National Occupational Classification, TEER 1
NOC 31101: Specialists in surgery
Specialists in surgery perform and supervise surgical procedures. Below are the main duties, all 39 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 31101?
NOC 31101 is the code for specialists in surgery in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include cardiac surgeon, general surgeon, neurosurgeon and obstetrician-gynecologist. 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, and IRCC lists it for the healthcare and social services and physicians with Canadian work experience category draws. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $419,180 a year.
- NOC code
- 31101
- TEER
- 1: University degree
- Broad category
- Health occupations
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- Healthcare and social services and physicians with Canadian work experience
- Median wage
- $419,180 a year
Job titles under NOC 31101
Specialists in surgery perform and supervise surgical procedures. Specialists in surgery usually work in hospitals. Residents in training to become specialists in surgery are included in this unit group.
Main job titles
- cardiac surgeon
- general surgeon
- neurosurgeon
- obstetrician-gynecologist
- ophthalmologist
- orthopedic surgeon
- orthopedist
- otorhinolaryngologist
- pediatric surgeon
- plastic surgeon
- thoracic surgeon
- urologist
- vascular surgeon
All 39 job titles in the NOC index
cardiac surgeon, cardiothoracic surgeon, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery specialist, cardiovascular surgeon, cosmetic surgeon, ear specialist, esthetic surgeon, eye specialist, general surgeon, general surgeon - Canadian Armed Forces, gynecologist, laryngologist, neurological surgeon, neurosurgeon, nose specialist, obstetrician, obstetrician-gynecologist, ophthalmologist, orthopedic surgeon, orthopedics specialist, orthopedist, otolaryngologist, otologist, otorhinolaryngologist, otorhinolaryngology specialist, pediatric surgeon, plastic surgeon, plastic surgery specialist, rhinologist, specialist in plastic surgery, specialist in vascular surgery, surgeon, surgical physician, surgical resident, thoracic surgeon, throat specialist, urologist, vascular surgeon.
Main duties of NOC 31101
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
General surgeons
- Treat diseases, injuries, and deformities by invasive, minimally-invasive, or non-invasive surgical methods, such as using instruments, appliances, or by manual manipulation.
Obstetricians and gynecologists
- Provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth. Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system. May also provide general medical care to women. May perform both medical and gynecological surgery functions.
Ophthalmologists
- Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries of the eyes and related structures.
Urologists
- Diagnose, treat, and help prevent benign and malignant medical and surgical disorders of the genitourinary system and the renal glands.
- Other specialists in surgery
- Assess patients' diseases or disorders to determine appropriate surgical procedures.
- Perform and supervise surgical procedures to correct physical abnormalities and deficiencies and repair injuries.
- Act as consultants to other physicians.
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree or in Quebec, completion of a college program and one year of pre-medicine university studies is usually required.
- Graduation from an approved medical school and specific specialty training are required.
- Completion of the certifying examinations of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and licensing by the provincial or territorial licensing authority are required.
- Five to six years of specialty residency training are required.
- Two years of subspecialty training may also be required.
Additional information
- Progression to management positions, such as chief of surgery, is possible with experience.
Is NOC 31101 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 31101 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Healthcare and social services occupations (category draw) | On the eligible list |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience (category draw) | On the eligible 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 31101 pay?
Job Bank wages for this occupation, per year. 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 | $144,482 | $419,180 | $766,730 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $143,704 | $434,053 | $699,989 |
| Prince Edward Island | $73,872 | $530,709 | $309,016 |
| Nova Scotia | $175,086 | $418,516 | $597,217 |
| New Brunswick | $175,076 | $421,734 | $634,999 |
| Quebec | $165,663 | $397,319 | $642,495 |
| Ontario | $118,538 | $403,957 | $749,689 |
| Manitoba | $161,289 | $457,991 | $826,328 |
| Alberta | $180,159 | $508,561 | $984,111 |
| British Columbia | $146,214 | $441,788 | $819,593 |
| Yukon | Not published | $403,299 | Not published |
Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Canadian Institute for Health Information and Canadian Medical Association - custom tabulation). 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 31101 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 31101 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.
Turn my duties into a resume Free to start, no card.
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 cardiac surgeon?
NOC 31101, Specialists in surgery, a TEER 1 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 31101?
TEER 1. Usually a university degree. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 31101 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 31101 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
Yes. IRCC’s 2026 list puts it in the healthcare and social services and physicians with Canadian work experience categories. You need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same part-time) in it within the past 3 years.
How much does NOC 31101 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $419,180 a year, with most wages between $144,482 and $766,730. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 31101 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
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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.