NOC 21300: Civil engineers
Civil engineers plan, design, develop and manage projects for the construction or repair of buildings, earth structures, powerhouses, roads, airports, railways, rapid transit facilities, bridges, tunnels, canals, dams, ports and coastal installations and systems related to highway and transportation services, water distribution and sanitation. Civil engineers may also specialize in foundation analysis, building and structural inspection, surveying, geomatics and municipal planning. They are employed by engineering consulting companies, in all levels of government, by construction firms and in many other industries, or they may be self-employed.
Official Main Duties for NOC 21300
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.
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.
Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 21300
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Civil engineers 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
Designated under IRCC's STEM Priority Stream →. 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
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 21300.
Regional Wages Across Canada
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 / Territory | Low Wage | Median Wage | High Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (National Average) | $32 | $48.56/hr | $72.12 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $35.11/hr | $51.15/hr | $74.82/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $32/hr | $36.3/hr | $54.09/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $30.14/hr | $47.34/hr | $77.14/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $30/hr | $44.36/hr | $73.56/hr |
| Quebec → | $33.65/hr | $49.74/hr | $69.23/hr |
| Ontario → | $30.5/hr | $48.08/hr | $72.12/hr |
| Manitoba → | $24.76/hr | $49.5/hr | $73.5/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $28.85/hr | $42/hr | $62/hr |
| Alberta → | $34/hr | $51.69/hr | $76.92/hr |
| British Columbia → | $32.48/hr | $47.12/hr | $72.12/hr |
| Yukon → | $30.26/hr | $46.18/hr | $65.83/hr |
| Northwest Territories → | $45.96/hr | $61.75/hr | $86.35/hr |
🏙️Top Metropolitan Cities Wage Rates (ESDC 2025/2026)
Economic Region BenchmarksOfficial ESDC prevailing median wages across major Canadian metropolitan regions. Crucial for LMIA prevailing wage compliance and local job offer evaluations.
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- A bachelor's degree in civil engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
- A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
- Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is offered by the Canada Green Building Council and may be required by some employers.
Official Job Titles for NOC 21300
73 Titles ListedIf your current job title matches any of these official examples, this NOC code is likely the right choice for your Express Entry reference letter:
Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)
Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:
- Construction managers (See 70010 Construction managers)View NOC 70010→
- Engineering managers (See 20010 Engineering managers)View NOC 20010→
- Environmental chemical engineer (See 21320 Chemical engineers)View NOC 21320→
- Geological engineers (See 21331 Geological engineers)View NOC 21331→
- Managers in transportation (See 70020 Managers in transportation)View NOC 70020→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 21300 (Civil engineers)
Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.
Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs
Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 21300, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.