NOC 51101: Conservators and curators
Conservators restore and conserve artifacts belonging to museums, galleries and owners of cultural property. Curators recommend the acquisition of museum artifacts and gallery works of art and research their artistic history. Conservators and curators are employed in museums, art galleries, archives, libraries, government agencies and universities. Conservators may be self-employed.
Official Main Duties for NOC 51101
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 51101
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Conservators and curators 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
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 51101.
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) | $23.54 | $36.36/hr | $54.74 |
| Nova Scotia → | $24.53/hr | $35.67/hr | $53.2/hr |
| Quebec → | $26.3/hr | $38.57/hr | $52.91/hr |
| Ontario → | $24.95/hr | $34.28/hr | $45.64/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $31.05/hr | $39.46/hr | $53.44/hr |
| Alberta → | $23.93/hr | $38.06/hr | $55.06/hr |
| British Columbia → | $25.08/hr | $36.17/hr | $44.74/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:
- Conservators require a master's degree in art conservation or completion of a two-year college program in conservation technology and several years of experience in conservation work.
- Conservators may be accredited by the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators.
- Curators require a master's or bachelor's degree in museology, art history or a field related to their specific area of work.
Official Job Titles for NOC 51101
52 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:
- Curatorial assistant (See 53100 Registrars, restorers, interpreters and other occupations related to museum and art galleries)View NOC 53100→
- Museum designer (See 53123 Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers)View NOC 53123→
- Museum educator (See 11202 Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations)View NOC 11202→
- Restaurateur - food services (See 60030 Restaurant and food service managers)View NOC 60030→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 51101 (Conservators and curators)
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 51101, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.