NOC 21311: Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) research, plan, design, develop, modify, evaluate and integrate computer and telecommunications hardware and related equipment, and information and communication system networks including mainframe systems, local and wide area networks, fibre-optic networks, wireless communication networks, intranets, the Internet and other data communications systems. They are employed by computer and telecommunication hardware manufacturers, by engineering, manufacturing and telecommunications firms, in information technology consulting firms, by governmental, educational and research institutions and in information technology units throughout the private and public sectors.
Official Main Duties for NOC 21311
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 21311
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) 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 21311.
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) | $32.05 | $52.5/hr | $78.85 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $30/hr | $44.86/hr | $68.75/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $28.72/hr | $48.33/hr | $65.14/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $30/hr | $47.12/hr | $73.08/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $40.02/hr | $51.44/hr | $71.79/hr |
| Quebec → | $32/hr | $54.95/hr | $74/hr |
| Ontario → | $33.65/hr | $52.88/hr | $86.54/hr |
| Manitoba → | $31.49/hr | $46.29/hr | $68.08/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $26.11/hr | $46.17/hr | $69.57/hr |
| Alberta → | $27.52/hr | $45.68/hr | $68.06/hr |
| British Columbia → | $36.34/hr | $54.27/hr | $81.57/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:
- Computer engineers require a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical or electronics engineering, engineering physics or computer science.
- A master's or doctoral degree 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, three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
Official Job Titles for NOC 21311
43 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:
- Business systems specialists (See 21221 Business systems specialists)View NOC 21221→
- Computer and information systems managers (See 20012 Computer and information systems managers)View NOC 20012→
- Computer systems developers and programmers (See 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers)View NOC 21230→
- Cybersecurity specialists (See 21220 Cybersecurity specialists)View NOC 21220→
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (See 22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians)View NOC 22310→
- Electrical and electronics engineers (See 21310 Electrical and electronics engineers)View NOC 21310→
- Engineering managers (See 20010 Engineering managers)View NOC 20010→
- Information systems specialists (See 21222 Information systems specialists)View NOC 21222→
- Software developers and programmers (See 21232 Software developers and programmers)View NOC 21232→
- Software engineers and designers (See 21231 Software engineers and designers)View NOC 21231→
- Web designers (See 21233 Web designers)View NOC 21233→
- Web developers and programmers (See 21234 Web developers and programmers)View NOC 21234→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 21311 (Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers))
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 21311, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.