National Occupational Classification, TEER 1
NOC 41201: Post-secondary teaching and research assistants
Post-secondary teaching and research assistants assist university professors, community college and CEGEP teachers and other faculty members in teaching and research activities at universities and colleges. Below are the main duties, all 13 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 41201?
NOC 41201 is the code for post-secondary teaching and research assistants in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include college laboratory assistant, college teaching assistant, graduate assistant - university and post-secondary research assistant. 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 researchers with Canadian work experience category draw. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $27.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 41201
- TEER
- 1: University degree
- Broad category
- Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services
- Express Entry
- Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)
- Category draws
- Researchers with Canadian work experience
- Median wage
- $27.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 41201
Post-secondary teaching and research assistants assist university professors, community college and CEGEP teachers and other faculty members in teaching and research activities at universities and colleges.
Main job titles
- college laboratory assistant
- college teaching assistant
- graduate assistant - university
- post-secondary research assistant
- university research assistant
All 13 job titles in the NOC index
college laboratory assistant, college teaching assistant, discussion group leader - post-secondary teaching assistant, graduate assistant - university, laboratory demonstrator - post-secondary teaching assistance, laboratory supervisor - post-secondary teaching assistant, marker - post-secondary teaching assistance, post-secondary research assistant, post-secondary teaching assistant, tutor - post-secondary teaching assistant, university laboratory assistant, university research assistant, university teaching assistant.
Also included in this group
- tutor - post-secondary teaching assistant
Main duties of NOC 41201
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Post-secondary teaching assistants
- Organize reference materials, visual aids and other materials as required by university professors or college teachers for lectures
- Conduct seminars, discussion groups and laboratory sessions to supplement lectures
- Assist in the preparation and administration of examinations
- Grade examinations, term papers and laboratory reports.
- Research assistants
- Conduct literature reviews, surveys, laboratory experiments and other research for use in scholarly publications
- Compile research results and assist professors in the analysis of results and the preparation of journal articles or papers.
- Post-secondary teaching and research assistants specialize in a subject matter based on their field of study.
Employment requirements
- Enrolment in, or completion of, a university or college program is required.
Is NOC 41201 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 41201 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Researchers 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 41201 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 | $15.53 | $27.00 | $47.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $22.67 | $37.50 |
| Prince Edward Island | $16.50 | $27.69 | $46.15 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $22.50 | $36.59 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $22.00 | $42.86 |
| Quebec | $16.10 | $27.00 | $42.00 |
| Ontario | $17.60 | $28.72 | $47.64 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $21.75 | $36.43 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $23.68 | $48.46 |
| Alberta | $18.41 | $27.00 | $44.41 |
| British Columbia | $17.85 | $25.64 | $40.87 |
| Yukon | $18.90 | $31.73 | $46.51 |
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 41201 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 41201 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 college laboratory assistant?
NOC 41201, Post-secondary teaching and research assistants, a TEER 1 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 41201?
TEER 1. Usually a university degree. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 41201 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 41201 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
Yes. IRCC’s 2026 list puts it in the researchers with Canadian work experience category. 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 41201 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $27.00 an hour, with most wages between $15.53 and $47.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 41201 in NOC 2021 Version 1.0. This page shows the same text, from the open data Statistics Canada publishes.
Your duties fit. Now show employers.
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.