NOC 51113: Journalists
What journalists do
Journalists research, investigate, interpret and communicate news and public affairs through newspapers, television, radio and other media. They are employed by radio and television networks and stations, newspapers and magazines. Journalists may also work on a freelance basis.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Collect local, national and international news through interviews, investigation and observation
- Write news stories for publication and broadcast
- Receive, analyze and verify news and other copy for accuracy
- Arrange for and conduct interviews as part of research and for radio and television programs
- Research and report on developments in specialized fields such as medicine, science and technology
- Prepare regular feature columns and stories on specialized topics
- Write editorials and commentaries on topics of current interest to stimulate public interest and express the views of a publication or broadcasting station
- Write critical reviews of literary, musical and other artistic works based on knowledge, judgement and experience.
- Journalists may specialize in print, broadcast or Webcast media, in particular issues such as political affairs or entertainment news, or in a particular geographic area.
Job titles under NOC 51113
72 job titles are classified here, including book reviewer, broadcast journalist, columnist.
- anchorman/woman
- art critic
- book critic
- book reviewer
- broadcast journalist
- chronicler
- columnist
- commentator
- correspondent
- critic
- culinary journalist
- cyberjournalist
- cyberreporter
- drama critic
- entertainment columnist
- fashion columnist
- feature reporter
- field reporter
- film critic
- financial reporter
- foreign affairs reporter
- foreign correspondent
- foreign news correspondent
- game critic
Employment requirements
- A university degree or college diploma in journalism or a related field such as communications is usually required.
Journalists 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 | $20.19/hr | $36.92/hr | $62.50/hr |
Toronto ON | $25.65/hr | $40.73/hr | $62.52/hr |
Montréal QC | $31.00/hr | $37.44/hr | $52.03/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $28.23/hr | $39.53/hr | $59.21/hr |
Calgary AB | $26.66/hr | $36.80/hr | $54.25/hr |
Edmonton AB | $25.88/hr | $35.51/hr | $51.27/hr |
Ottawa ON | $28.92/hr | $40.14/hr | $63.07/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $24.52/hr | $33.33/hr | $38.00/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $27.55/hr | $37.44/hr | $52.03/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $25.21/hr | $35.89/hr | $55.64/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $25.23/hr | $33.37/hr | $51.37/hr |
Halifax NS | $26.45/hr | $36.60/hr | $49.19/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $21.00/hr | $25.48/hr | $26.44/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $16.73/hr | $25.48/hr | $43.00/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $23.99/hr | $35.91/hr | $44.84/hr |
Nova Scotia | $23.73/hr | $36.22/hr | $47.59/hr |
New Brunswick | $23.64/hr | $38.16/hr | $51.18/hr |
Quebec | $27.55/hr | $37.44/hr | $52.03/hr |
Ontario | $21.00/hr | $38.46/hr | $71.43/hr |
Manitoba | $21.15/hr | $30.29/hr | $38.00/hr |
Saskatchewan | $16.73/hr | $25.48/hr | $43.00/hr |
Alberta | $24.37/hr | $35.93/hr | $46.71/hr |
British Columbia | $24.81/hr | $38.79/hr | $64.31/hr |
Using NOC 51113 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 72 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Announcers and other broadcasters (NOC 52114)
- Authors and writers (NOC 51111)
- Editors (NOC 51110)
- Photojournalist (NOC 53110)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for journalists?
Journalists are NOC 2021 unit group 51113. Example job titles in this group include book reviewer, broadcast journalist, columnist, correspondent.
What TEER is NOC 51113?
NOC 51113 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 journalists earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $36.92/hr, about $72,000 a year full-time, with a range of $20.19/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.