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Since November 3, 2026, Express Entry gives extra CRS points for jobs in a new “high-wage occupation” category. If your occupation is one of the 186 on IRCC’s list, 12 months of Canadian experience in it earns a bonus of 20, 40 or 70 points, and a job offer in it earns 50, 70 or 100 points with no LMIA. What counts is your occupation’s NOC code, not your salary.
Update, November 5, 2026: The high-wage points are now in effect. IRCC said it would recalculate every profile automatically and pause invitation rounds for up to two weeks. Log in after the pause and check that your new score, NOC code and work history look right.
The high-wage category at a glance
- What “high-wage” means: a NOC code whose national median wage is at least 1.3 times the Canadian average. IRCC sorts the 186 qualifying occupations into Level 1 (2x), Level 2 (1.5x) and Level 3 (1.3x).
- Job offer points: 100, 70 or 50 points for an offer in a high-wage occupation. Any other offer earns 0.
- No LMIA: a qualifying job offer no longer needs one, and an LMIA adds no points.
- Experience bonus: +70, +40 or +20 points with at least 12 months of Canadian experience in a high-wage occupation.
- Either, not both: IRCC gives you the experience points or the job offer points, whichever is higher.
- Is your job on the list? Search all 186 high-wage occupations at the bottom of this page.
How many extra points high-wage jobs get
Canadian work experience now sits in a new “Labour Market Integration” factor worth up to 150 points (140 with an accompanying spouse or partner). You score it one of two ways, and IRCC’s system uses the higher one.
Route 1: Canadian work experience
You keep your existing points for years of skilled Canadian work. If at least 12 months of that work was in a high-wage occupation, you add a bonus.
| Skilled Canadian experience | With spouse | Without spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year | 35 | 40 |
| 2 years | 46 | 53 |
| 3 years | 56 | 64 |
| 4 years | 63 | 72 |
| 5 years or more | 70 | 80 |
| 12+ months of Canadian experience in… | Bonus |
|---|---|
| Level 1 occupations (2x median wage) | +70 |
| Level 1 or 2 occupations combined (1.5x or more) | +40 |
| Any listed occupations combined (1.3x or more) | +20 |
Route 2: A job offer in a high-wage occupation
| Job offer in… | CRS points |
|---|---|
| Level 1 occupation (2x median wage) | 100 |
| Level 2 occupation (1.5x median wage) | 70 |
| Level 3 occupation (1.3x median wage) | 50 |
| Occupation not on the list | 0 |
Skills transferability points and every other CRS factor (age, education, language, French, siblings in Canada and the 600-point provincial nomination) did not change.
Examples: extra points for high-wage jobs
Canadian experience or job offer portion only, no accompanying spouse.
- Software engineer (21231, Level 2), 2 years in Canada: 53 → 93 points (+40).
- Financial manager (10010, Level 1) abroad with a job offer: 0 → 100 points, no LMIA.
- Cook with 3 years in Canada who gets a registered nurse job offer (Level 2): experience 64 vs. offer 70, so the system uses 70, not 134.
- Home support worker with an employer offer: not on the list, so the offer earns 0.
Not sure where you land? We will confirm your NOC code, calculate your new score and review any job offer.
Is your occupation on the high-wage list?
Only the 186 occupations on IRCC’s list earn the new points, in three levels. Your NOC code decides, not your job title or salary. The full list, with a search box, is at the bottom of this page: Level 1 · Level 2 · Level 3 · common jobs not on the list.
Estimate your high-wage points
Covers only the Canadian experience or job offer part of your CRS score. It assumes your 12+ months of high-wage experience are in the occupation you pick.
Turn on JavaScript to use the calculator.
Job offers without an LMIA
From November 3, 2026, a qualifying job offer does not need an LMIA, and having one adds no points. The offer can be for a new or existing job, with your current employer or a new one. IRCC requires the offer to be:
- Recent and in writing, setting out your pay and deductions, duties and conditions of employment such as hours
- For continuous, paid, full-time work (at least 30 hours a week), non-seasonal, for at least one year
- In a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation, and in a high-wage occupation if you want CRS points for it
- Not from an embassy, high commission or consulate in Canada
A work permit, even an open work permit, is not a job offer. When you apply for permanent residence, an officer must be satisfied the offer is genuine: that the employer is actively operating, can meet the offer’s terms and has a real need for the job, and that you are qualified for it.
