NOC 51122: Musicians and singers
What musicians and singers do
Musicians and singers perform with orchestras, choirs, opera companies and popular bands in establishments such as concert halls, lounges and theatres and in film, television and recording studios. This unit group also includes music teachers who usually teach in conservatories, academies and private homes.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Musicians
- Play one or more instruments as soloists or as members of a musical group before audiences or for recording purposes.
- Singers
- Sing musical arrangements as soloists or as members of vocal groups before audiences or for recording purposes.
- Teachers of music or voice
- Teach technique, interpretation and music theory to students through private or group lessons.
- Musicians and singers usually specialize in specific genres of music such as classical, country, ethnic, jazz, opera or popular music.
Job titles under NOC 51122
64 job titles are classified here, including accompanist, church organist, guitar player.
- accompanist
- accordion teacher - private, conservatory or studio lessons
- alto
- back-up musician
- baritone
- bass
- bass drum teacher - private, conservatory or studio lessons
- bass player
- bassoon teacher - private, conservatory or studio lessons
- blues singer
- bugler
- carillonneur
- cellist
- cello teacher - private, conservatory or studio lessons
- chorister
- church organist
- concert singer
- cornetist
- drummer
- flutist
- folk singer
- gospel singer
- guitar player
- harpist
Employment requirements
- Musical training from a university or college or through private instruction is usually required.
- Members of orchestras and other professional classical musicians and singers usually require a university degree in music.
- Musical talent and ability, as demonstrated during an audition, are important hiring criteria.
- Membership in a guild or union related to the occupation or type of performance may be required.
Musicians and singers wages in Canada
Low, median and high annual salaries from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data.
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $32,867/yr | $32,867/yr | $74,500/yr |
Toronto ON | $37,561/yr | $37,561/yr | $64,500/yr |
Montréal QC | $33,109/yr | $33,109/yr | $85,000/yr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $37,929/yr | $37,929/yr | $71,000/yr |
Calgary AB | — | $32,867/yr | — |
Edmonton AB | — | $32,867/yr | — |
Ottawa ON | $37,561/yr | $37,561/yr | $76,500/yr |
Winnipeg MB | — | $40,400/yr | — |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $33,109/yr | $33,109/yr | $88,000/yr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | — | $37,561/yr | — |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | — | $37,561/yr | — |
London ON | — | $37,561/yr | — |
Halifax NS | — | $40,000/yr | — |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | — | $37,929/yr | — |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | — | $34,747/yr | — |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | — | $34,229/yr | — |
Nova Scotia | — | $35,128/yr | — |
New Brunswick | — | $34,000/yr | — |
Quebec | $33,109/yr | $33,109/yr | $88,000/yr |
Ontario | $37,561/yr | $37,561/yr | $63,200/yr |
Manitoba | — | $38,800/yr | — |
Saskatchewan | — | $34,747/yr | — |
Alberta | $32,867/yr | $32,867/yr | $82,000/yr |
British Columbia | $37,929/yr | $37,929/yr | $76,000/yr |
Using NOC 51122 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 64 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Conductors, composers and arrangers (NOC 51121)
- Music professor - university (NOC 41200)
- Music teacher - elementary school (NOC 41221)
- Music teacher - secondary school (NOC 41220)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for musicians and singers?
Musicians and singers are NOC 2021 unit group 51122. Example job titles in this group include accompanist, church organist, guitar player, instrumentalist.
What TEER is NOC 51122?
NOC 51122 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 musicians and singers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $32,867 a year, with a range of $32,867/yr to $74,500/yr.
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.