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NOC 51121: Conductors, composers and arrangers

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

Conductors, composers and arrangers conduct bands and orchestras, compose musical works and arrange instrumental and vocal compositions. They are employed by symphony and chamber orchestras, bands, choirs, sound recording companies, and orchestras for ballet and opera performances, or they may be self-employed.

Median Pay$36000/yrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 1Express Entry pool
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles34 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 51121

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.

34 official aliases
Checklist (7 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 5 More
0%
0 of 7 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 51121, 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 51121

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Conductors, composers and arrangers 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 51121.

Former NOC 51324-Digit Legacy
Conductors, composers and arrangers
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)$32867$36000/yr$101000
Quebec โ†’$33109/yr$33109/yr$89000/yr
Ontario โ†’$37561/yr$39600/yr$117000/yr
Alberta โ†’โ€”$32867/yrโ€”
British Columbia โ†’โ€”$44800/yrโ€”

Employment Requirements

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

  • A university degree in music or completion of a program at a music academy, conservatory or school of music is usually required.
  • A period of specialized study related to conducting, composing or arranging is usually required.
  • Experience as a musician is required.
  • Musical and creative talent and ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are important hiring criteria.

Official Job Titles for NOC 51121

34 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:

arrangerbandmasterchoir directorcomposerconductormusic adapterorchestratorsinger-songwriter-composersongwriterartistic director - musicauthor-composer-performerband conductorband directorchansonnierchoir leaderchoirmasterchoral conductorchoral directorchorus mastercopyist - musiclyricistmaestromotion picture musical directormusic arrangermusic copyistmusic directormusic writermusical directororchestra artistic directororchestral conductororchestrator-arrangerstage musical directortelevision musical directorwriter-composer-performer

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

  • Musicians and singers (See 51122 Musicians and singers)View NOC 51122โ†’
  • Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations (See 51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations)View NOC 51120โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 51121 (Conductors, composers and arrangers)

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

Yes. Because NOC 51121 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 $36000/yr (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, Conductors, composers and arrangers was categorized under NOC 5132 (Conductors, composers and arrangers). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 51121 under TEER 1.
Next Steps for NOC 51121

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Last verified: September 2026