NOC 65201: Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
Food counter attendants and food preparers prepare, heat and finish cooking simple food items and serve customers at food counters. Kitchen helpers, food service helpers and dishwashers clear tables, clean kitchen areas, wash dishes, and perform various other activities to assist workers who prepare or serve food and beverages. They are employed by restaurants, cafรฉs, hotels, fast food outlets, cafeterias, hospitals and other establishments.
Official Main Duties for NOC 65201
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 โ officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.
Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 65201
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations 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 65201.
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 | $16.55/hr | $21.5 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador โ | $16/hr | $16/hr | $22/hr |
| Prince Edward Island โ | $16.5/hr | $16.5/hr | $20.98/hr |
| Nova Scotia โ | $16.5/hr | $16.5/hr | $18.77/hr |
| New Brunswick โ | $15.65/hr | $15.65/hr | $21/hr |
| Quebec โ | $16.1/hr | $16.5/hr | $21.75/hr |
| Ontario โ | $17.6/hr | $17.6/hr | $21/hr |
| Manitoba โ | $16/hr | $16/hr | $18.5/hr |
| Saskatchewan โ | $15.35/hr | $15.35/hr | $20.19/hr |
| Alberta โ | $15/hr | $16/hr | $20/hr |
| British Columbia โ | $17.85/hr | $17.85/hr | $23/hr |
| Yukon โ | $17.94/hr | $20/hr | $31.5/hr |
| Northwest Territories โ | $16.7/hr | $20/hr | $32/hr |
| Nunavut โ | $19/hr | $25.9/hr | $30/hr |
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- Some secondary school education is usually required.
- On-the-job training is provided.
Official Job Titles for NOC 65201
69 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:
- Chefs (See 62200 Chefs)View NOC 62200โ
- Cooks (See 63200 Cooks)View NOC 63200โ
- Food and beverage servers (See 65200 Food and beverage servers)View NOC 65200โ
- Food service supervisors (See 62020 Food service supervisors)View NOC 62020โ
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 65201 (Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations)
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 65201, explore your TEER 5 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.