Under the proposed Express Entry reforms, candidates in higher-earning occupations are set to be prioritized for selection as Canadian permanent residents in the future.<\/p>\n
The proposed \u201chigh-wage\u201d occupation factor in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) would award extra points to candidates in jobs paying 2x, 1.5x, and\/or 1.3x the annual median wage.<\/p>\n
See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams<\/a><\/p>\n High-wage points<\/a> will be awarded to candidates on the basis of their Canadian work experience or their job offer.<\/p>\n Which occupations could qualify under the high-wage factor? A CIC News estimate<\/p>\n The official list will be based on Statistics Canada data and Employment and Social Development Canada\u2019s Job Bank, which tracks median hourly wages by National Occupational Classification (NOC) code across Canada.<\/p>\n Since this is in the proposal phase as of now, an official list of qualifying occupations has not yet been published by IRCC.<\/p>\n However, based on Statistics Canada and ESDC’s most recent Job Bank median hourly wage figures (2025 data) \u2014 compared against the most recent data on Canada\u2018s national median wage (2024 data) by NOC code \u2014 CIC News has produced the following illustrative estimate of sample occupations which may fall under each tier.<\/p>\n Note that this is an estimate only, not a complete list, and not intended as a prediction of what occupations will be included in IRCC\u2019s final list.<\/p>\n \tTierOccupationNOC Code<\/p>\n \t2x national median wage Specialists in surgery31101<\/p>\n \tGeneral practitioners and family physicians31102<\/p>\n \tSpecialists in clinical and laboratory medicine31100<\/p>\n \tSenior managers \u2013 financial, communications and other business services00012<\/p>\n \tGovernment managers – education policy development and program administration40012<\/p>\n \tGovernment managers – economic analysis, policy\u00a0development\u00a0and program administration40011<\/p>\n \tSenior government managers and officials00011<\/p>\n \tPetroleum engineers21332<\/p>\n \tComputer and information systems managers20012<\/p>\n \tArchitecture and science managers20011<\/p>\n \t1.5x national median wage Government managers \u2013 economic analysis, policy\u00a0development\u00a0and program administration40012<\/p>\n \tAdministrators – post-secondary education and vocational training40020<\/p>\n \tSoftware engineers and designers20041<\/p>\n \tSchool principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education40021<\/p>\n \tMining engineers20036<\/p>\n \tCybersecurity specialists21122<\/p>\n \tElectrical and electronics engineers20032<\/p>\n \tManagers in transportation70020<\/p>\n \tSecondary school teachers41220<\/p>\n \tSoftware engineers and designers21231<\/p>\n \t1.3x national median wage Contractors and supervisors, electrical\u00a0trades\u00a0and telecommunications occupations72011<\/p>\n \tCentral control and process operators, mineral and metal processing93100<\/p>\n \tSystems testing technicians20046<\/p>\n \tBusiness development officers and market researchers and analysts41402<\/p>\n \tFinancial and investment analysts11101<\/p>\n \tSteamfitters,\u00a0pipefitters\u00a0and sprinkler system installers72111<\/p>\n \tIronworkers72105<\/p>\n \tCrane operators72500<\/p>\n \tSecurities agents, investment\u00a0dealers\u00a0and brokers11103<\/p>\n \tLand surveyors21203<\/p>\n See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams<\/a><\/p>\n What is the high-wage occupation factor?<\/p>\n Under the proposal, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)<\/a> is considering introducing new CRS points for candidates with Canadian work experience or a Canadian job offer in a high-wage occupation.<\/p>\n High wage occupations, in this context, refer to occupations that tend to earn wages above the national Canadian median wage.<\/p>\n It is important to note that this factor will be based on occupational earnings rather than individual earnings. This means that candidates with work experience in the same occupation will be treated the same way, regardless of whether their pay differs due to location, gender, or any other reason. IRCC has said this approach irons out operational and integrity concerns.<\/p>\n IRCC has proposed three tiers based on how far above the national median an occupation’s wages sit:<\/p>\n 2 times the national median wage (e.g. physicians and professors) According to the slide deck shared by IRCC to immigration lawyers, a full list of qualifying occupations \u201cwill be published on the IRCC website and updated regularly, likely annually.\u201d<\/p>\n The return of job offer points?<\/p>\n This proposal would reintroduce job offer points<\/a>, but only for job offers in high-wage occupations.<\/p>\n IRCC has stated that the definition of what constitutes a “job offer” is still being developed, but that it will likely align with current regulations, requiring a full-time job offer in a high-wage occupation, with LMIA requirements or exemptions.<\/p>\n Why is IRCC focusing on high-wage occupations now?<\/p>\n IRCC’s focus on occupational earnings is grounded in data the department has gathered on economic outcomes for Express Entry<\/a> immigrants.<\/p>\n According to a slide deck IRCC recently shared with immigration lawyers, the higher the pre-landing earnings that Express Entry immigrants had, the more likely they were to be employed and earn more post-landing.<\/p>\n The department also shared an example: Express Entry immigrants who arrived with a job offer in a senior management position earned three times the weekly wages of those who arrived with no job offer at all.<\/p>\n Candidates in skilled jobs below the high-wage threshold will continue to remain eligible for the Express Entry pool and can still receive an invitation to apply based on other CRS factors \u2014 including age, education, and language proficiency \u2014 should these changes be implemented.<\/p>\n What is the status of these proposals?<\/p>\n These proposals have not been finalized. IRCC is currently accepting public feedback through its online consultation, which remains open until May 24, 2026.<\/p>\n Input gathered during this period will inform how the department moves forward with changes to Express Entry programs and the CRS. Any program changes will ultimately be published in the Canada Gazette.<\/p>\n The full suite of planned changes to Express Entry is expected to be implemented<\/a> 12 to 18 months from now. However, in an IRCC webinar for immigration lawyers, a high-ranking official at IRCC stated that the high-wage occupation factor may be prioritized sooner. No official dates have been released.<\/p>\n
\n1.5 times the national median wage (e.g. engineers, teachers, transportation managers)
\n1.3 times the national median wage (e.g. financial analysts, bricklayers, heavy duty equipment operators).<\/p>\n