NOC 51120: Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations

What is NOC 51120?

NOC 51120 is the code for producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include artistic director - motion picture, choreographer, cyber-choreographer and director - motion picture. 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 $41.03 an hour.

NOC code

51120

TEER

1: University degree

Broad category

Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

Express Entry

Skilled (TEER 0 to 3)

Category draws

None

Median wage

$41.03 an hour

Job titles under NOC 51120

Producers, directors, choreographers and professionals in related occupations oversee and control the technical and artistic aspects of film, television, video game, radio, dance and theatre productions. They are employed by film production companies, radio and television stations, video game companies, broadcast departments, advertising companies, sound recording studios, record production companies and dance companies. They may also be self-employed.

Main job titles

• artistic director - motion picture
• choreographer
• cyber-choreographer
• director - motion picture
• director of photography
• filmmaker
• multimedia audio producer
• producer - performing arts
• producer-director
• radio producer
• record producer
• stage director - performing arts
• technical director - broadcasting
• television producer

All 57 job titles in the NOC index

art director - graphic design, art director - motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts, artistic director - motion picture, assistant director, assistant director - motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts, audiovisual (AV) producer, broadcasting director, broadcasting producer, broadcasting sports director, casting director, choreographer, cinematographer, cyber-choreographer, director - motion picture, director - motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts, director of photography, film director, film editor, film producer, filmmaker, floor director - performing arts, motion picture director, motion picture producer, motion picture production director, movie director, movie producer, multimedia audio producer, performing arts artistic director, producer - performing arts, producer-director, production designer - motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts, production director - motion picture, program director - broadcasting, radio director, radio producer, record producer, recording director, stage director - performing arts, stage producer, technical director - broadcasting, technical director - motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts, technical producer, technical producer - motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts, television director, television director-producer, television producer, video director, video game art director, video game producer, video games project manager, video illustrator - multimedia work, video maker, video producer, visual effects (VFX) production manager, visual effects producer, visual effects project manager, visual effects technical director - motion pictures.

Also included in this group

• film editor
• video illustrator - multimedia work

Main duties of NOC 51120

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Film, radio, television and video game producers
• Plan, organize and control the various stages and scheduling involved in the production of presentations, motion pictures, television shows and radio programs; engage directors and other production personnel and supervise all technical personnel, and determine the treatment, scope and scheduling of production; maintain production archives, negotiate royalties and may plan and control the budget pertaining to a particular production.

Directors

• Interpret scripts and direct the mise-en-scène; select and direct the actors, extras and technical crew; advise the cast and crew on the interpretation and delivery of the performance; direct rehearsals, filmings, broadcasts and performances; and confer with crew and specialists throughout production and post-production to achieve desired presentation.

Choreographers

• Create dances for film, theatre and television performances that convey stories, ideas and moods, and direct rehearsals for dancers to achieve desired interpretation.

Art directors

• Plan, organize and direct the artistic aspects of motion pictures, video games, stage productions and television shows by overseeing the design of sets, costumes, furnishings and props to create portrayals of period and setting.

Film editors

• Edit motion picture film and arrange film segments into sequences to achieve continuity and desired dramatic, comedic and thematic effects.

Record producers

• Plan and coordinate the production of musical recordings, direct musicians and singers during rehearsals and recordings and manage technicians involved in duplicating, dubbing and mastering of recordings.

Directors of photography

• Coordinate and direct the photography of motion pictures, supervise camera operators and other crews and determine lighting, lenses, camera angles, backgrounds and other elements to achieve desired visual effect.

Employment requirements

• Producers, directors and film editors
• A university degree or college diploma in the performing arts, broadcasting, journalism, business administration, theatre production or film studies and experience in a technical or production occupation in motion pictures, broadcasting or theatre are usually required.
• Choreographers
• A university degree or college diploma in dance, or a period of study at a school of dance and extensive training with a dance company are usually required.
• Record producers
• A university degree or college diploma in music or the recording arts and experience in a technical or production occupation in the recording arts are usually required.
• Directors of photography
• A university degree or college diploma in film studies or cinematography and experience in camera operation or another technical occupation in video or motion picture production are usually required.
• Demonstrated creative ability is required for all occupations in this unit group.

Additional information

• Membership in a related guild or union may be required.

Is NOC 51120 eligible for Express Entry?

Yes for the programs that need skilled work: TEER 1 is in the TEER 0 to 3 range IRCC accepts.

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 51120 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.

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.

Similar NOC codes to compare

If your work leans toward one of these, read its duties too. The closest match is the one whose lead statement and main duties describe most of what you did.

Classified somewhere else

• Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts: 50011 Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
• Photographers and support occupations in arts and culture: minor group 5311 Photographers and support occupations in arts and culture (see the full list)
• Technical occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts: minor group 5211 Technical occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts (see the full list)

Same minor group (5112 Creative and performing artists)

• 51121 Conductors, composers and arrangers, TEER 1
• 51122 Musicians and singers, TEER 1

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Using NOC 51120 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 51120 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 artistic director - motion picture?

NOC 51120, Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations, a TEER 1 occupation in NOC 2021.

What TEER is NOC 51120?

TEER 1. Usually a university degree. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.

Is NOC 51120 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 51120 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 51120 pay in Canada?

The Job Bank median across Canada is $41.03 an hour, with most wages between $22.00 and $70.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.

Where is the official description?

On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 51120 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.
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