NOC 41221: Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
What elementary school and kindergarten teachers do
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers teach basic subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic or specialized subjects such as English or French as a second language at public and private elementary schools.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare courses for presentation to students according to approved curriculum
- Teach students using a systematic plan of lessons, discussions, audio-visual presentations and field trips
- Lead students in activities to promote their physical, mental and social development and their school readiness
- Assign and correct homework
- Prepare, administer and correct tests
- Evaluate the progress of students and discuss results with students, parents and school officials
- Identify children's individual learning needs
- Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help
- Participate in staff meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops
- May supervise teachers' aides and student teachers.
- Elementary school and kindergarten teachers may specialize in such areas as special education or second language instruction.
Job titles under NOC 41221
38 job titles are classified here, including English as a second language elementary school teacher, French as a second language elementary school teacher, French immersion teacher - elementary school.
- Aboriginal school teacher - elementary school
- art teacher - elementary school
- cooking teacher - elementary school
- correspondence teacher - elementary school
- crafts teacher - elementary school
- early childhood services teacher - elementary school
- elementary school reading clinician
- elementary school substitute teacher
- elementary school supply teacher
- elementary school teacher
- English as a second language elementary school teacher
- English as a second language teacher - elementary school
- English teacher - elementary school
- French as a second language elementary school teacher
- French as a second language teacher - elementary school
- French immersion teacher - elementary school
- French teacher - elementary school
- grade school teacher
- home economics teacher - elementary school
- industrial arts teacher - elementary school
- junior high school teacher
- kindergarten teacher
- language teacher - elementary school
- music teacher - elementary school
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in education is required.
- A bachelor's degree in child development may be required.
- Additional training is required to specialize in special education or second language instruction.
- A provincial teaching certificate is required. Additional certification is required to teach English or French as a second language.
- Membership in a provincial or territorial teachers' association or federation is usually required.
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers 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 | $26.67/hr | $43.27/hr | $56.59/hr |
Toronto ON | $27.47/hr | $47.12/hr | $58.28/hr |
Montréal QC | $25.72/hr | $40.29/hr | $55.79/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $28.85/hr | $43.27/hr | $58.04/hr |
Calgary AB | $25.00/hr | $39.90/hr | $54.95/hr |
Edmonton AB | $24.00/hr | $36.54/hr | $49.03/hr |
Ottawa ON | $27.50/hr | $47.34/hr | $57.14/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $26.46/hr | $41.52/hr | $59.34/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $27.00/hr | $44.23/hr | $55.30/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $28.00/hr | $48.08/hr | $60.94/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $28.22/hr | $46.15/hr | $58.67/hr |
London ON | $27.50/hr | $40.11/hr | $57.69/hr |
Halifax NS | $18.25/hr | $41.01/hr | $50.00/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $28.46/hr | $43.99/hr | $54.49/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $27.47/hr | $39.74/hr | $54.54/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $24.04/hr | $39.42/hr | $56.41/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $31.25/hr | $46.15/hr | $70.00/hr |
Nova Scotia | $20.77/hr | $40.38/hr | $51.79/hr |
New Brunswick | $26.67/hr | $37.98/hr | $46.15/hr |
Quebec | $27.00/hr | $44.23/hr | $55.30/hr |
Ontario | $27.50/hr | $46.15/hr | $58.79/hr |
Manitoba | $26.44/hr | $42.69/hr | $57.69/hr |
Saskatchewan | $25.96/hr | $40.38/hr | $57.69/hr |
Alberta | $24.62/hr | $38.46/hr | $52.75/hr |
British Columbia | $28.85/hr | $43.27/hr | $57.69/hr |
Using NOC 41221 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 38 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202)
- Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (NOC 43100)
- Elementary school librarian (NOC 52100)
- Psychoeducator (NOC 41301)
- School principals and administrators of elementary and secondary education (NOC 40021)
- Secondary school teachers (NOC 41220)
- Teacher of persons with developmental disabilities (NOC 42203)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for elementary school and kindergarten teachers?
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers are NOC 2021 unit group 41221. Example job titles in this group include English as a second language elementary school teacher, French as a second language elementary school teacher, French immersion teacher - elementary school, kindergarten teacher.
What TEER is NOC 41221?
NOC 41221 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 elementary school and kindergarten teachers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $43.27/hr, about $84,000 a year full-time, with a range of $26.67/hr to $56.59/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.