NOC 21200: Architects
What architects do
Architects conceptualize, plan and develop designs for the construction and renovation of commercial, institutional and residential buildings. They are employed by architectural firms, private corporations and governments, or they may be self-employed.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Consult with clients to determine the type, style and purpose of renovations or new building construction being considered
- Conceptualize and design buildings and develop plans describing design specifications, building materials, costs and construction schedules
- Prepare sketches and models for clients
- Prepare or supervise the preparation of drawings, specifications and other construction documents for use by contractors and tradespersons
- Prepare bidding documents, participate in contract negotiations and award construction contracts
- Monitor activities on construction sites to ensure compliance with specifications
- Conduct feasibility studies and financial analyses of building projects.
- Architects may specialize in a particular type of construction such as residential, commercial, industrial or institutional.
Job titles under NOC 21200
8 job titles are classified here, including architect, architectural standards specialist, chief architect.
- architect
- architectural project manager
- architectural standards specialist
- chief architect
- consulting architect
- industrial and commercial buildings architect
- residential architect
- residential building architect
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited school of architecture or completion of the syllabus of studies from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is required.
- A master's degree in architecture may be required.
- Completion of a three-year internship under the supervision of a registered architect is required.
- Completion of the architect registration examination is required.
- Registration with a provincial regulatory body is required in all provinces and the Northwest Territories.
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is offered by the Canada Green Building Council and may be required by some employers.
Architects 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 | $26.44/hr | $38.94/hr | $74.52/hr |
Toronto ON | $28.21/hr | $40.87/hr | $80.56/hr |
Montréal QC | $28.00/hr | $36.06/hr | $70.00/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $29.89/hr | $45.38/hr | $70.32/hr |
Calgary AB | $30.81/hr | $45.92/hr | $71.61/hr |
Edmonton AB | $29.53/hr | $44.81/hr | $66.76/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $22.50/hr | $41.03/hr | $65.64/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $27.00/hr | $32.82/hr | $70.00/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $26.44/hr | $39.49/hr | $50.00/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $35.00/hr | $39.42/hr | $55.89/hr |
Halifax NS | $25.00/hr | $40.87/hr | $50.55/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $32.69/hr | $45.77/hr | $67.70/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $27.89/hr | $41.40/hr | $64.92/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $26.41/hr | $37.99/hr | $60.28/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Nova Scotia | $25.00/hr | $40.87/hr | $50.55/hr |
New Brunswick | $26.65/hr | $39.22/hr | $54.45/hr |
Quebec | $27.00/hr | $32.82/hr | $70.00/hr |
Ontario | $28.21/hr | $41.03/hr | $80.97/hr |
Manitoba | $22.50/hr | $41.03/hr | $62.50/hr |
Saskatchewan | $26.02/hr | $40.83/hr | $59.68/hr |
Alberta | $29.76/hr | $45.69/hr | $69.26/hr |
British Columbia | $29.07/hr | $45.14/hr | $69.80/hr |
Using NOC 21200 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 8 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)
- Database architect (NOC 21223)
- Landscape architects (NOC 21201)
- Naval architect (NOC 21399)
- Software architect (NOC 21231)
- Structural engineer (NOC 21300)
- Technical architect - hardware (NOC 21311)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for architects?
Architects are NOC 2021 unit group 21200. Example job titles in this group include architect, architectural standards specialist, chief architect, consulting architect.
What TEER is NOC 21200?
NOC 21200 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 architects earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $38.94/hr, about $76,000 a year full-time, with a range of $26.44/hr to $74.52/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.