NOC 65202: Meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale
Meat cutters and fishmongers prepare and package pieces of meat, poultry and fish that are sold by food retailers or wholesalers. They use tools to cut, trim and package meat, poultry and fish on a daily basis. They are employed in grocery stores, fish stores, or they may be self-employed.
Official Main Duties for NOC 65202
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 65202
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale 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 65202.
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) | $15.5 | $19.5/hr | $28 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $16/hr | $17/hr | $21.5/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $16.5/hr | $17/hr | $21.5/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $15.65/hr | $17/hr | $21.5/hr |
| Quebec → | $16.16/hr | $17.17/hr | $21.08/hr |
| Ontario → | $17.6/hr | $17.6/hr | $26/hr |
| Manitoba → | $16/hr | $17/hr | $22/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $15.35/hr | $18/hr | $29/hr |
| Alberta → | $16/hr | $20.5/hr | $27/hr |
| British Columbia → | $17.85/hr | $23/hr | $31.5/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.
- On-the-job training in food stores is usually offered to meat cutters and fishmongers for retail sale.
- An apprenticeship program in meat cutting is available but voluntary.
- Trade certification for meat cutter is available, but voluntary, in Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
Official Job Titles for NOC 65202
9 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:
- Butchers - retail and wholesale (See 63201 Butchers - retail and wholesale)View NOC 63201→
- 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→
- Seafood sales clerk (See 64100 Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers)View NOC 64100→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 65202 (Meat cutters and fishmongers - 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 65202, explore your TEER 5 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.