NOC 21110: Biologists and related scientists
What biologists and related scientists do
Biologists and related scientists conduct basic and applied research to extend knowledge of living organisms, to manage natural resources, and to develop new practices and products related to medicine and agriculture. They are employed in both laboratory and field settings by governments, environmental consulting companies, resource and utilities companies, chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnical companies, hospitals and health, research and educational institutions.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Biologists
- Plan and conduct studies of the environment, and of the population, distribution, structure and functional characteristics and behaviour of plants and animals
- Conduct ecological and environmental impact studies and prepare reports
- Study, identify and classify plant and animal specimens
- Conduct experiments in plant or animal growth, heredity and breeding
- Prepare reports and plans for management of renewable resources
- May supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.
- Microbiologists and cell and molecular biologists
- Conduct research into the structure, function, ecology, biotechnology and genetics of micro-organisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and algae
- Conduct research into the structure and functioning of human, animal and plant tissues and cells
- Conduct studies into the identification, effects and control of human, plant and animal pathogens and toxins
- Conduct clinical or laboratory studies to test, evaluate and screen drugs, pharmaceuticals and nanoparticles used in biomedical applications
- Conduct molecular or biochemical studies and experiments in genetic expression, gene manipulation and recombinant DNA technology to develop new or alternative methods of producing products
- Conduct research in biotechnology to discover, develop and refine, and evaluate new products
- May participate in the commercialization of new products
- May supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists
- May conduct biostatistical data analysis using computer modelling techniques.
- Biologists and related scientists may specialize at the macroscopic level, in fields such as botany, zoology, ecology and marine biology or, at the cellular and molecular level, in fields such as genetics, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology, physiology, pathology, bacteriology, virology, biotechnology and bioinformatics.
Job titles under NOC 21110
129 job titles are classified here, including anatomist, bacteriologist, bioinformatician.
- agricultural scientist
- agrogeologist
- algologist
- anatomist
- animal ecologist
- animal geneticist
- animal nutritionist
- animal taxonomist
- apiculture entomologist
- aquatic biologist
- astrobiologist
- bacteriologist
- bacteriologist - animal health
- bioinformatician
- biological scientist
- biologist
- biology systematist
- biology taxonomist
- biomedical nanotechnology research scientist
- botanist
- bryologist
- cell biologist
- cellular physiologist
- clinical research associate
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in biology or in a related discipline is required for biologists.
- A master's or doctoral degree in biology or a related discipline is required for employment as a research scientist in biology.
- Post-doctoral research experience is usually required before employment in academic departments or research institutions.
- Biologists are regulated in Alberta and British Columbia.
Biologists and related scientists wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $25.71/hr | $40.00/hr | $66.67/hr |
Toronto ON | $25.71/hr | $40.00/hr | $66.35/hr |
Montréal QC | $16.10/hr | $36.32/hr | $54.12/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $28.85/hr | $42.00/hr | $66.67/hr |
Calgary AB | $27.60/hr | $41.77/hr | $68.75/hr |
Edmonton AB | $29.98/hr | $45.67/hr | $70.88/hr |
Ottawa ON | $23.00/hr | $35.90/hr | $69.74/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $26.92/hr | $36.06/hr | $54.36/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $24.50/hr | $38.46/hr | $54.12/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $25.00/hr | $40.00/hr | $62.50/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $23.70/hr | $39.75/hr | $58.65/hr |
London ON | $27.88/hr | $40.00/hr | $57.69/hr |
Halifax NS | $29.54/hr | $37.50/hr | $51.06/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $28.70/hr | $42.52/hr | $62.95/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $27.51/hr | $41.42/hr | $61.39/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $22.00/hr | $40.00/hr | $54.40/hr |
Nova Scotia | $24.62/hr | $37.50/hr | $51.06/hr |
New Brunswick | $23.84/hr | $41.00/hr | $59.00/hr |
Quebec | $24.50/hr | $38.46/hr | $54.12/hr |
Ontario | $24.50/hr | $40.00/hr | $69.23/hr |
Manitoba | $25.52/hr | $37.00/hr | $57.69/hr |
Saskatchewan | $28.22/hr | $42.85/hr | $61.71/hr |
Alberta | $26.44/hr | $41.44/hr | $88.19/hr |
British Columbia | $28.85/hr | $42.00/hr | $60.00/hr |
Using NOC 21110 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 129 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Architecture and science managers (NOC 20011)
- Biochemist (NOC 21101)
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for biologists and related scientists?
Biologists and related scientists are NOC 2021 unit group 21110. Example job titles in this group include anatomist, bacteriologist, bioinformatician, biologist.
What TEER is NOC 21110?
NOC 21110 is TEER 1 (University degree). Usually requires a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate), or experience from a related TEER 2 occupation. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do biologists and related scientists earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $40.00/hr, about $78,000 a year full-time, with a range of $25.71/hr to $66.67/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.