Key takeaways
– IRCC has published the Express Entry high-wage occupation list that takes effect on November 3, 2026.
– The list covers 186 National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes across three wage tiers.
– Occupations at twice the average median wage (31 codes) qualify for up to 100 job-offer points or a 70-point Canadian experience supplement.
– Occupations at 1.5 times the average median wage (89 codes) qualify for up to 70 job-offer points or a 40-point experience supplement.
– Occupations at 1.3 times the average median wage (66 codes) qualify for up to 50 job-offer points or a 20-point experience supplement.
What happened
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published the occupation list that powers the new Labour Market Integration factor in Express Entry. The factor, announced on October 16, 2026, replaces the old approach to job-offer and Canadian experience points when it takes effect on November 3, 2026. Until now, candidates knew the points structure but not which occupations would qualify. The list answers that: 186 NOC codes in three tiers by median wage.
The list is built from wage data covering 2023 to 2025, drawn from Job Bank, the Labour Force Survey and the Census. IRCC places each occupation at the highest tier its median wage reached during that period. The list published now is the version that applies from November 3, 2026. If IRCC changes the list later, the tier that counts for a candidate is the one in force on the date their invitation to apply is issued.
How the three tiers work
The test is the occupation’s median wage across Canada, not the individual candidate’s salary. An occupation qualifies as high-wage when the median wage of everyone working in that NOC is at least 1.3 times the average median wage of the whole Canadian workforce. A well-paid worker in an occupation that is not on the list does not qualify, and a lower-paid worker in a listed occupation does.
At the top tier, occupations with a median wage at least twice the average include family physicians (NOC 31102), engineering managers (20010) and computer and information systems managers (20012). These qualify for the maximum: up to 100 points for a qualifying job offer, or a 70-point supplement for at least 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience.
The middle tier, at 1.5 times to below twice the average, covers 89 codes including software engineers and designers (21231), civil engineers (21300), registered nurses (31301) and pharmacists (31120). These qualify for up to 70 job-offer points or a 40-point experience supplement.
The third tier, at 1.3 times to below 1.5 times the average, covers 66 codes including financial auditors and accountants (11100), web developers and programmers (21234) and social workers (41300). These qualify for up to 50 job-offer points or a 20-point experience supplement.
What it means for candidates
The two routes under the new factor do not stack. IRCC calculates both the Canadian experience option and the qualifying job-offer option where they apply, and awards whichever produces the higher score, up to a maximum of 150 points under the factor for a candidate without an accompanying spouse or partner (140 with one). An LMIA is no longer required for eligible job offers used for CRS points or relevant program eligibility.
The practical point is timing. Candidates who hold a qualifying job offer that is not yet in their Express Entry profile should update their profile before November 3, 2026. Candidates already in the pool should also check that their NOC code matches their actual duties, because the tier follows the five-digit code, not the job title. Two similar-sounding jobs can sit in different tiers: power system electricians are in the 1.5 times tier, while industrial electricians are in the 1.3 times tier.
Frequently asked questions
- Does my own salary decide whether I get high-wage points?
- No. The tier is set by the median wage of everyone working in your NOC across Canada, based on 2023 to 2025 data. Your personal pay does not move your occupation between tiers.
- Can I combine job-offer points and Canadian experience points under the new factor?
- No. IRCC calculates both routes where they apply and awards the higher of the two. The maximum under the factor is 150 points without an accompanying spouse or partner, or 140 with one.
- What if IRCC changes the list after I receive an invitation?
- The tier that applies is the one in force on the date your invitation to apply was issued, so a later change does not retroactively change your points for that invitation.
- Do I still need an LMIA for a qualifying job offer?
- For CRS points and relevant program eligibility under the new rules, no LMIA is required for eligible job offers. Work permits are a separate matter and may still require one.
- What should I do before November 3, 2026?
- Check your NOC’s tier, confirm your profile uses the correct NOC for your duties, and add any qualifying job offer not already in your profile.
For help checking whether your occupation is on the high-wage list and what the new points mean for your Express Entry profile, contact ImmiQuest Immigration at +1 778-855-4155, info@immiquest.ca, or https://immiquest.ca.
Vikas Tulashyam, RCIC #R709710
Official source: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/check-score/high-wage.html