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NOC 21111: Forestry professionals

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

Forestry professionals conduct research, develop plans and administer and direct programs related to the management and harvesting of forest resources. They are employed by the forest industry, provincial and federal governments, consulting companies, educational institutions and other industries, or they may be self-employed.

Median Pay$47/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 1Express Entry pool
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles21 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 21111

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.

21 official aliases
Checklist (10 official duties):Click each to toggle
💡
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 6 More
0%
0 of 10 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 21111, your employer letter should verify at least 6 main duties. Select 6 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed6 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 21111

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Forestry professionals 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 21111.

Former NOC 21224-Digit Legacy
Forestry professionals
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)$31.39$47/hr$62.5
Nova Scotia$31.22/hr$44.66/hr$64.03/hr
New Brunswick$28.39/hr$41.27/hr$60.81/hr
Quebec$35/hr$49/hr$57.69/hr
Ontario$31.39/hr$40/hr$53.06/hr
Alberta$30.58/hr$45.88/hr$65.54/hr
British Columbia$33.65/hr$40/hr$68.68/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
$49/hr
$37.91 - $56
Toronto
$40/hr
$31.39 - $53.06
Edmonton
$45.87/hr
$31.79 - $63.99
Vancouver
$40/hr
$33.65 - $68.68

Employment Requirements

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

  • A bachelor's degree in forestry or forestry engineering is required.
  • Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces except Prince Edward Island and Manitoba.
  • A two-year practicum of supervised work experience and professional examinations are usually required before registration.

Official Job Titles for NOC 21111

21 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:

appraisal foresterconsulting foresterdistrict foresterforesterregional inventory officer - forestryregistered professional forester (RPF)Crown lands foresterextension foresterforest engineerforest nursery foresterindustrial foresteroperations foresterparks and recreation foresterprivate lands foresterprofessional foresterproject foresterregional forest inventory officerresearch forestersuperintendent - forestryunit foresterurban forester

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

  • Forest economist (See 41401 Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts)View NOC 41401
  • Forestry operations manager (See 80010 Managers in natural resources production and fishing)View NOC 80010
  • Forestry policy director - government services (See 40011 Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration)View NOC 40011
  • Forestry programs manager - government services (See 40011 Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration)View NOC 40011
  • Research director - forestry (See 20011 Architecture and science managers)View NOC 20011
  • Woodlands manager (See 80010 Managers in natural resources production and fishing)View NOC 80010

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 21111 (Forestry professionals)

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

Yes. Because NOC 21111 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 $47/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, Forestry professionals was categorized under NOC 2122 (Forestry professionals). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 21111 under TEER 1.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 21111 is $49/hr in Montréal, $40/hr in Toronto, $45.87/hr in Edmonton, $40/hr in Vancouver.
Next Steps for NOC 21111

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Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 21111, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026