NOC 53122: Painters, sculptors and other visual artists
What painters, sculptors and other visual artists do
Painters, sculptors and other visual artists create original paintings, drawings, sculptures, engravings and other artistic works. They are usually self-employed. This unit group also includes art instructors and teachers, who are usually employed by art schools.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Painters
- Create drawings, paintings and other artwork using oils, pastels, watercolours, charcoal, ink and other media.
- Sculptors
- Create sculptures, statues and other three-dimensional artwork by shaping, carving and working with materials such as clay, ice, paper, stone, wood or metal.
- Art instructors and teachers
- Teach students the techniques and methods of drawing, painting, sculpting and other forms of artistic expression.
Job titles under NOC 53122
43 job titles are classified here, including art teacher (except primary, secondary and post-secondary education), artist, artistic painter.
- animal art painter
- animal art sculptor
- art instructor
- art instructor (except primary, secondary, post-secondary education)
- art teacher (except primary, secondary and post-secondary education)
- artist
- artistic painter
- artistic printmaker
- charcoal artist
- clay modeller
- decorations painter - visual arts
- etcher - visual arts
- ice sculptor
- ink sketcher
- Inuit art sculptor
- landscape painter
- lithographic artist
- maritime art painter
- metal sculptor
- monument sculptor
- mural landscape artist
- mural painter
- oil painter
- painter - visual arts
Employment requirements
- Creative ability and talent, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, and knowledge of the safe use of materials, tools and equipment are required. Art programs are offered at universities, colleges and private art schools.
- A college diploma in fine arts techniques may be required.
- Art instructors and teachers may be required to have a university degree or college diploma in a field related to art.
Painters, sculptors and other visual artists 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 | $18.75/hr | $29.57/hr | $45.09/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $19.40/hr | $26.00/hr | $43.00/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Quebec | $19.40/hr | $26.00/hr | $43.00/hr |
Ontario | $18.24/hr | $25.71/hr | $43.15/hr |
Alberta | $18.00/hr | $29.00/hr | $50.00/hr |
British Columbia | $24.50/hr | $41.26/hr | $47.34/hr |
Using NOC 53122 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 43 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Art teacher - elementary school (NOC 41221)
- Art teacher - secondary school (NOC 41220)
- Artisans and craftspersons (NOC 53124)
- Fine arts professor - university (NOC 41200)
- Fine arts teacher - college level (NOC 41210)
- Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 52120)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for painters, sculptors and other visual artists?
Painters, sculptors and other visual artists are NOC 2021 unit group 53122. Example job titles in this group include art teacher (except primary, secondary and post-secondary education), artist, artistic painter, portrait painter.
What TEER is NOC 53122?
NOC 53122 is TEER 3 (College or apprenticeship (under 2 years)). Usually requires a college program or apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than six months of on-the-job training. 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 painters, sculptors and other visual artists earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $29.57/hr, about $58,000 a year full-time, with a range of $18.75/hr to $45.09/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.