NOC 21221: Business systems specialists
What business systems specialists do
Business systems specialists perform detailed system tests, produce reports and develop new system architectures. They must also identify the strategic objectives of a company and translate these objectives into achievable tasks for an organization's information technology department. 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
- Analyze information systems processes, and propose customized solutions to improve performance and efficiency
- Design, develop, integrate, test and implement information systems business solutions
- Provide advice on information systems strategy, policy, management, security and service delivery
- Act as a liaison between the business units, technology teams and support teams
- Conduct tests to ensure the reliability, accuracy, and functionality of system changes and enhancements
Job titles under NOC 21221
22 job titles are classified here, including business systems analyst, business systems consultant, business systems specialist - computer systems.
- business analyst - computer systems
- business continuity analyst
- business data analyst
- business intelligence analyst - information technology (IT)
- business intelligence specialist
- business process analyst
- business solutions consultant
- business systems analyst
- business systems consultant
- business systems specialist - computer systems
- computer systems business analyst
- enterprise resource planning analyst
- functional consultant - information systems
- human resource information system analyst
- informatics business analyst
- information systems business analyst
- information systems implementation consultant
- information systems technical analyst
- information systems technical specialist
- information technology (IT) business analyst
- systems business re-engineering analyst
- technical business analyst
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in computer science, business administration, information systems or a related discipline or completion of a college program in computer science is usually required.
- Certification or training may be required by some employers.
Business systems 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 | $30.67/hr | $45.13/hr | $62.50/hr |
Toronto ON | $33.33/hr | $45.13/hr | $62.50/hr |
Montréal QC | $31.83/hr | $47.00/hr | $66.26/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $27.40/hr | $42.56/hr | $62.05/hr |
Calgary AB | $33.33/hr | $48.08/hr | $72.12/hr |
Edmonton AB | $38.46/hr | $48.08/hr | $54.00/hr |
Ottawa ON | $30.77/hr | $45.13/hr | $61.54/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $27.98/hr | $42.86/hr | $57.69/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $30.05/hr | $46.15/hr | $67.39/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $31.78/hr | $44.98/hr | $58.15/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $33.46/hr | $48.00/hr | $63.22/hr |
London ON | $32.00/hr | $41.42/hr | $65.00/hr |
Halifax NS | $27.00/hr | $43.27/hr | $61.03/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $30.00/hr | $40.00/hr | $48.08/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $32.18/hr | $45.00/hr | $65.55/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $33.36/hr | $45.58/hr | $61.75/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $33.96/hr | $46.33/hr | $60.66/hr |
Nova Scotia | $27.00/hr | $46.15/hr | $66.67/hr |
New Brunswick | $25.38/hr | $38.50/hr | $53.33/hr |
Quebec | $30.05/hr | $46.15/hr | $67.39/hr |
Ontario | $33.33/hr | $45.13/hr | $62.50/hr |
Manitoba | $27.98/hr | $43.50/hr | $57.69/hr |
Saskatchewan | $29.02/hr | $47.85/hr | $56.00/hr |
Alberta | $33.33/hr | $48.08/hr | $72.12/hr |
British Columbia | $27.40/hr | $42.40/hr | $60.44/hr |
Using NOC 21221 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 22 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Computer and information systems managers (NOC 20012)
- Cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220)
- Database analysts and data administrators (NOC 21223)
- Information systems specialists (NOC 21222)
- Professional occupations in business management consulting (NOC 11201)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for business systems specialists?
Business systems specialists are NOC 2021 unit group 21221. Example job titles in this group include business systems analyst, business systems consultant, business systems specialist - computer systems, information systems business analyst.
What TEER is NOC 21221?
NOC 21221 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 business systems specialists earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $45.13/hr, about $88,000 a year full-time, with a range of $30.67/hr to $62.50/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.