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NOC 65201: Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations

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

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.

Median Pay$16.55/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 5PNP streams
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles69 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

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.

69 official aliases
Checklist (25 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 15 More
0%
0 of 25 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 65201, your employer letter should verify at least 15 main duties. Select 15 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed15 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

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

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 65201.

Former NOC 67114-Digit Legacy
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
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)$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 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:

bartender helperbus boy/girlcafeteria counter attendantcook's helperdishwasherfast-food preparerfood counter attendantfood preparerfood service helperice cream counter attendantkitchen helpersalad bar attendantsandwich makerairline food assemblerbar helperbaristacafeteria helpercafeteria workercafeteria-buffet attendantcamp cook's helpercamp lunchroom attendantcaterer helpercounterperson - food servicesdessert makerdessert preparerdietary aidedining room assistantdining room attendantdishwashing machine attendantdonut shop attendantdonut shop clerkdonut shop counter clerkdoughnut shop attendantdoughnut shop clerkdoughnut shop counter clerkdrive-in food service attendantexpediter - food servicesfast-food service attendantfish and chips preparerfood and beverage service runner assistantfood and beverage services attendantfood assembler - fast foodfood concession workerfood runnerfood service attendantfood service counter attendantfood service workerhospital meal attendanthospital tray carrierhot dog vendorice cream vendorlogging camp cook's helperlunchroom counter attendantlunchroom counterman/womanpopcorn vendorpot washerrestaurant counter attendantsalad and sandwich makersalad makersandwich artistsandwich, salad and dessert makersilverware cleanersnack bar attendantsteam table attendant - food servicessteward - Canadian Armed Forcesstreet food vendorsushi preparertake-out attendant - fast foodtray carrier attendant - hospital

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

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

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.

NOC 65201 is in TEER 5, which is not directly eligible for standard Express Entry pools. However, you can apply through Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) semi-skilled streams or employer-sponsored work permits.
For an LMIA work permit, your employer must offer at least the median wage of $16.55/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, Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations was categorized under NOC 6711 (Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 65201 under TEER 5.
Because TEER 5 is not eligible for direct Express Entry, your best routes are employer-supported Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) semi-skilled streams (such as SINP in Saskatchewan, AAIP in Alberta, or MPNP in Manitoba) or federal pilot programs like the Agri-Food Pilot.
Next Steps for NOC 65201

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.

Last verified: September 2026