National Occupational Classification, TEER 5
NOC 65220: Pet groomers and animal care workers
Animal care workers feed, handle, train and groom animals and assist veterinarians, animal health technologists and technicians and animal breeders. Below are the main duties, all 31 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 65220?
NOC 65220 is the code for pet groomers and animal care workers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include animal care worker (except farm), dog groomer, dog trainer and kennel attendant. It is a TEER 5 occupation (usually a short work demonstration and no formal education), so it does not count as skilled work for Express Entry. The Job Bank median wage across Canada is $18.00 an hour.
- NOC code
- 65220
- TEER
- 5: Short work demonstration, no formal education
- Broad category
- Sales and service occupations
- Express Entry
- Not skilled
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $18.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 65220
Animal care workers feed, handle, train and groom animals and assist veterinarians, animal health technologists and technicians and animal breeders. Pet groomers clip coats, bathe and otherwise groom pets. They are employed by animal hospitals and clinics, animal shelters, breeding and boarding kennels, zoos, laboratories, retail pet shops, dog training schools, pet grooming establishments, or may be self-employed.
Main job titles
- animal care worker (except farm)
- dog groomer
- dog trainer
- kennel attendant
- laboratory animal attendant
- pet groomer
- pound attendant
- veterinary attendant
- zoo attendant
All 31 job titles in the NOC index
animal attendant, animal attendants supervisor, animal care worker (except farm), animal groomer (except horses), animal health care assistant, animal trainer (except horses or marine mammals), aquarist, certified dog master, dog groomer, dog handler, dog master, dog master trainer, dog trainer, groom - horse race track, horse hot-walker, kennel attendant, kennel keeper, kennelman/woman, laboratory animal attendant, laboratory animal care worker, pet groomer, pet master groomer, pet shop attendant, pet-sitter, pound animal attendant, pound attendant, receiving barn custodian, veterinary attendant, veterinary helper, zoo animal attendant, zoo attendant.
Main duties of NOC 65220
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare food and feed animals, fish or birds at scheduled intervals
- Clean and disinfect cages, pens and surrounding areas
- Shampoo, clip and groom animals
- Assist veterinarians and animal health technologists and technicians to inoculate and treat animals
- Assist animal breeders to handle and nurture animals
- Assist scientists and researchers in conducting laboratory tests with animals
- Monitor and document animal behaviour
- Train dogs to obey commands and perform specific duties in response to signals.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Depending on the type of work performed, training courses in animal handling, grooming or dog training are usually required. Animal health or veterinary assistant college courses may be required for animal care workers.
Additional information
- Progression to animal health technology occupations is possible with additional training.
Is NOC 65220 eligible for Express Entry?
Not for the main Express Entry programs, which need TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 work. TEER 5 jobs can still lead to permanent residence through some provincial and other programs, so check each program's own list.
| Program or draw | NOC 65220 |
|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | Does not count (TEER 5) |
| Canadian Experience Class | Does not count (TEER 5) |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | Not a listed trade |
| Occupation category draws (2026) | Not on any occupation 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 65220 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 | $15.00 | $18.00 | $25.50 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $16.10 | $26.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | $16.50 | $16.50 | $17.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $16.50 | $25.00 |
| New Brunswick | $15.65 | $16.25 | $24.00 |
| Quebec | $16.10 | $18.57 | $25.00 |
| Ontario | $17.60 | $19.00 | $26.00 |
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.00 | $25.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $15.35 | $15.35 | $20.00 |
| Alberta | $15.00 | $17.00 | $32.50 |
| British Columbia | $17.85 | $19.50 | $25.00 |
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 65220 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 65220 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 animal care worker (except farm)?
NOC 65220, Pet groomers and animal care workers, a TEER 5 occupation in NOC 2021.
What TEER is NOC 65220?
TEER 5. Usually a short work demonstration and no formal education. The TEER is the second digit of the code. See all TEER categories.
Is NOC 65220 eligible for Express Entry?
Not for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Trades Program, which need TEER 0 to 3 work. Some provincial nominee programs and other pathways accept TEER 5 jobs.
Is NOC 65220 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 65220 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $18.00 an hour, with most wages between $15.00 and $25.50. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 65220 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.