NOC 31120: Pharmacists
Community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists compound and dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals and provide consultative services to both clients and health care providers. They are employed in retail pharmacies and health center pharmacies, or they may be self-employed. Industrial pharmacists participate in the research, development, promotion and manufacture of pharmaceutical products. They are employed in pharmaceutical companies and government departments and agencies.
Official Main Duties for NOC 31120
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 31120
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Pharmacists 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 Healthcare 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 31120.
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) | $40 | $55.49/hr | $67 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $33/hr | $51/hr | $59/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $46.88/hr | $55.5/hr | $62.5/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $41.25/hr | $51/hr | $58.97/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $46.15/hr | $52/hr | $65/hr |
| Quebec → | $41.03/hr | $63/hr | $75/hr |
| Ontario → | $37/hr | $53.85/hr | $65/hr |
| Manitoba → | $50/hr | $56/hr | $69.23/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $35.18/hr | $55.33/hr | $62/hr |
| Alberta → | $41.24/hr | $55/hr | $62/hr |
| British Columbia → | $40.87/hr | $52/hr | $64/hr |
| Yukon → | $43.61/hr | $64.71/hr | $82.88/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 university degree in pharmacy and a period of supervised practical training are required.
- Licensure is required in all provinces and territories for community and hospital pharmacists.
Official Job Titles for NOC 31120
15 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:
- Chemists (See 21101 Chemists)View NOC 21101→
- Chief of pharmacy (See 30010 Managers in health care)View NOC 30010→
- Drugstore manager (See 60020 Retail and wholesale trade managers)View NOC 60020→
- Pharmaceutical sales representative (See 62100 Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade)View NOC 62100→
- Pharmacologist (See 21110 Biologists and related scientists)View NOC 21110→
- Pharmacy director (See 30010 Managers in health care)View NOC 30010→
- Pharmacy manager - retail (See 60020 Retail and wholesale trade managers)View NOC 60020→
- Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants (See 33103 Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants)View NOC 33103→
- Pharmacy technicians (See 32124 Pharmacy technicians)View NOC 32124→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 31120 (Pharmacists)
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 31120, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.