NOC 65200: Food and beverage servers
Food and beverage servers take patrons' food and beverage orders and serve orders to patrons. They are employed in restaurants, hotels, bars, taverns, private clubs, banquet halls and similar establishments.
Official Main Duties for NOC 65200
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 65200
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Food and beverage servers is categorized under TEER 5. Occupations in this tier typically require secondary school graduation or job-specific on-the-job training.
Express Entry Alignment
Classified under TEER 5, meaning this occupation does not qualify for direct Express Entry general pools. Candidates should focus on employer-driven Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) or federal pilot pathways.
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 65200.
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 | $18.5/hr | $30 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $16/hr | $16.5/hr | $25/hr |
| Prince Edward Island → | $16.5/hr | $18.81/hr | $27.99/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $16.5/hr | $16.5/hr | $25/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $15.65/hr | $17/hr | $25/hr |
| Quebec → | $16.1/hr | $20/hr | $35/hr |
| Ontario → | $17.6/hr | $17.6/hr | $26/hr |
| Manitoba → | $16/hr | $16/hr | $23/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $15.35/hr | $15.35/hr | $22.5/hr |
| Alberta → | $15/hr | $18/hr | $30/hr |
| British Columbia → | $17.85/hr | $20/hr | $30/hr |
| Yukon → | $17.94/hr | $22/hr | $30/hr |
| Northwest Territories → | $16.7/hr | $16.7/hr | $24.61/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.
- Formal waiters/waitresses may require completion of a one- or two-year apprenticeship program or College or vocational school courses.
- An apprenticeship program for food and beverage servers is available, but voluntary, in Quebec and Saskatchewan.
- On-the-job training is usually provided.
- Sommeliers may require courses in wine selection and service or Experience as a formal waiter/waitress.
- Responsible beverage service certification is usually required for employees serving alcoholic beverages.
Official Job Titles for NOC 65200
38 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:
- Food service supervisors (See 62020 Food service supervisors)View NOC 62020→
- Maîtres d'hôtel and hosts/hostesses (See 64300 Maîtres d'hôtel and hosts/hostesses)View NOC 64300→
- Restaurant and food service managers (See 60030 Restaurant and food service managers)View NOC 60030→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 65200 (Food and beverage servers)
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 65200, explore your TEER 5 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.