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NOC 52121: Interior designers and interior decorators

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

Interior designers and interior decorators conceptualize and produce aesthetic, functional and safe designs for interior spaces in residential, commercial, cultural, institutional and industrial buildings. They are employed by architectural and interior design firms, retail establishments, construction companies, hospitals, airlines, hotel and restaurant chains, and other establishments, or they may be self-employed.

Median Pay$28.85/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 2Express Entry pool
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles27 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 52121

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.

27 official aliases
Checklist (8 official duties):Click each to toggle
💡
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 52121, 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 52121

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Interior designers and interior decorators 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 52121.

Former NOC 52424-Digit Legacy
Interior designers and interior decorators
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)$18.35$28.85/hr$48.72
Newfoundland and Labrador$18.97/hr$24.58/hr$37.9/hr
Nova Scotia$19.06/hr$25.4/hr$40.89/hr
New Brunswick$18.31/hr$25.36/hr$31.62/hr
Quebec$21/hr$27.56/hr$40.87/hr
Ontario$17.6/hr$27.4/hr$50/hr
Manitoba$19.5/hr$29.45/hr$42.05/hr
Saskatchewan$15.35/hr$25.95/hr$40/hr
Alberta$21/hr$29.5/hr$42.88/hr
British Columbia$20/hr$31.25/hr$64.18/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
$27.56/hr
$21 - $40.87
Ottawa
$30.74/hr
$20.88 - $44.55
Toronto
$29.53/hr
$18.86 - $45.65
Calgary
$30.58/hr
$22 - $42.91
Edmonton
$29.47/hr
$21 - $43.72
Vancouver
$31.25/hr
$20 - $64.18

Employment Requirements

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

  • Interior designers
  • A university degree or college diploma in interior design is usually required.
  • The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination may be required after six years of combined study and experience.
  • Certification by a provincial institute or association is required to use protected titles related to interior designers in all provinces except Prince Edward Island.
  • Interior decorators
  • A college certificate or diploma in interior decoration is usually required.
  • Membership in the Canadian Decorators' Association is available to qualified decorators.

Official Job Titles for NOC 52121

27 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:

aircraft interior designerinterior decoratorinterior design technicianinterior designerkitchen designeroffice space plannerretail space plannerbuilding space plannerbusiness aircraft interior designercertified interior designercolour consultant - home decoratingdecorating consultantdesigner - interior designgreen design consultant - interior designhome decorating consultanthome decoratorhome organizerhome stagerhome staging consultantinterior decorating consultantinterior design consultantinterior design project managerinterior designer assistantinterior space designerlicensed interior designerregistered interior designerspace management consultant

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

  • Graphic designers and illustrators (See 52120 Graphic designers and illustrators)View NOC 52120
  • Industrial designers (See 22211 Industrial designers)View NOC 22211
  • Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) (See 73112 Painters and decorators (except interior decorators))View NOC 73112
  • Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers (See 53123 Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers)View NOC 53123

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 52121 (Interior designers and interior decorators)

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

Yes. Because NOC 52121 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 $28.85/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, Interior designers and interior decorators was categorized under NOC 5242 (Interior designers and interior decorators). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 52121 under TEER 2.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 52121 is $27.56/hr in Montréal, $30.74/hr in Ottawa, $29.53/hr in Toronto, $30.58/hr in Calgary, $29.47/hr in Edmonton.
Next Steps for NOC 52121

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Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 52121, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026