National Occupational Classification, TEER 1
NOC 41221: Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers teach basic subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic or specialized subjects such as English or French as a second language at public and private elementary schools. Below are the main duties, all 38 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 41221?
NOC 41221 is the code for elementary school and kindergarten teachers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include English as a second language elementary school teacher, French as a second language elementary school teacher, French immersion teacher - elementary school and kindergarten 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 $43.27 an hour.
- NOC code
- 41221
- 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
- $43.27 an hour
Job titles under NOC 41221
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers teach basic subjects such as reading, writing and arithmetic or specialized subjects such as English or French as a second language at public and private elementary schools.
Main job titles
- English as a second language elementary school teacher
- French as a second language elementary school teacher
- French immersion teacher - elementary school
- kindergarten teacher
- primary school teacher
- remedial teacher - elementary school
- special education teacher - elementary school
- special education teacher - primary school
- supply teacher - elementary school
- teacher-librarian - elementary school
All 38 job titles in the NOC index
Aboriginal school teacher - elementary school, art teacher - elementary school, cooking teacher - elementary school, correspondence teacher - elementary school, crafts teacher - elementary school, early childhood services teacher - elementary school, elementary school reading clinician, elementary school substitute teacher, elementary school supply teacher, elementary school teacher, English as a second language elementary school teacher, English as a second language teacher - elementary school, English teacher - elementary school, French as a second language elementary school teacher, French as a second language teacher - elementary school, French immersion teacher - elementary school, French teacher - elementary school, grade school teacher, home economics teacher - elementary school, industrial arts teacher - elementary school, junior high school teacher, kindergarten teacher, language teacher - elementary school, music teacher - elementary school, nature study teacher - elementary school, physical education teacher - elementary school, primary school teacher, reading clinician - elementary school, remedial teacher - elementary school, sewing teacher - elementary school, special education teacher - elementary school, special education teacher - primary school, special needs teacher - elementary school, substitute teacher - elementary school, supply teacher - elementary school, teacher - junior kindergarten, teacher-librarian - elementary school, visiting teacher - elementary school.
Main duties of NOC 41221
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare courses for presentation to students according to approved curriculum
- Teach students using a systematic plan of lessons, discussions, audio-visual presentations and field trips
- Lead students in activities to promote their physical, mental and social development and their school readiness
- Assign and correct homework
- Prepare, administer and correct tests
- Evaluate the progress of students and discuss results with students, parents and school officials
- Identify children's individual learning needs
- Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help
- Participate in staff meetings, educational conferences and teacher training workshops
- May supervise teachers' aides and student teachers.
- Elementary school and kindergarten teachers may specialize in such areas as special education or second language instruction.
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in education is required.
- A bachelor's degree in child development may be required.
- Additional training is required to specialize in special education or second language instruction.
- A provincial teaching certificate is required. Additional certification is required to teach English or French as a second language.
- Membership in a provincial or territorial teachers' association or federation is usually required.
Additional information
- Progression to education consultant or school principal is possible with experience.
Is NOC 41221 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 41221 |
|---|---|
| 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 41221 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 | $26.67 | $43.27 | $56.59 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $31.25 | $46.15 | $70.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | $27.14 | $40.00 | $49.34 |
| Nova Scotia | $20.77 | $40.38 | $51.79 |
| New Brunswick | $26.67 | $37.98 | $46.15 |
| Quebec | $27.00 | $44.23 | $55.30 |
| Ontario | $27.50 | $46.15 | $58.79 |
| Manitoba | $26.44 | $42.69 | $57.69 |
| Saskatchewan | $25.96 | $40.38 | $57.69 |
| Alberta | $24.62 | $38.46 | $52.75 |
| British Columbia | $28.85 | $43.27 | $57.69 |
| Yukon | $46.15 | $54.87 | $62.82 |
| Northwest Territories | $34.62 | $61.06 | $74.36 |
| Nunavut | $30.00 | $50.00 | $63.08 |
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 41221 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 41221 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.
- See a Canadian resume example for this job.
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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 41221?
TEER 1. Usually a university degree. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 41221 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 41221 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 41221 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $43.27 an hour, with most wages between $26.67 and $56.59. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 41221 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.