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NOC 51111: Authors and writers (except technical)

Official definition ยท Statistics Canada NOC 2021 v1.0 ยท statcan.gc.ca โ†—

Authors and writers plan, research and write books, scripts, storyboards, plays, essays, speeches and other non-journalistic articles for publication or presentation. They are employed by advertising agencies, governments, large corporations, private consulting firms, publishing firms, multimedia/new-media companies and other establishments, or they may be self-employed.

Median Pay$36.81/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 1Express Entry pool
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles44 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 51111

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.

44 official aliases
Checklist (9 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 โ€” officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.

Live Match Scoreโš  Needs 6 More
0%
0 of 9 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 51111, your employer letter should verify at least 6 main duties. Select 6 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed6 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 51111

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Authors and writers (except technical) is categorized under TEER 1. Occupations in this tier typically require a university degree (bachelorโ€™s, masterโ€™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

Open Full NOC Converter Toolโ†’

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 51111.

Former NOC 51214-Digit Legacy
Authors and writers
RC4.2 - Split off

5121 continues as 51111 and part split off to emerging item 51112

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)$25.48$36.81/hr$53
Newfoundland and Labrador โ†’$22.23/hr$31.96/hr$46.74/hr
Nova Scotia โ†’$25/hr$33/hr$40/hr
New Brunswick โ†’$21/hr$32.63/hr$45.67/hr
Quebec โ†’$26.92/hr$36/hr$53/hr
Ontario โ†’$25.82/hr$40.38/hr$53/hr
Manitoba โ†’$22.12/hr$32.34/hr$39.4/hr
Saskatchewan โ†’$21.04/hr$34.37/hr$48.01/hr
Alberta โ†’$20/hr$38.56/hr$55/hr
British Columbia โ†’$20.75/hr$36.44/hr$68.75/hr

Employment Requirements

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

  • Copywriters usually require a university degree or college diploma in French, English, marketing, advertising or another discipline.
  • Creative writing programs are offered by universities and colleges.
  • Talent and ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are important hiring criteria.
  • Membership in a guild or union related to the occupation may be required.

Official Job Titles for NOC 51111

44 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:

advertising copywritercopywriteressayistinteractive media writerliterary writernovelistplaywrightpoetscript writerspeech writerwriterad writeradvertising writerauthorbiographerbloggercontent creator - writingcontent writer (except technical)crossword puzzle makerdesigner and script writerdialogue writerdubbing dialogue writerfeature writerfiction writerghost writerhumorist-authorlexicographermultimedia authormultimedia script writermultimedia writernew media writerpublicity writerradio writerrewriterscreen writerscript and dialogue writerserial story writerserial writershort story writersports writer - novels and booksstoryboarderteleplay writer - screenwritertelevision writerWeb content specialist

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 51111 (Authors and writers (except technical))

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

Yes. Because NOC 51111 is classified as TEER 1, 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 $36.81/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, Authors and writers (except technical) was categorized under NOC 5121 (Authors and writers). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 51111 under TEER 1.
Next Steps for NOC 51111

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Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 51111, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026