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NOC 21101: Chemists

Official definition · Statistics Canada NOC 2021 v1.0 · statcan.gc.ca ↗

Chemists conduct research and analysis in support of industrial operations, product and process development, quality control, environmental control, medical diagnosis and treatment, biotechnology, nanotechnology and other applications. They also conduct theoretical, experimental and applied research into basic chemical and biochemical processes to create or synthesize new products and processes. They are employed in research, development and quality control laboratories; chemical, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries; mineral, metal and pulp and paper industries; and a wide variety of manufacturing, utility, health, educational and government establishments.

Median Pay$38.46/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 1Express Entry pool
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles64 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 21101

Select the duties you perform in your actual job. Under IRCC guidelines, you must perform at least 60% of these duties for a successful work permit or PR reference letter.

64 official aliases
Checklist (11 official duties):Click each to toggle
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IRCC Reference Letter Rule:

Your employer reference letter must confirm you performed the main actions described in the duties above. Avoid copying words directly from the NOC description — officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.

Live Match Score⚠ Needs 7 More
0%
0 of 11 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 21101, your employer letter should verify at least 7 main duties. Select 7 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed7 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 21101

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Chemists is categorized under TEER 1. Occupations in this tier typically require a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate) or substantial managerial tenure.

Express Entry Alignment

Qualifies directly for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. Work experience must be full-time (or equivalent part-time) and continuous for at least one year.

Target Category Status

Currently evaluated under standard General and CEC invitation rounds, or targeted through provincial in-demand lists such as Ontario (OINP), British Columbia (BC PNP), or Alberta (AAIP).

NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 Transition & Equivalency

Open Full NOC Converter Tool

Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, this occupation was mapped under the following 4-digit code(s). When preparing your Express Entry profile or work reference letters, you must use the new 5-digit code NOC 21101.

Former NOC 21124-Digit Legacy
Chemists
VC1 - Code Change
Job Bank Open Data (2025/2026)

Regional Wages Across Canada

Legal Benchmark for LMIA

Under Canadian immigration law, an employer hiring you under an LMIA must pay you at least the median wage listed below for your province.

Province / TerritoryLow WageMedian WageHigh Wage
Canada (National Average)$24$38.46/hr$65.93
Newfoundland and Labrador$29.36/hr$43.69/hr$70.91/hr
Prince Edward Island$22/hr$36.41/hr$51.79/hr
Nova Scotia$26.52/hr$39.23/hr$56.76/hr
New Brunswick$25.3/hr$36.83/hr$56.1/hr
Quebec$24.94/hr$38.88/hr$60.75/hr
Ontario$27.09/hr$39.49/hr$66.67/hr
Manitoba$27.22/hr$39.4/hr$67.01/hr
Saskatchewan$27.86/hr$42.97/hr$72.14/hr
Alberta$27/hr$43.74/hr$68.19/hr
British Columbia$26.69/hr$39.95/hr$59.34/hr

🏙️Top Metropolitan Cities Wage Rates (ESDC 2025/2026)

Economic Region Benchmarks

Official ESDC prevailing median wages across major Canadian metropolitan regions. Crucial for LMIA prevailing wage compliance and local job offer evaluations.

Montréal
$40.33/hr
$26.85 - $60.5
Ottawa
$44.27/hr
$31.87 - $66.87
Toronto
$38.46/hr
$28 - $65.93
Calgary
$41.55/hr
$27.29 - $63.85
Edmonton
$44.91/hr
$29.62 - $69.99
Vancouver
$40.03/hr
$27.06 - $72.7

Employment Requirements

These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:

  • A bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry or a related discipline is required.
  • A master's or doctoral degree is usually required for employment as a research chemist.
  • Licensing by a provincial association of chemists is required in Quebec and available but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

Official Job Titles for NOC 21101

64 Titles Listed

If your current job title matches any of these official examples, this NOC code is likely the right choice for your Express Entry reference letter:

agricultural chemistanalytical chemistbioanalytical chemistbiochemistchemistclinical chemistcoatings chemistelectrochemistenvironmental chemistfood chemistinorganic chemistmedicinal chemistnuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopistoceanographic chemistorganic chemistorganic mass spectrometristorganometallic chemistpharmacological chemistphysical chemistpolymer chemistquality control chemistresearch chemistsoil chemisttextile chemisttheoretical chemistagrochemistanalytical biochemistatmospheric chemistbiochemistry research scientistbiological chemistchemical spectroscopistchemist - biomolecular assemblychemistry research scientistchemistry researchercontrol chemistdairy chemistdetergent chemistdye chemistenzyme chemistfermentologistforensic chemistglass chemisthydrochemistindustrial chemistlaboratory chemistleather chemistmedical biochemistmedical chemistnanochemistnuclear chemistnutritional chemistoptical spectroscopistpetroleum chemistpharmaceutical chemistphysical research chemistphysiological chemistplastics and resins chemistprocess control chemistprotective coatings chemistprotein chemiststandards chemistwater chemistwater purification chemistwood chemist

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 21101 (Chemists)

Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.

Yes. Because NOC 21101 is classified as TEER 1, it qualifies for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry.
For an LMIA work permit, your employer must offer at least the median wage of $38.46/hr (or the prevailing median rate in your specific Canadian province of employment).
Under Section 75(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), your employment reference letter must confirm you perform the actions in the lead statement and a substantial number (recommended at least 60%) of the official main duties listed above. You do not need to perform 100% of the duties.
Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, Chemists was categorized under NOC 2112 (Chemists). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 21101 under TEER 1.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 21101 is $40.33/hr in Montréal, $44.27/hr in Ottawa, $38.46/hr in Toronto, $41.55/hr in Calgary, $44.91/hr in Edmonton.
Next Steps for NOC 21101

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Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 21101, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026