Federal Skilled Worker: Spotlight on Occupations (Part I)

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is one of Canada’s most popular avenues to permanent residency. Through the program, applicants with specific, proven skills can come to Canada to live and work. Applicants to the program must have one year full-time or equivalent part-time work experience in the past 10 years, and in one of 50 eligible occupations. A maximum of 25,000 applications will be accepted for review, with a cap of 1000 for each individual occupation. Click here to view the current number of applications received by the government for each of the 50 eligible occupations.

All chosen applicants are selected based upon the need for their skills in the Canadian labour market, and their likelihood of becoming economically established in Canada. Workers who come to Canada through the program have a high chance of finding well-paying jobs in their field, and integrating into Canada quickly.

Listed below are 25 of the most popular eligible occupations and their National Occupation Codes (NOC):

1. Senior Managers – financial, communications, and other business services. (NOC 0013)

Job Description: Senior managers in these sectors are responsible for developing and establishing company objectives and policies, as well as managing the senior or executive management team of their employer.

Average Salary: $200,000 - $220,000 per year

Example Titles:

• Bank President
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Telephone Company
• President, Advertising Agency

2. Senior Managers – trade, broadcasting, and other services. (NOC 0015)

Job Description: Senior managers in these sectors are in charge of planning, organizing, directing and evaluating management teams in broadcasting and media services, wholesale trade, retail services, and other sectors.

Average Salary: $205,000 per year

Example Titles:

• Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Travel Agency
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Professional Sports Club
• General Manager, Cleaning Service

3. Financial Managers (NOC 0111)

Job Description: Financial managers are responsible for organizing and controlling financial and accounting departments. They are also in charge of creating financial policies and systems for their employers.

Average Salary: $75,492 per year

Example Titles:

• Controller, Financial Services
• Finance Director
• Director of Accounting

4. Human Resource Managers (NOC 0112)

Job Description: Human resource managers are responsible for organizing and controlling the operations of human resource and personnel departments. They are also responsible for developing policies and procedures, and maintaining relations between management and employees.

Average Salary: $65,964 per year

Example Titles:

• Administrator, Human Resources
• Manager, Industrial Relations
• Manager, Staff Relations

5. Purchasing Managers (NOC 0113)

Job Description: Purchasing managers are responsible for organizing and controlling the activities of the purchasing department of their employing company.

Average Salary: $65,050 per year

Example Titles:

• Contract Manager
• Food Purchasing Manager
• Material Manager

6. Insurance, Real Estate, and Financial Brokerage Managers (NOC 0121)

Job Description: Insurance, real estate, and financial brokerage managers are responsible for organizing and controlling the activities of departments or establishments that provide insurance, mortgage, real estate, and investment services.

Average Salary: $92,819 per year

Example Titles:

• Bond Sales Manager
• Mortgage Broker Manager
• Commodities Trading Manager

7. Managers in Health Care (NOC 0311)

Job Description: Managers in health care are responsible for overseeing the delivery of health care services within institutions that provide health care.

Average Salary: $87,360

Example Titles:

• Director of Surgery
• Director of Dietetics
• Director of Physiotherapy

8. Construction Managers (NOC 0711)

Job Description: Construction managers oversee all activities of a construction company or department, under the direction of a general or senior manager.

Average Salary: $83,761 per year

Example Titles:

• Commercial Construction Manager
• Construction Superintendent
• General Contractor

9. Home Building and Renovation Managers (NOC 0712)

Job Description: Home building and renovation managers own, operate, and manage companies that build new residential homes. Residential home renovators own, operate, and manage companies that renovate existing residential homes.

Average Salary: $43,261 per year

Example Titles:

• Contractor, Home Renovation
• Home Builder
• Home Renovator

10. Managers in Natural Resources Production and Fishing (NOC 0811)

Job Description: This occupation group includes managers who organize and control the operations of establishments in forestry and logging, mining and quarrying, oil and gas drilling, production and servicing operations, and commercial fishing.

Average Salary: $110,240 per year

Example Titles:

• Director of Mining
• Manager, Drilling Operations
• Manager, Oil Well Servicing

11. Manufacturing Managers (NOC 0911)

Job Description: Manufacturing managers organize and control the operations of a manufacturing establishment or of a production department within a manufacturing establishment.

Average Salary: $66,738 per year

Example Titles:

• Automobile Production Manager
• Dairy Plant Manager
• Printing Plant Manager

12. Financial Auditors and Accountants (NOC 1111)

Job Description: Financial auditors analyze and examine the financial and accounting records of their employers to ensure that they have complied with standard accounting procedures. Accountants plan, organize and control accounting systems for their employers.

