NOC 51111: Authors and writers (except technical)
What authors and writers (except technical) do
Authors and writers plan, research and write books, scripts, storyboards, plays, essays, speeches and other non-journalistic articles for publication or presentation. They are employed by advertising agencies, governments, large corporations, private consulting firms, publishing firms, multimedia/new-media companies and other establishments, or they may be self-employed.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Novelists, playwrights, script writers, poets and other creative writers
- Conceive and write novels, plays, scripts, poetry and other material for publication or presentation
- May conduct research to establish factual content and to obtain other necessary information.
- Content writers (non-technical)
- Write e-copy, blog posts, e-books, podcasts and other forms of Web-based content
- Conduct research on a variety of topics to inform writing and may consult with clients to determine the goals of the writing.
- Copywriters
- Study and determine selling features of products and services and write text for advertisements and commercials.
- Authors and writers may specialize in a particular subject or type of writing.
Job titles under NOC 51111
44 job titles are classified here, including advertising copywriter, copywriter, essayist.
- ad writer
- advertising copywriter
- advertising writer
- author
- biographer
- blogger
- content creator - writing
- content writer (except technical)
- copywriter
- crossword puzzle maker
- designer and script writer
- dialogue writer
- dubbing dialogue writer
- essayist
- feature writer
- fiction writer
- ghost writer
- humorist-author
- interactive media writer
- lexicographer
- literary writer
- multimedia author
- multimedia script writer
- multimedia writer
Employment requirements
- Copywriters usually require a university degree or college diploma in French, English, marketing, advertising or another discipline.
- Creative writing programs are offered by universities and colleges.
- Talent and ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are important hiring criteria.
- Membership in a guild or union related to the occupation may be required.
Authors and writers (except technical) 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 | $25.48/hr | $36.81/hr | $53.00/hr |
Toronto ON | $27.18/hr | $40.38/hr | $53.00/hr |
Montréal QC | $26.92/hr | $36.00/hr | $39.41/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $26.02/hr | $36.25/hr | $58.55/hr |
Calgary AB | $20.00/hr | $38.56/hr | $55.00/hr |
Edmonton AB | $20.00/hr | $38.56/hr | $55.00/hr |
Ottawa ON | $25.53/hr | $37.42/hr | $56.42/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $23.84/hr | $31.01/hr | $46.67/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $26.92/hr | $36.00/hr | $53.00/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $23.01/hr | $34.02/hr | $52.28/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $25.90/hr | $34.52/hr | $51.48/hr |
London ON | $24.48/hr | $34.00/hr | $51.82/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $24.35/hr | $34.68/hr | $55.72/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $24.73/hr | $34.45/hr | $51.67/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $24.41/hr | $35.43/hr | $52.49/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $22.23/hr | $31.96/hr | $46.74/hr |
Nova Scotia | $25.00/hr | $33.00/hr | $40.00/hr |
New Brunswick | $21.00/hr | $32.63/hr | $45.67/hr |
Quebec | $26.92/hr | $36.00/hr | $53.00/hr |
Ontario | $25.82/hr | $40.38/hr | $53.00/hr |
Manitoba | $22.12/hr | $32.34/hr | $39.40/hr |
Saskatchewan | $21.04/hr | $34.37/hr | $48.01/hr |
Alberta | $20.00/hr | $38.56/hr | $55.00/hr |
British Columbia | $20.75/hr | $36.44/hr | $68.75/hr |
Using NOC 51111 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 44 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Editors (NOC 51110)
- Journalists (NOC 51113)
- Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (NOC 11202)
- Songwriter (NOC 51121)
- Technical writers (NOC 51112)
- Translators, terminologists and interpreters (NOC 51114)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for authors and writers (except technical)?
Authors and writers (except technical) are NOC 2021 unit group 51111. Example job titles in this group include advertising copywriter, copywriter, essayist, interactive media writer.
What TEER is NOC 51111?
NOC 51111 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 authors and writers (except technical) earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $36.81/hr, about $72,000 a year full-time, with a range of $25.48/hr to $53.00/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.