NOC 53123: Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers
What theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers do
Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers conceptualize and produce designs for film, television, theatre and video productions, garments and textiles, displays and exhibits, and for other creative items such as jewellery and trophies. Theatre designers are employed by performing arts and broadcasting companies and by festivals; fashion designers are employed by clothing and textile companies or may be self-employed; and exhibit designers are employed by museums. Other creative designers in this unit group are employed by manufacturing establishments or may be self-employed.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Theatre designers
- Design and create settings, scenic environments, properties, costumes and lighting for theatre, film and video productions, operas and ballets.
- Fashion designers
- Design and create clothing and accessories for men, women and children.
- Exhibit designers
- Plan and develop permanent and temporary or moveable exhibits and displays for museum exhibitions, trade shows, conventions and other exhibitions.
- Theatre designers may specialize in costume, lighting or set design; fashion designers may specialize in men's, women's or children's apparel or in different lines such as sportswear, footwear or formal wear.
Job titles under NOC 53123
52 job titles are classified here, including clothing designer, costume designer, couturier - haute couture.
- assistant costume designer
- clothing designer
- costume designer
- couturier - haute couture
- crest designer
- designer - theatre
- display designer - museums and art galleries
- embroidery designer
- exhibit designer
- exhibit designers supervisor
- exhibition designer - museums and art galleries
- fabric designer
- facilities designer
- fashion coordinator
- fashion designer
- fashion goods exhibit coordinator
- fashion stylist
- fashion wear designer
- fishing lure designer
- food stylist
- fur designer
- garment designer
- glove designer
- handbag designer
Employment requirements
- A university degree in fine arts or visual arts with specialization in theatre design, clothing design or exhibit design or completion of a college or art school program in theatre design, clothing design or exhibit design is required.
- Creative ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, is required.
- Use of computer-aided design (CAD) software may be required.
Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers 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 | $17.85/hr | $31.25/hr | $47.96/hr |
Toronto ON | $19.03/hr | $34.95/hr | $54.08/hr |
Montréal QC | $17.90/hr | $31.25/hr | $45.67/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $24.00/hr | $38.00/hr | $50.00/hr |
Calgary AB | $17.75/hr | $28.80/hr | $42.49/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $17.00/hr | $26.35/hr | $43.75/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $18.41/hr | $32.59/hr | $52.70/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Quebec | $17.00/hr | $26.35/hr | $43.75/hr |
Ontario | $18.41/hr | $32.59/hr | $52.70/hr |
Alberta | $16.50/hr | $26.73/hr | $41.42/hr |
British Columbia | $23.75/hr | $37.37/hr | $50.00/hr |
Using NOC 53123 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 52 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Diorama maker - museums and art galleries (NOC 53100)
- Graphic designers and illustrators (NOC 52120)
- Industrial designers (NOC 22211)
- Interior designers and interior decorators (NOC 52121)
- Patternmakers - textile, leather and fur products (NOC 53125)
- Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and milliners (NOC 64200)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers?
Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers are NOC 2021 unit group 53123. Example job titles in this group include clothing designer, costume designer, couturier - haute couture, fabric designer.
What TEER is NOC 53123?
NOC 53123 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 theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $31.25/hr, about $61,000 a year full-time, with a range of $17.85/hr to $47.96/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.