves managerial authority, business consulting, or general administration. Always read the main duties.
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Mixing NOC 2016 and NOC 2021 codes. A four-digit code (e.g., 2173) is the old NOC 2016 system. IRCC requires NOC 2021 (five-digit) for all post-November 2022 applications. If an ECA report or employment letter cites a 4-digit code, find the NOC 2021 equivalent through the ESDC concordance table.
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Ignoring the lead statement. Each NOC unit group has a one-paragraph lead statement describing the typical work. If your job description does not match the lead statement, the NOC is almost certainly wrong even if the title matches.
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Assuming one NOC carries the same eligibility everywhere. TEER 4 NOC 64100 (Retail salespersons) does not qualify for Express Entry but may qualify for Alberta's Rural Renewal Stream. NOC 62200 (Chefs) was eligible for the 2025 Express Entry Trades category but was removed for 2026. Programs change; verify before applying.
What Changed in NOC 2021 Version 2.0?
Short answer: NOC 2021 Version 2.0 took effect November 21, 2024. It added 7 new unit groups (including dedicated codes for cybersecurity specialists and data scientists), refined definitions for several existing groups, and updated employment requirements based on labour-market input. The structural framework (5-digit codes, TEER system, 10 broad categories) is unchanged from Version 1.0.
Key v2.0 changes that matter for immigration:
- NOC 21220 Cybersecurity specialists was elevated to its own unit group (previously bundled with other IT roles), opening cybersecurity workers to a dedicated category in the 2026 STEM Express Entry draws.
- NOC 21211 Data scientists received its own unit group, providing a clear NOC for data-science roles that had been ambiguously coded under data analyst or statistician categories.
- NOC 22220 Computer network and web technicians consolidated two prior groups into a single unit group, simplifying the code path for IT technicians.
- Several construction trades unit groups were renamed or clarified, including a new dedicated unit group for NOC 72601 Painters and decorators (industrial).
- Updated lead statements and main duties across about 30 unit groups in healthcare, technology, and skilled trades to reflect 2024 occupational realities.
IRCC accepts NOC 2021 v2.0 codes for all applications (IRCC NOC guidance on canada.ca). Concordance between v1.0 and v2.0 is published at noc.esdc.gc.ca. If you're updating an in-flight application that used v1.0 codes, IRCC accepts either as long as the underlying occupation matches your claimed duties.
Frequently Asked Questions About NOC Codes
How do I find my NOC code?
Use the official NOC Search tool. Enter your job title in English or French, then verify the result by reading the lead statement and main duties for the suggested NOC. Your actual day-to-day work must match the main duties for the code to be correct.
What is the difference between NOC 2016 and NOC 2021?
NOC 2016 used 4-digit codes and skill levels 0/A/B/C/D. NOC 2021 uses 5-digit codes and the TEER system (0 through 5). IRCC required all post-November 16, 2022 applications to use NOC 2021. NOC 2021 v2.0 took effect November 21, 2024 with minor refinements to specific unit groups.
How do I know my TEER level?
The TEER level is the second digit of your 5-digit NOC code. NOC 21232 is TEER 1 (the "1" is the second digit). NOC 64100 is TEER 4.
Is TEER 4 eligible for Express Entry?
No. Express Entry requires work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. TEER 4 and 5 do not qualify. Some Provincial Nominee Programs (notably Alberta Rural Renewal, BC Entry Level/Semi-Skilled, Ontario In-Demand Skills) accept specific TEER 4 NOCs for targeted labour shortages.
Does my NOC determine my CRS score?
Indirectly. Your NOC determines your eligibility for Express Entry (TEER must be 0/1/2/3) and which category-based draws you qualify for (healthcare, STEM, trades, transport, French speakers, agriculture, foreign medical doctors, researchers and senior managers, military personnel in 2026). Your specific CRS score depends on age, education, language, work experience years, and adaptability factors; but eligibility is gated by NOC and TEER.
Can I claim multiple NOCs in my Express Entry profile?
You list each job separately with its own NOC. If you held different positions, claim them under their respective NOCs. You can also claim the highest NOC you held continuously for the required period (typically 1 year for CEC).
How do I prove my NOC matches my job?
