NOC 63201: Butchers - retail and wholesale
Butchers prepare standard and specialty cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments. They are employed in supermarkets, grocery stores, butcher shops and fish stores or may be self-employed. Butchers who are supervisors or heads of departments are included in this unit group. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Official Main Duties for NOC 63201
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 63201
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Butchers - retail and wholesale is categorized under TEER 3. 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
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 63201.
6331 expired and the denotations distributed among emerging items 63201 and 65202
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) | $15.25 | $20/hr | $28 |
| Nova Scotia → | $16.5/hr | $19.72/hr | $26.39/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $15.65/hr | $18.75/hr | $31.85/hr |
| Quebec → | $16.1/hr | $20/hr | $26/hr |
| Ontario → | $17.6/hr | $21.75/hr | $29/hr |
| Manitoba → | $16/hr | $17/hr | $23/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $16.85/hr | $19.16/hr | $27.39/hr |
| Alberta → | $17/hr | $22/hr | $27/hr |
| British Columbia → | $19.1/hr | $24.23/hr | $32.49/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:
- Completion of secondary school may be required.
- Completion of a college or other butchery training program may be required.
- Several years of on-the-job training in food stores is usually required for retail butchers.
Official Job Titles for NOC 63201
13 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:
- Fish cutter - fish processing (See 94142 Fish and seafood plant workers)View NOC 94142→
- Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers (See 94141 Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers)View NOC 94141→
- Meat cutter - retail or wholesale (See 65202 Meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale)View NOC 65202→
- Meat department manager - retail (See 60020 Retail and wholesale trade managers)View NOC 60020→
- Seafood sales clerk (See 64100 Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers)View NOC 64100→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 63201 (Butchers - retail and wholesale)
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 63201, explore your TEER 3 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.