National Occupational Classification, TEER 1
NOC 21120: Public and environmental health and safety professionals
Public and environmental health and safety professionals review, evaluate and monitor public health and environmental safety hazards and develop strategies to prevent, control and eliminate disease and environmental impact caused by biological and chemical factors. Below are the main duties, all 45 job titles it covers, what it means for Express Entry and what it pays in each province.
Updated
- Official NOC 2021 data
- Job Bank wages
What is NOC 21120?
NOC 21120 is the code for public and environmental health and safety professionals in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include environmental health officer, environmental officer, environmental safety advisor and hazardous waste inspector. It is a TEER 1 occupation (usually a university degree), so it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $45.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 21120
- TEER
- 1: University degree
- Broad category
- Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $45.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 21120
Public and environmental health and safety professionals review, evaluate and monitor public health and environmental safety hazards and develop strategies to prevent, control and eliminate disease and environmental impact caused by biological and chemical factors. They inspect restaurants, industrial establishments, municipal water systems, public facilities and institutions to ensure compliance with government regulations regarding sanitation, pollution control and the handling and storage of hazardous substances. They are employed throughout the public and private sectors.
Main job titles
- environmental health officer
- environmental officer
- environmental safety advisor
- hazardous waste inspector
- pollution control inspector
- public health inspector
- public health inspectors supervisor
- public safety consultant
- public safety coordinator
- public safety officer
- restaurant inspector
- rodent control inspector
- water inspector
All 45 job titles in the NOC index
beauty salon inspector, dangerous goods inspector - railway transport, dangerous waste inspector, enforcement officer - environmental health, environmental health and safety advisor, environmental health and safety coordinator - public health and environmental safety, environmental health inspector, environmental health inspectors supervisor, environmental health officer, environmental health officers supervisor, environmental officer, environmental safety advisor, environmental safety consultant, environmental safety officer, environmental safety specialist, flood damage inspector, food inspector, hazardous waste inspector, health standards inspector, hotel and restaurant inspector - public health, industrial waste control inspector, mine examiner, nursing home inspector, pollution control inspector, public health and safety coordinator, public health inspector, public health inspectors supervisor, public health safety inspector, public health unit supervisor, public safety advisor, public safety consultant, public safety coordinator, public safety officer, public safety specialist, quarantine officer - public health, restaurant inspector, rodent control inspector, rodent control officer, safety and sanitary inspector - public and environmental health, sanitary department inspector - environmental health, sanitary standards inspector, sewage disposal inspector - environmental health, waste water treatment plant inspector, water inspector, welfare institute inspector - public health.
Main duties of NOC 21120
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Inspect the sanitary conditions of restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and other public facilities or institutions
- Conduct surveys and monitoring programs of the natural environment to identify sources of pollution
- Collect biological and chemical samples and specimens for analysis; measure physical, biological and chemical; and conduct safety and environmental audits
- Investigate health and safety related complaints, spills of hazardous chemicals, outbreaks of diseases or poisonings
- Inspect workplaces to ensure that equipment, materials and production processes do not present environmental hazards to the environment or a health and safety hazard to employees or to the general public
- Lead the development and the implementation of public safety and environmental health and safety programs and strategies to mitigate risk and optimize the general public and worker's health and safety and environmental protection
- Initiate enforcement procedures to fine or to close an establishment contravening municipal, provincial or federal regulations
- Provide consultation and deliver training programs to employers, employees and the general public on issues of public health, environmental protection or workplace safety.
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in a discipline such as food science, environmental studies, chemistry or health and safety is usually required.
- Public health inspectors employed outside Quebec require certification with the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors.
- Environmental health and safety professionals may require certification with the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP).
Is NOC 21120 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 1 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.
| Program or draw | NOC 21120 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Counts as skilled work (TEER 0 to 3) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | Not a listed trade |
| Occupation category draws (2026) | Not on any occupation list |
| French-language proficiency (category draw) | Open to any occupation with NCLC 7 in French |
Read how TEER categories work and the full list of NOC codes in each 2026 category draw. Category draws also need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed occupation within the past 3 years.
How much does NOC 21120 pay?
Job Bank wages for this occupation, per hour. Low and high are, in most cases, the 10th and 90th percentiles, so 8 in 10 workers earn somewhere between them.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $29.33 | $45.00 | $56.41 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $29.60 | $41.00 | $53.85 |
| Prince Edward Island | $29.60 | $41.00 | $53.85 |
| Nova Scotia | $32.97 | $41.58 | $53.85 |
| New Brunswick | $30.00 | $41.00 | $51.58 |
| Quebec | $27.96 | $45.64 | $56.41 |
| Ontario | $31.40 | $46.67 | $65.93 |
| Manitoba | $25.05 | $36.00 | $46.70 |
| Saskatchewan | $23.00 | $39.18 | $46.78 |
| Alberta | $28.78 | $45.43 | $67.18 |
| British Columbia | $32.97 | $45.00 | $64.10 |
| Yukon | $34.70 | $51.59 | $78.16 |
| Northwest Territories | $39.24 | $58.30 | $80.41 |
| Nunavut | $42.12 | $59.01 | $80.55 |
Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Labour Force Survey). Wages for job offers in LMIA and provincial programs are compared with these figures, so check the current numbers on Job Bank before you rely on them.
Using NOC 21120 duties on your resume
Canadian resumes do not list NOC codes. Employers read your job titles, what you did and what came of it. The NOC duties are still a useful checklist: if you did these tasks, say so in your own words and add the numbers that prove it.
For Express Entry, the reference letter from your employer should describe the duties you really performed, in line with this lead statement and most of the main duties, without copying the NOC text word for word. The free reference letter generator checks your duties against NOC 21120 as you write.
- Start each bullet with a strong verb and end it with a result: how many, how often, how fast.
- Use the job title your employer used, even if the NOC title is different.
- Keep immigration details such as your NOC code and permit type off the resume.
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Where this information comes from
Occupation codes, titles and descriptions are adapted from Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.
Wages come from Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Express Entry rules come from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC): the program pages for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the category-based selection page as modified on June 22, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for a environmental health officer?
NOC 21120, Public and environmental health and safety professionals, a TEER 1 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 21120?
TEER 1. Usually a university degree. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 21120 eligible for Express Entry?
Yes. As a TEER 1 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. You still have to meet every other requirement, and your duties must match the NOC description.
Is NOC 21120 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
No. It is not on any 2026 occupation list. The French-language proficiency category is open to any occupation if you reach NCLC 7 in French. See every category.
How much does NOC 21120 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $45.00 an hour, with most wages between $29.33 and $56.41. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 21120 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
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CVMaple turns the work you did into a Canadian resume: the right format, strong bullets and the keywords Canadian applicant tracking systems look for.
More on NOC codes and Canadian resumes
- NOC Code Finder: Describe your duties and get your NOC 2021 code, TEER and Express Entry eligibility. Free.
- NOC Codes Canada: Full List: All 516 NOC 2021 codes with their TEER, duties and wages.
- TEER Categories Explained: What TEER 0 to 5 means, which count for Express Entry, and every job in each one.
- Express Entry Category Draws: NOC Codes: Every NOC code on the 2026 healthcare, STEM, trades, education and other lists.
- Canadian Resume Examples by Job: Real examples for cashiers, caregivers, trades, tech, students and more.
- Newcomer Resume Guide: Turn international experience into a resume Canadian employers understand.