You submit an employment letter from each employer stating your title, dates of employment, duties, hours per week, salary, and signatory contact. The duties listed on the letter should match (but not necessarily copy verbatim) the main duties of the NOC you claim. IRCC verifies by reading the letter and calling the employer if needed.
Are any TEER 5 occupations eligible for Canadian PR?
Generally no. Express Entry excludes TEER 5. The Caregiver Pilot programs (Home Child Care Provider Pilot, Home Support Worker Pilot) provide PR pathways for specific TEER 4 caregiver NOCs, with PR on arrival under qualifying conditions. Some agricultural and seasonal worker streams allow TEER 5 occupations to access work permits, but not direct PR through Express Entry.
What happens if I claim the wrong NOC?
If your duties don't match the NOC main duties, IRCC refuses for either eligibility failure or misrepresentation. Misrepresentation under IRPA Section 40 carries a 5-year ban from any Canadian immigration application. Honest NOC misclassification (you genuinely believed your code was correct but officers disagreed) typically results in a procedural fairness letter and a chance to clarify before refusal.
Where do I look up NOC prevailing wages?
Job Bank's wage report tool publishes low, median, and high hourly wages for every NOC in every province and territory. This is the same database ESDC uses to set LMIA wage floors and high-wage versus low-wage stream classifications.
Do I need a separate NOC for self-employment?
Yes. For Express Entry self-employed applicants under the FSW class, your self-employment in your declared NOC must meet the same skilled-work definition (TEER 0/1/2/3, minimum 1 year). Self-employment is harder to document; you provide tax returns, business registrations, client contracts, and bank statements showing business income.
What is the TEER code in Canada?
A TEER code is the second digit of your 5-digit National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities, and the NOC has six TEER categories numbered 0 through 5. For federal economic permanent residence programs like Express Entry, your work experience must fall in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 to count as skilled.
Is TEER 3 eligible for PR?
Yes. TEER 3 work experience qualifies for Canada's federal economic permanent residence programs through Express Entry, alongside TEER 0, 1, and 2. TEER 4 and 5 work generally does not qualify for these federal streams, though some Provincial Nominee Programs accept selected TEER 4 occupations for targeted labour shortages.
Is a PSW TEER 3 or 4?
A personal support worker, also listed as a home support worker under NOC 44101, is TEER 4 in the National Occupational Classification, not TEER 3. Because it is TEER 4, PSW experience does not qualify for Express Entry, though caregiver pilots and some Provincial Nominee Program streams provide other pathways. Confirm your exact code on the official Government of Canada NOC search tool.
What Are the Next Steps to Use Your NOC Code in Immigration?
If you're preparing an Express Entry profile, a Provincial Nominee Program application, a PGWP, or an LMIA-supported work permit, your NOC code is the single most consequential identifier on your file. Get it wrong and the rest of your application falls apart.
The verification workflow that catches most errors:
- Search the official NOC tool at noc.esdc.gc.ca for your title.
- Read the lead statement and main duties for the top suggested NOC.
- Compare your actual day-to-day work against the main duties. They should match at least 70% to 80%.
- Check the TEER level (second digit of the code) against your immigration program's eligibility.
- Verify category eligibility if you're targeting Express Entry category-based draws.
- Look up the prevailing wage at jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis/search-wages if your application involves an LMIA.
If you're uncertain after working through those steps, an RCIC review of your NOC choice typically takes 30 to 60 minutes and prevents refusals that cost months of processing and the non-refundable application fee. Book a consultation with our team if you want a written assessment of your NOC selection before you submit.
For broader Express Entry strategy under 2026 rules, see our How to Improve Your CRS Score guide, the Express Entry Category-Based Draws 2026 article, and the Federal High-Skilled Class proposal that will reshape the system in 2027-2028.
Sources
Primary government sources used in this article (all accessed May 2026):
Written by Rami Mamar, RCIC-IRB (License #R515110), regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. Last reviewed May 2026 against NOC 2021 Version 2.0 (effective November 21, 2024) and current IRCC and ESDC published guidance. Sources: Statistics Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada NOC structure at noc.esdc.gc.ca; IRCC Express Entry eligibility at canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry; Job Bank wage reports at jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis; ESDC LMIA program updates at canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/foreign-workers.
