National Occupational Classification, TEER 1
NOC 41220: Secondary school teachers
Secondary school teachers prepare and teach academic, technical, vocational or specialized subjects at public and private secondary schools. Below are the main duties, all 89 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 41220?
NOC 41220 is the code for secondary school teachers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include adult education teacher - secondary school, biology teacher - secondary school, commerce teacher - secondary school and English as a second language (ESL) high school teacher. 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 education category draw. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $45.67 an hour.
- NOC code
- 41220
- 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
- Education
- Median wage
- $45.67 an hour
Job titles under NOC 41220
Secondary school teachers prepare and teach academic, technical, vocational or specialized subjects at public and private secondary schools. Secondary school teachers who are heads of departments are included in this unit group.
Main job titles
- adult education teacher - secondary school
- biology teacher - secondary school
- commerce teacher - secondary school
- English as a second language (ESL) high school teacher
- English teacher - secondary school
- French as a second language teacher - secondary school
- history teacher - secondary school
- librarian-teacher - high school
- remedial teacher - secondary school
- secondary school department head
- secondary school teacher
- special education teacher - secondary school
- supply high school teacher
- trades instructor - secondary school
- vocational teacher - secondary school
All 89 job titles in the NOC index
Aboriginal school community teacher - secondary school, academic subjects high school teacher, academic subjects secondary school teacher, accounting teacher - secondary school, adult education teacher - secondary school, algebra teacher - secondary school, art teacher - secondary school, arts and crafts teacher - secondary school, biology teacher - secondary school, business and commerce teacher - secondary school, business education teacher, business teacher - secondary school, calculus teacher - secondary school, career and life management teacher, career and technology studies teacher, career education teacher, career exploration teacher, chemistry teacher - secondary school, classical languages secondary school teacher, commerce teacher - secondary school, computer technology teacher - secondary school, cooking teacher - secondary school, cooperative education teacher, cooperative learning teacher, correspondence teacher - secondary school, data processing teacher - secondary school, distance education teacher - secondary school, drama teacher - secondary school, economics teacher - secondary school, English as a second language (ESL) high school teacher, English literature high school teacher, English teacher - secondary school, ethics teacher - secondary school, fine arts teacher - secondary school, French as a second language teacher - secondary school, French teacher - secondary school, geography teacher - secondary school, geometry teacher - secondary school, German teacher - secondary school, Greek teacher - secondary school, guest teacher - secondary school, health education teacher - secondary school, high school teacher, high school teacher - outdoor activities, history teacher - secondary school, home economics teacher - secondary school, humanities teacher - high school, industrial and vocational education teacher - secondary school, industrial arts teacher - secondary school, information technology teacher - secondary school, Italian teacher - secondary school, Latin teacher - secondary school, librarian-teacher - high school, mathematics teacher - secondary school, modern languages teacher - secondary school, music teacher - secondary school, Native school community teacher - secondary school, outdoor physical education teacher - secondary school, physical and health education teacher - secondary school, physical education teacher - secondary school, physical science teacher - secondary school, physics teacher - secondary school, practical and applied arts teacher, private teacher - secondary school, reading clinician - secondary school, religious education high school teacher, remedial teacher - secondary school, school teacher - secondary school, science high school teacher, science teacher - secondary school, secondary school department head, secondary school reading clinician, secondary school teacher, secondary school vocational teacher, sewing teacher - secondary school, sheet metal instructor - secondary school, social sciences teacher - secondary school, Spanish teacher - secondary school, special education teacher - secondary school, special needs teacher - secondary school, special programs teacher - secondary school, substitute high school teacher, substitute teacher - secondary school, supply high school teacher, technical and vocational teacher - secondary school, trades instructor - secondary school, vocational high school teacher, vocational secondary school teacher, vocational teacher - secondary school.
Main duties of NOC 41220
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare subject material for presentation to students according to an approved curriculum
- Teach students using a systematic plan of lectures, discussions, audio-visual presentations, and laboratory, shop and field studies
- Assign and correct homework
- Prepare, administer and correct tests
- Evaluate progress, determine individual needs of students and discuss results with parents and school officials
- Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help
- Participate in staff meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops
- May teach and evaluate students through distance or online courses
- May advise students on course selection and on vocational and personal matters
- May supervise student teachers.
- Secondary school teachers may specialize in such areas as mathematics, English, French, special education or second language instruction. Secondary school teachers of vocational and trades subjects may specialize in areas such as hairdressing or auto mechanics.
Employment requirements
- Teachers of academic subjects require a bachelor's degree in education which is often preceded by a bachelor's degree in the arts or sciences.
- Teachers of vocational or technical subjects require a bachelor's degree in education which is usually preceded by specialized training or experience in the subject.
- Instructors of trades in Quebec require completion of an apprenticeship training program and industry or trade certification.
- Department heads usually require several years of teaching experience.
- To specialize in special education or English or French as a second language, additional training is required.
- A provincial teaching certificate is required.
- Membership in a provincial or territorial teachers' association or federation may be required.
Additional information
- Progression to vice-principal or other administrative positions in the education system is possible with experience.
- In Quebec, trades training programs are usually offered in the secondary school system.
Is NOC 41220 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 41220 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Education occupations (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 41220 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 | $28.85 | $45.67 | $59.76 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $39.26 | $51.81 | $77.50 |
| Prince Edward Island | $26.67 | $44.44 | $52.10 |
| Nova Scotia | $19.79 | $41.35 | $49.45 |
| New Brunswick | $20.00 | $41.03 | $49.27 |
| Quebec | $27.47 | $44.23 | $56.49 |
| Ontario | $29.33 | $48.08 | $61.54 |
| Manitoba | $31.15 | $45.67 | $57.69 |
| Saskatchewan | $30.00 | $44.71 | $56.07 |
| Alberta | $32.97 | $47.12 | $60.44 |
| British Columbia | $28.85 | $44.33 | $60.18 |
| Yukon | $31.00 | $54.95 | $76.92 |
| Nunavut | $32.00 | $59.77 | $71.12 |
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 41220 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 41220 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 teacher?
It depends on where and how you work. Kindergarten and elementary: 41221. High school: 41220.
What TEER is NOC 41220?
TEER 1. Usually a university degree. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 41220 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 41220 in an Express Entry category-based draw?
Yes. IRCC’s 2026 list puts it in the education 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 41220 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $45.67 an hour, with most wages between $28.85 and $59.76. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 41220 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.