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NOC 22303: Construction estimators

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

Construction estimators analyze costs of and prepare estimates on civil engineering, architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical construction projects. They are employed by residential, commercial and industrial construction companies and major electrical, mechanical and trade contractors, or they may be self-employed.

Median Pay$37.84/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 2Express Entry pool
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles20 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 22303

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.

20 official aliases
Checklist (8 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 5 More
0%
0 of 8 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 22303, your employer letter should verify at least 5 main duties. Select 5 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed5 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 22303

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Construction estimators is categorized under TEER 2. Occupations in this tier typically require completion of a 2- to 3-year post-secondary diploma, apprenticeship training, or specialized technical certifications.

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 22303.

Former NOC 22344-Digit Legacy
Construction estimators
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)$24.04$37.84/hr$61.54
Newfoundland and Labrador$23.67/hr$38.98/hr$54.48/hr
Prince Edward Island$23.05/hr$31.42/hr$59.55/hr
Nova Scotia$34.62/hr$39.56/hr$53.37/hr
New Brunswick$22/hr$33.65/hr$48.08/hr
Quebec$25/hr$33.5/hr$48/hr
Ontario$24/hr$38.46/hr$61.54/hr
Manitoba$23.55/hr$32.5/hr$55.29/hr
Saskatchewan$25.92/hr$38.54/hr$56.23/hr
Alberta$28.85/hr$40.87/hr$88.89/hr
British Columbia$26.44/hr$40.24/hr$77.78/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
$33.48/hr
$22.94 - $45.79
Ottawa
$36.61/hr
$24.6 - $50.98
Toronto
$38.46/hr
$24 - $61.54
Calgary
$40.87/hr
$28.85 - $88.89
Edmonton
$42/hr
$28.85 - $100
Vancouver
$40.4/hr
$26.93 - $58.29

Employment Requirements

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

  • Completion of secondary school is required.
  • Completion of a three-year college program in civil or construction engineering technology or Several years of experience as a qualified tradesperson in a construction trade such as plumbing, carpentry or electrical, are required.
  • Certification by the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors is usually required.

Official Job Titles for NOC 22303

20 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:

chief estimator - constructionconstruction estimatorcost estimator - constructionprincipal estimator - constructionprofessional quantity surveyorquantity surveyor - constructionbuilding construction estimatorcertified construction estimatorconstruction cost consultantconstruction cost estimatorcontractors estimatorelectrical and mechanical quantity surveyorelectrical estimator - constructionjunior estimator - constructionmechanical estimator - constructionplumbing estimator - constructionprofessional estimator - constructionquantity surveyor-estimatorsenior estimator - constructiontrade contractor estimator - construction

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

  • Architectural technologists and technicians (See 22210 Architectural technologists and technicians)View NOC 22210
  • Civil engineering technologists and technicians (See 22300 Civil engineering technologists and technicians)View NOC 22300
  • Civil engineers (See 21300 Civil engineers)View NOC 21300
  • Construction managers (See 70010 Construction managers)View NOC 70010

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 22303 (Construction estimators)

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

Yes. Because NOC 22303 is classified as TEER 2, 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 $37.84/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, Construction estimators was categorized under NOC 2234 (Construction estimators). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 22303 under TEER 2.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 22303 is $33.48/hr in Montréal, $36.61/hr in Ottawa, $38.46/hr in Toronto, $40.87/hr in Calgary, $42/hr in Edmonton.
Next Steps for NOC 22303

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Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 22303, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026