What we recommend the offer letter includes: company letterhead and a signature from someone with authority to hire; your job title, NOC code, duties, wage, hours and start date; confirmation the job is full-time, non-seasonal and at least one year; and proof the employer is a real, operating business.
Federal Skilled Worker or Trades? For program eligibility, a job offer can be in any TEER 0 to 3 job, not only a high-wage one. It just earns no CRS points unless it is on the list. A temporary public policy exempts candidates invited on or after November 3, 2026 from LMIA requirements for qualifying FSW and FST job offers.
What to do now
- Check your NOC code. Your duties, not your job title, must match it.
- Find it in the full list and count your months in high-wage jobs (12 needed for the bonus).
- Compare both routes with the calculator. Only the higher one counts.
- Add any qualifying job offer to your profile and get a detailed offer letter.
- Keep your documents valid. The pause does not extend your language test, ECA, profile or work permit.
Mistakes to avoid: adding experience and job offer points together; choosing a NOC to land on the list when your duties do not match; assuming a high salary earns the bonus; and paying for a job offer or LMIA, which is illegal in Canada.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Express Entry high-wage points start?
On November 3, 2026. IRCC said it would recalculate every profile in the pool automatically and pause invitation rounds for up to two weeks while it does.
Are job offer points back in Express Entry?
Yes, but only for job offers in high-wage occupations: 100, 70 or 50 points depending on the occupation's level. A job offer in any other occupation earns 0 CRS points. Job offer points had been removed on March 25, 2025.
Do I still need an LMIA for a job offer?
No. From November 3, 2026, a qualifying job offer does not need an LMIA, and having one adds no points. An officer still checks that the offer is genuine when you apply for permanent residence.
Can I get points for Canadian experience and a job offer?
No. IRCC's system calculates both and gives you whichever is higher. They are never added together.
What is a high-wage occupation?
A NOC code whose national median wage is at least 1.3 times the average median wage in Canada. IRCC lists 186 of them in three levels. It depends on your occupation, not on what you are paid.
Is cook (NOC 63200) on the high-wage list?
No. Cooks are not one of the 186 high-wage occupations, so cook experience gets no bonus and a cook job offer earns 0 CRS points. Cook experience is still skilled (TEER 3) and keeps its normal Canadian experience points.
Are electricians (NOC 72200) high-wage?
No. General electricians (72200) are not on the list. Industrial electricians (72201) are Level 3 and power system electricians (72202) are Level 2.
Are lawyers, accountants and financial analysts on the list?
Yes. Lawyers (41101) are Level 1. Financial auditors and accountants (11100) and financial and investment analysts (11101) are Level 3.
Does my own salary affect the high-wage points?
No. IRCC sorts each NOC code into a level using the median wage of everyone in Canada in that occupation. A lawyer earning below the typical lawyer's salary still gets Level 1 points, and a cook earning a high salary still gets none.
Will my CRS score go down?
Your existing Canadian experience points stay the same. But candidates in high-wage occupations or with qualifying job offers can gain 20 to 100 points, so cut-off scores may rise and others may move ahead of you.
Is my work permit a job offer?
No. A work permit, even an open work permit, is not a job offer. You need a written offer of employment from a Canadian employer.
Can the job offer be from my current employer?
Yes. A qualifying offer can be for an existing or a new position, with your current employer or a new one. It must be for full-time, non-seasonal work for at least one year.
How much high-wage experience do I need for the bonus?
At least 12 months (1,560 hours) of Canadian experience in high-wage occupations. It can be full-time or an equal amount of part-time, continuous or not, and combined across more than one listed job.
I already have an Invitation to Apply. Do the new rules affect me?
You still have 60 days to apply. If the high-wage list changes after your invitation, the level in effect on your invitation date applies.
What if I claim job offer points and cannot prove the offer?
The points can be taken away and the application refused. Claiming points you cannot support can also lead to a misrepresentation finding, which bars you from applying for five years.
How MM Immigration Law can help
The new rules reward getting your NOC code, work history and job offer exactly right, and penalize mistakes more heavily. We confirm your NOC and high-wage level, calculate your score under the new rules, review your job offer before IRCC does, and prepare a complete application within the 60-day deadline after an Invitation to Apply.
Book a consultation Call 416-840-5430
Related: Express Entry · Canadian Experience Class · Federal Skilled Worker · Federal Skilled Trades · Work in Canada · Express Entry for doctors
Full list: all 186 high-wage occupations
These are all 186 high-wage occupations on IRCC’s list, in effect from November 3, 2026. Type a job title or NOC code to filter the tables. Match your actual duties to the NOC description, not just your job title.
