NOC 21220: Cybersecurity specialists
What cybersecurity specialists do
Cybersecurity specialists develop, plan, recommend, implement, improve and monitor security measures to protect an organization's computer networks, connected devices and information to prevent unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of the information or of the systems on which the information resides. They are employed in information technology consulting firms and in information technology units throughout the public and private sectors.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Confer with clients to identify and document requirements, assess physical and technical security risks to data, software and hardware
- Apply encryption protocols, and manage keys to ensure security of data is maintained while at rest and in transit
- Monitor access and credentials for information and systems
- Install, test and operate security software and tools such as anti-virus and automated threat detection/prevent systems to ensure security measures are in place and working as intended
- Monitor for cyber attacks, intrusions and unusual, unauthorised or illegal activity
- Plan and carry out security measures in response to cybersecurity events and incidents in accordance with an organization's incident response plan to protect information, data and systems
- Document computer security and emergency measures policies, procedures, and tests.
Job titles under NOC 21220
19 job titles are classified here, including cybersecurity analyst, informatics security analyst, informatics security consultant.
- application security engineer
- communicator research operator - Canadian Armed Forces
- cyber operator - Canadian Armed Forces
- cybersecurity analyst
- cybersecurity consultant
- cybersecurity specialist
- informatics security analyst
- informatics security consultant
- information technology (IT) project manager - cybersecurity
- information technology (IT) security analyst
- Information technology (IT) security architect
- information technology (IT) security consultant
- information technology (IT) security specialist
- Internet security analyst
- network security analyst
- network security engineer
- systems security analyst
- systems security engineer
- systems security planner
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in computer science, computer security, computer systems engineering, information systems or completion of a college program in information technology, network administration or other computer science related program is usually required.
- Certification or training provided by software vendors may be required by some employers.
Cybersecurity specialists 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 | $30.00/hr | $49.52/hr | $72.12/hr |
Toronto ON | $28.85/hr | $48.08/hr | $70.51/hr |
Montréal QC | $30.67/hr | $49.52/hr | $64.10/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $32.00/hr | $45.67/hr | $108.17/hr |
Calgary AB | $35.60/hr | $50.13/hr | $89.48/hr |
Edmonton AB | $36.88/hr | $50.48/hr | $72.06/hr |
Ottawa ON | $38.46/hr | $56.31/hr | $73.85/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $30.88/hr | $44.82/hr | $65.06/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $30.67/hr | $49.23/hr | $71.43/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $30.00/hr | $43.27/hr | $72.12/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $30.00/hr | $51.28/hr | $72.12/hr |
London ON | $34.98/hr | $50.26/hr | $70.52/hr |
Halifax NS | $31.25/hr | $42.05/hr | $96.15/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $36.42/hr | $49.58/hr | $66.29/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $35.00/hr | $45.64/hr | $76.92/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $35.32/hr | $47.44/hr | $63.51/hr |
Nova Scotia | $31.25/hr | $42.05/hr | $96.15/hr |
New Brunswick | $31.25/hr | $45.19/hr | $80.00/hr |
Quebec | $30.67/hr | $49.23/hr | $71.43/hr |
Ontario | $30.00/hr | $51.28/hr | $72.12/hr |
Manitoba | $23.00/hr | $45.00/hr | $69.71/hr |
Saskatchewan | $35.00/hr | $45.64/hr | $76.92/hr |
Alberta | $35.40/hr | $50.51/hr | $87.09/hr |
British Columbia | $32.00/hr | $47.80/hr | $108.17/hr |
Using NOC 21220 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 19 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Business systems specialists (NOC 21221)
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 20012)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 21311)
- Computer systems developers and programmers (NOC 21230)
- Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 21223)
- Information systems specialists (NOC 21222)
- Software developers and programmers (NOC 21232)
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 21231)
- Web designers (NOC 21233)
- Web developers and programmers (NOC 21234)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for cybersecurity specialists?
Cybersecurity specialists are NOC 2021 unit group 21220. Example job titles in this group include cybersecurity analyst, informatics security analyst, informatics security consultant, information technology (IT) security specialist.
What TEER is NOC 21220?
NOC 21220 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 cybersecurity specialists earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $49.52/hr, about $97,000 a year full-time, with a range of $30.00/hr to $72.12/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.