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NOC 21110: Biologists and related scientists

Official definition ยท Statistics Canada NOC 2021 v1.0 ยท statcan.gc.ca โ†—

Biologists and related scientists conduct basic and applied research to extend knowledge of living organisms, to manage natural resources, and to develop new practices and products related to medicine and agriculture. They are employed in both laboratory and field settings by governments, environmental consulting companies, resource and utilities companies, chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnical companies, hospitals and health, research and educational institutions.

Median Pay$40/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 1Express Entry pool
Priority StreamSTEM PriorityCategory draws
Official Titles129 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 21110

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.

129 official aliases
Checklist (18 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 โ€” officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.

Live Match Scoreโš  Needs 11 More
0%
0 of 18 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 21110, your employer letter should verify at least 11 main duties. Select 11 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed11 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 21110

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Biologists and related scientists is categorized under TEER 1. Occupations in this tier typically require a university degree (bachelorโ€™s, masterโ€™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

Designated under IRCC's STEM Priority Stream โ†’. Candidates with 6 months of qualifying Canadian or foreign experience in this NOC can receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) at significantly lower CRS cutoff thresholds.

NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 Transition & Equivalency

Open Full NOC Converter Toolโ†’

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 21110.

Former NOC 21214-Digit Legacy
Biologists and related scientists
VC1 - Code Change
Former NOC 41654-Digit Legacy
Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers
RC5 - Transfer

4165 continues as 41404 and part transferred to 21110 and part split off to emerging item 41310

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)$25.71$40/hr$66.67
Newfoundland and Labrador โ†’$22/hr$40/hr$54.4/hr
Prince Edward Island โ†’$31.25/hr$35.9/hr$44.71/hr
Nova Scotia โ†’$24.62/hr$37.5/hr$51.06/hr
New Brunswick โ†’$23.84/hr$41/hr$59/hr
Quebec โ†’$24.5/hr$38.46/hr$54.12/hr
Ontario โ†’$24.5/hr$40/hr$69.23/hr
Manitoba โ†’$25.52/hr$37/hr$57.69/hr
Saskatchewan โ†’$28.22/hr$42.85/hr$61.71/hr
Alberta โ†’$26.44/hr$41.44/hr$88.19/hr
British Columbia โ†’$28.85/hr$42/hr$60/hr
Yukon โ†’$36.58/hr$48.19/hr$65.57/hr
Northwest Territories โ†’$39.56/hr$58.34/hr$80.44/hr
Nunavut โ†’$40.56/hr$57.46/hr$77.25/hr

๐Ÿ™๏ธ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.

Montrรฉal
$43.59/hr
$27.69 - $54.95
Ottawa
$35.9/hr
$23 - $69.74
Toronto
$40/hr
$25.71 - $66.35
Calgary
$41.77/hr
$27.6 - $68.75
Edmonton
$45.67/hr
$29.98 - $70.88
Vancouver
$42/hr
$28.85 - $66.67

Employment Requirements

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

  • A bachelor's degree in biology or in a related discipline is required for biologists.
  • A master's or doctoral degree in biology or a related discipline is required for employment as a research scientist in biology.
  • Post-doctoral research experience is usually required before employment in academic departments or research institutions.
  • Biologists are regulated in Alberta and British Columbia.

Official Job Titles for NOC 21110

129 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:

anatomistbacteriologistbioinformaticianbiologistbotanistcell biologistecologistembryologistgeneticisthistologistimmunologistmarine biologistmicrobiologistmolecular biologistmycologistparasitologistpharmacologistphysiologistprotozoologisttoxicologistvirologistzoologistagricultural scientistagrogeologistalgologistanimal ecologistanimal geneticistanimal nutritionistanimal taxonomistapiculture entomologistaquatic biologistastrobiologistbacteriologist - animal healthbiological scientistbiology systematistbiology taxonomistbiomedical nanotechnology research scientistbryologistcellular physiologistclinical research associateclinical research program managerclinical research project managerclinical research trials coordinatorcrop scientistcrop-research scientistcytochemistcytogeneticistcytologistcytologist-microbiologistdairy bacteriologistdairy scientistdescriptive toxicologistdevelopmental biologistdevelopmental geneticistdomestic animal scientistecobiologisteconomic botanistentomologistenvironmental and occupational toxicologistenvironmental biologistenvironmental toxicologistenzymologistenzymology biologistetiologistextraction specialist - cannabisfishery bacteriologistfishery products bacteriologistfood bacteriologistfood products bacteriologistfood products scientistfood research scientistfood scientistforest ecologistforest pathologisthelminthologistherpetologisthistopathologisthuman physiologisthydrobiologistichthyologistindustrial bacteriologistinsect physiologistinterpretative naturalistinvertebrate zoologistlaboratory immunologistlimnologistmalariologistmammalogistmarine hydrobiologistmarine mammal trainermechanistic toxicologistmedical parasitology biologistmolecular geneticistmolecular physiologistnaturalistnematologistornithologistosteologistparasitology biologistpark naturalistpharmaceutical bacteriologistphysiological biophysicistphysiologist-biochemist - nuclear medicinephytobiologistphytopathologistplant anatomistplant breederplant ecologistplant nematologistplant pathologistplant physiologistplant population biologistplant scientistplant taxonomistpopulation geneticistpoultry scientistprotozoology biologistpublic health bacteriologistregulatory toxicologistresearch biologistrural ecologistserologistsoil bacteriologiststaff toxicologistsystems biologistveterinary parasitology biologistwildlife biologistwildlife helminthologistwildlife naturalist

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 21110 (Biologists and related scientists)

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

Yes. Because NOC 21110 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 $40/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, Biologists and related scientists was categorized under NOC 2121 (Biologists and related scientists) and 4165 (Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 21110 under TEER 1.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 21110 is $43.59/hr in Montrรฉal, $35.9/hr in Ottawa, $40/hr in Toronto, $41.77/hr in Calgary, $45.67/hr in Edmonton.
Generally no. While provincial associations (like PEO in Ontario or EGBC in British Columbia) protect the title 'Engineer', IRCC evaluates immigration eligibility based on your actual job duties and university degrees rather than provincial P.Eng licensure.
Next Steps for NOC 21110

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Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 21110, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026