Level 1 high-wage occupations (31 NOC codes)
Median wage at least 2 times the average median wage. Experience bonus: +70. Job offer: 100 points.
| NOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 00011 | Senior government managers and officials |
| 00012 | Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services |
| 00013 | Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations |
| 10010 | Financial managers |
| 10011 | Human resources managers |
| 10012 | Purchasing managers |
| 10020 | Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers |
| 10021 | Banking, credit and other investment managers |
| 20010 | Engineering managers |
| 20011 | Architecture and science managers |
| 20012 | Computer and information systems managers |
| 21330 | Mining engineers |
| 21332 | Petroleum engineers |
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians |
| 31103 | Veterinarians |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners |
| 31303 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals |
| 40010 | Government managers – health and social policy development and program administration |
| 40011 | Government managers – economic analysis, policy development and program administration |
| 40012 | Government managers – education policy development and program administration |
| 40019 | Other managers in public administration |
| 40040 | Commissioned police officers and related occupations in public protection services |
| 40041 | Fire chiefs and senior firefighting officers |
| 41100 | Judges |
| 41101 | Lawyers and Quebec notaries |
| 41200 | University professors and lecturers |
| 60010 | Corporate sales managers |
| 80010 | Managers in natural resources production and fishing |
| 90011 | Utilities managers |
Level 2 high-wage occupations (89 NOC codes)
Median wage 1.5 to under 2 times the average median wage. Experience bonus: +40. Job offer: 70 points.
| NOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 00014 | Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services |
| 00015 | Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities |
| 10019 | Other administrative services managers |
| 10022 | Advertising, marketing and public relations managers |
| 10029 | Other business services managers |
| 10030 | Telecommunication carriers managers |
| 11103 | Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers |
| 11201 | Professional occupations in business management consulting |
| 21100 | Physicists and astronomers |
| 21102 | Geoscientists and oceanographers |
| 21103 | Meteorologists and climatologists |
| 21109 | Other professional occupations in physical sciences |
| 21111 | Forestry professionals |
| 21120 | Public and environmental health and safety professionals |
| 21202 | Urban and land use planners |
| 21210 | Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries |
| 21211 | Data scientists |
| 21220 | Cybersecurity specialists |
| 21221 | Business systems specialists |
| 21222 | Information systems specialists |
| 21223 | Database analysts and data administrators |
| 21230 | Computer systems developers and programmers |
| 21231 | Software engineers and designers |
| 21232 | Software developers and programmers |
| 21300 | Civil engineers |
| 21301 | Mechanical engineers |
| 21310 | Electrical and electronics engineers |
| 21311 | Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) |
| 21320 | Chemical engineers |
| 21321 | Industrial and manufacturing engineers |
| 21322 | Metallurgical and materials engineers |
| 21331 | Geological engineers |
| 21390 | Aerospace engineers |
| 21399 | Other professional engineers |
| 22231 | Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers |
| 22312 | Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics |
| 30010 | Managers in health care |
| 31110 | Dentists |
| 31112 | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists |
| 31120 | Pharmacists |
| 31200 | Psychologists |
| 31202 | Physiotherapists |
| 31203 | Occupational therapists |
| 31300 | Nursing coordinators and supervisors |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 32111 | Dental hygienists and dental therapists |
| 40020 | Administrators – post-secondary education and vocational training |
| 40021 | School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education |
| 40030 | Managers in social, community and correctional services |
| 40042 | Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces |
| 41210 | College and other vocational instructors |
| 41220 | Secondary school teachers |
| 41221 | Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
| 41310 | Police investigators and other investigative occupations |
| 41311 | Probation and parole officers |
| 41320 | Educational counsellors |
| 41401 | Economists and economic policy researchers and analysts |
| 41402 | Business development officers and market researchers and analysts |
| 41404 | Health policy researchers, consultants and program officers |
| 41407 | Program officers unique to government |
| 42100 | Police officers (except commissioned) |
| 42101 | Firefighters |
| 50010 | Library, archive, museum and art gallery managers |
| 50011 | Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts |
| 51100 | Librarians |
| 70010 | Construction managers |
| 70012 | Facility operation and maintenance managers |
| 70020 | Managers in transportation |
| 70021 | Postal and courier services managers |
| 72011 | Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations |
| 72012 | Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades |
| 72023 | Supervisors, railway transport operations |
| 72103 | Boilermakers |
| 72202 | Power system electricians |
| 72203 | Electrical power line and cable workers |
| 72301 | Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers |
| 72406 | Elevator constructors and mechanics |
| 72600 | Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors |
| 72601 | Air traffic controllers and related occupations |
| 72604 | Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators |
| 73310 | Railway and yard locomotive engineers |
| 82020 | Supervisors, mining and quarrying |
| 82021 | Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services |
| 83101 | Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers |
| 90010 | Manufacturing managers |
| 92011 | Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities |
| 92100 | Power engineers and power systems operators |
| 93100 | Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing |
| 93101 | Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing |
Level 3 high-wage occupations (66 NOC codes)
Median wage 1.3 to under 1.5 times the average median wage. Experience bonus: +20. Job offer: 50 points.
| NOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 00010 | Legislators |
| 11100 | Financial auditors and accountants |
| 11101 | Financial and investment analysts |
| 11102 | Financial advisors |
| 11109 | Other financial officers |
| 11200 | Human resources professionals |
| 12201 | Insurance adjusters and claims examiners |
| 12203 | Assessors, business valuators and appraisers |
| 21101 | Chemists |
| 21110 | Biologists and related scientists |
| 21112 | Agricultural representatives, consultants and specialists |
| 21200 | Architects |
| 21201 | Landscape architects |
| 21203 | Land surveyors |
| 21234 | Web developers and programmers |
| 22214 | Technical occupations in geomatics and meteorology |
| 22232 | Occupational health and safety specialists |
| 22233 | Construction inspectors |
| 22310 | Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians |
| 22313 | Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors |
| 31121 | Dietitians and nutritionists |
| 32102 | Paramedical occupations |
| 32103 | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists |
| 32120 | Medical laboratory technologists |
| 32121 | Medical radiation technologists |
| 32122 | Medical sonographers |
| 41300 | Social workers |
| 41400 | Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers |
| 41403 | Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers |
| 41405 | Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers |
| 41409 | Other professional occupations in social science |
| 43201 | Correctional service officers |
| 43203 | Border services, customs, and immigration officers |
| 50012 | Recreation, sports and fitness program and service directors |
| 51101 | Conservators and curators |
| 51102 | Archivists |
| 51111 | Authors and writers (except technical) |
| 51112 | Technical writers |
| 51120 | Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations |
| 52112 | Broadcast technicians |
| 60020 | Retail and wholesale trade managers |
| 60031 | Accommodation service managers |
| 60040 | Managers in customer and personal services |
| 72010 | Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations |
| 72013 | Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades |
| 72014 | Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers |
| 72020 | Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades |
| 72021 | Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews |
| 72102 | Sheet metal workers |
| 72105 | Ironworkers |
| 72201 | Industrial electricians |
| 72302 | Gas fitters |
| 72320 | Bricklayers |
| 72321 | Insulators |
| 72401 | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
| 72403 | Railway carmen/women |
| 72404 | Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors |
| 72500 | Crane operators |
| 72602 | Deck officers, water transport |
| 72603 | Engineer officers, water transport |
| 73311 | Railway conductors and brakemen/women |
| 82010 | Supervisors, logging and forestry |
| 83100 | Underground production and development miners |
| 83120 | Fishing masters and officers |
| 92010 | Supervisors, mineral and metal processing |
| 93102 | Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators |
Common occupations that are not on the list
These jobs earn no high-wage bonus, and a job offer in them earns 0 CRS points. If the job is skilled (TEER 0 to 3), the experience still counts for Express Entry and keeps its normal points.
| NOC code | Occupation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 63200 | Cooks | TEER 3, counts as skilled experience |
| 72200 | Electricians (except industrial and power system) | TEER 2, skilled. Industrial electricians (72201) are Level 3 |
| 72400 | Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | TEER 2, skilled |
| 72310 | Carpenters | TEER 2, skilled |
| 72106 | Welders and related machine operators | TEER 2, skilled |
| 72410 | Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics | TEER 2, skilled |
| 73300 | Transport truck drivers | TEER 3, skilled |
| 42202 | Early childhood educators and assistants | TEER 2, skilled |
| 44101 | Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations | TEER 4, not skilled for Express Entry |
| 13110 | Administrative assistants | TEER 3, skilled |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses | TEER 2, skilled. Registered nurses (31301) are Level 2 |
| 60030 | Restaurant and food service managers | TEER 0, skilled. Hotel managers (60031) are Level 3 |
| 62020 | Food service supervisors | TEER 2, skilled |
| 75201 | Delivery service drivers | TEER 5, not skilled for Express Entry |