Average Salary: $87,280 per year

Example Titles:

• Accountant
• Income Tax Expert
• Internal Auditor

13. Financial and Investment Analysts (NOC 1112)

Job Description: Financial and investment analysts collect and analyze financial information to provide financial and investing advice for their employers.

Average Salary: $57,634 per year

Example Titles:

• Chartered Financial Analyst
• Money Market Analyst
• Portfolio Manager

14. Securities Agents, Investment Dealers and Brokers (NOC 1113)

Job Description: Securities agents and investment dealers buy and sell stocks, bonds, and other securities for individual investors, and establishments such as banks and insurance firms. Brokers buy and sell stocks, bonds and other securities at stock exchanges on behalf of investment dealers.

Average Salary: $163,782 per year

Example Titles: 

• Bond Dealer
• Discount Broker
• Investment Dealer

15. Other Financial Officers (NOC 1114)

Job Description: This group includes occupations in finance that are not grouped elsewhere, such as financial planners, financial examiners and inspectors, and mortgage brokers.

Average Salary: $50,000 - $70,000 per year

Example Titles:

• Account Manager
• Financial Planner
• Trust Officer

16. Professional Occupations in Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations (NOC 1123)

Job Description: This group includes occupations that organize and control the activities of establishments involved in different types of sales, marketing, advertising, and public relations.

Average Salary: $66,000 - $95,000

Example Titles:

• Advertising Consultant
• Communications Officer
• Event Marketing Specialist

17. Supervisors, Finance and Insurance Clerks (NOC 1212)

Job Description: Supervisors in this field supervise and co-ordinate the activities of workers in accounting, payroll, customer service, financial services, banking and insurance.

Average Salary: $44,000 - $53,000 per year

Example Titles:

• Accounts Payable Supervisor
• Bank Clerks Supervisor
• Credit Supervisor

18. Property Administrators (NOC 1224)

Job Description: Property administrators manage and rent property and real estate on behalf of property owners.

Average Salary: $39,587 per year

Example Titles:

• Housing Project Manager
• Apartment Rental Agent
• Property Rentals Manager

19. Geologists, Geochemists and Geophysicists (NOC 2113)

Job Description: Geologists, geochemists and geophysicists conduct research and exploration programs to learn more about the earth’s composition, as well as to find and use the earth’s natural resources. Additionally, they implement programs to assess and reduce the effects of development and waste disposal projects on the environment.

Average Salary: $95,000 - $125,000 per year

Example Titles:

• Development Geologist
• Mineralologist
• Petrologist

20. Civil Engineers (NOC 2131)

Job Description: Civil engineers are responsible for planning, designing and developing projects for the construction or repair of roads, bridges, tunnels, and other public infrastructure. They may also specialize in building and structural inspection and municipal planning.

Average Salary: $61,150 per year

Example Titles:

• Bridge Engineer
• Highway Engineer
• Sanitation Engineer

21. Mechanical Engineers (NOC 2132)

Job Description: Mechanical Engineers research, design and develop different types of machinery. They also perform duties related to the installation, operation and maintenance of machinery.

Average Salary: $60,526 per year

Example Titles:

• Acoustics Engineer
• Automotive Engineer
• Robotics Engineer

22. Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NOC 2133)

Job Description: Electrical and electronics engineers research, plan, design and test electronic equipment and systems.

Average Salary: $63,492 per year

Example Titles:

• Avionics Engineer
• Television Systems Engineer
• Electrical Network Engineer

23. Petrolium Engineers (NOC 2145)

Job Description: Petroleum engineers perform studies for the exploration, development, and extraction of oil and gas deposits. They also oversee drilling projects for oil and gas wells.

Average Salary: $85,188 per year

Example Titles:

• Drilling Engineer, Oil and Gas
• Subsea Engineer
• Reservoir Engineer, Petroleum

24. Information Systems Analysts and Consultants (NOC 2171)

Job Description: Information systems analysts and consultants conduct research, provide advice, and develop policies and plans on a wide range of information systems issues.

Average Salary: $78,626 per year

Example Titles:

• Informatics Consultant
• Systems Consultant
• IT (Information Technology) Consultant

 25. Database Analysts and Data Administrators (NOC 2172)

Job Description: Database analysts design, develop and administer data management solutions using data management software. Data administrators develop data administration policy and standards.

Average Salary: $58,000 - $65,000 per year

Example Titles:

• Database Architect
• Data Custodian
• Data Warehouse Analyst

“The Federal Skilled Worker Program is a great option for skilled individuals seeking permanent residency in Canada,” said Attorney David Cohen. “Its open diverse nature is a reflection of Canadian values; many different types of people from across the globe have found their path to Canada through the program.”

Stay tuned to the next edition CIC News for 25 more eligible occupations available under the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

To find out if you are eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, or any of over 60 Canadian immigration programs, please fill out an online assessment today.