Canada PR 2026: 186 High-Wage Occupations That Can Boost Your Express Entry CRS Score

Mr. Parthesh Thakkar

21st October 2026

From November 3, 2026, Canada is introducing a Labour Market Integration factor under Express Entry. It assesses either your qualifying Canadian work experience (including new high-wage bonus points) or a qualifying job offer, and awards whichever route gives you more points: up to 150 points (140 if you have an accompanying spouse or common-law partner).

This guide lists all 186 high-wage occupations (NOCs) across the three tiers, with each occupation’s Canada-wide median hourly wage, the wage required to claim points, and the CRS points available.

Tiers at a glance

Common rules

• Wage required to claim points = the occupation’s Canada-wide Job Bank median wage × the tier multiple (2.0, 1.5 or 1.3). IRCC assigns each NOC’s tier on its high-wage occupations list.

• High-wage experience bonus points require at least 12 months (1,560 hours) of qualifying Canadian work experience in eligible NOCs.

• Work-length points plus high-wage experience points are compared with qualifying job-offer points. The higher route is used, not both.

• The job offer must meet Express Entry requirements and be genuine. From November 3, 2026, an LMIA is not required for qualifying job-offer points.

• IRCC uses the tier in effect when it issues your Invitation to Apply, even if the list changes later.

How to read the tables

NOC: five-digit National Occupational Classification code.
Median wage: Canada-wide Job Bank median in CAD per hour, 2025 release († = published as an annual wage, shown as an hourly equivalent: annual ÷ 1,950 hours).
Wage required: wage required to claim points = Job Bank median × tier multiple.
Work experience points: high-wage bonus points for eligible Canadian work experience (in addition to work-length points).
Job offer points: points for a valid job offer in that occupation.
The two routes cannot be added together; IRCC awards the higher one.

Tier 1: 31 occupations

70 high-wage experience bonus points or 100 qualifying job-offer points | Wage required = Job Bank median × 2.0

Tier 2: 89 occupations

40 high-wage experience bonus points or 70 qualifying job-offer points | Wage required = Job Bank median × 1.5

Tier 3: 66 occupations

20 high-wage experience bonus points or 50 qualifying job-offer points | Wage required = Job Bank median × 1.3

Illustrative score comparison

Applicant without an accompanying spouse: 3 years of qualifying Canadian experience (64 work-length points), including at least 12 months in a Tier 2 occupation (40 bonus points), gives 104 points under the experience route. A Tier 2 job offer is worth 70 points. IRCC awards the higher figure, 104, and does not add the 70 on top.

Reader FAQs

1. How many work-length points can I get?

Without a spouse or common-law partner: 1 year 40, 2 years 53, 3 years 64, 4 years 72, 5+ years 80. With a spouse or partner: 35, 46, 56, 63 and 70.

2. Are Tier 1 points automatic?

No. The work-experience and valid job-offer requirements still apply.

3. Can I claim both job-offer and work-experience points?

No. IRCC awards whichever Labour Market Integration route gives you more points.

4. Is an LMIA required from November 3, 2026?

No, not for qualifying Express Entry job offers under the announced rules. Genuineness and other eligibility rules still apply.

Need help with your Express Entry strategy?

Every profile is different. Speak with Parthesh Thakkar, RCIC, to check which tier your occupation falls in and how the new rules affect your CRS score. Contact Angel EduNext.