National Occupational Classification, TEER 5
NOC 85101: Harvesting labourers
Harvesting labourers and related workers assist other farm workers to plant, harvest, sort and pack crops. Below are the main duties, all 60 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 85101?
NOC 85101 is the code for harvesting labourers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021. Job titles in this group include apple picker, berry picker, crop farm labourer - harvesting and fruit picker. 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
- 85101
- TEER
- 5: Short work demonstration, no formal education
- Broad category
- Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations
- Express Entry
- Not skilled
- Category draws
- None
- Median wage
- $18.00 an hour
Job titles under NOC 85101
Harvesting labourers and related workers assist other farm workers to plant, harvest, sort and pack crops. They participate in soil preparation, irrigation and crop planting, spraying and thinning. They are employed on fruit, vegetable and specialty crop farms.
Main job titles
- apple picker
- berry picker
- crop farm labourer - harvesting
- fruit picker
- fruit sorter - farm
- harvest hand
- vegetable packer - farm
All 60 job titles in the NOC index
apple picker, berry picker, crop farm labourer - harvesting, cucumber picker, farm hand - harvesting, farm labourer - harvesting, farm worker - harvesting, field and vegetable crop labourer, field-grown crop farm labourer - harvesting, fruit examiner - harvesting, fruit farm labourer, fruit farm worker, fruit harvest worker, fruit harvester, fruit harvesting labourer, fruit or vegetable picker, fruit packer - farm, fruit picker, fruit sorter - farm, fruit tree pruner, fruit tree thinner, general farm worker - harvesting, grafter - orchard, grain farm labourer, grain farm worker, harvest hand, harvest worker, harvesting labourer, irrigation worker - agriculture, irrigator - agriculture, maple syrup maker, maple tapping worker, market garden worker, mushroom farm worker, mushroom picker, oilseed crop worker, orchard worker, organic farm worker - harvesting, small fruit picker, soya bean crop worker, sugar bush worker, sugar-beet farm worker, tobacco curer, tobacco cutter - tobacco harvesting, tobacco farm worker, tobacco picker, tobacco primer, tobacco stripper - tobacco harvesting, tomato picker, vegetable farm worker, vegetable packer - farm, vegetable picker, vegetable sorter - farm, vegetable thinner, vineyard pruner, vineyard worker, worm harvester, worm packer, worm picker, worm picker-packer.
Main duties of NOC 85101
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare and irrigate soil
- Plant, fertilize, thin and harvest crops
- Pick row and orchard crops
- Sort, weigh and pack fruit and vegetables at the farm
- Load, unload and transfer crates, supplies, farm produce and products for transport
- Clean up racks, trays, and harvest bins and general clean-up of growing, producing and packing areas
- Assist with general farm maintenance and maintenance of equipment and tools
- May assist in preparing garden beds for planting
- May write daily progress reports of inventory harvested.
Employment requirements
- There are no specific education or training requirements.
Additional information
- Progression to other farm worker positions is possible with experience.
Is NOC 85101 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 85101 |
|---|---|
| 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 85101 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 | $16.00 | $18.00 | $25.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $16.00 | $17.00 | $21.00 |
| Prince Edward Island | $16.50 | $19.00 | $22.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $16.50 | $17.20 | $21.00 |
| New Brunswick | $15.75 | $18.28 | $23.00 |
| Quebec | $16.10 | $19.00 | $25.00 |
| Ontario | $17.60 | $17.71 | $22.50 |
| Manitoba | $17.00 | $22.00 | $29.78 |
| Saskatchewan | $20.00 | $26.00 | $33.00 |
| Alberta | $16.00 | $20.00 | $30.00 |
| British Columbia | $17.85 | $17.85 | $20.00 |
Source: Job Bank, Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank 2025 wages, revised November 19, 2025), data from 2023-2024 (Employment Insurance Survey Data). 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 85101 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 85101 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 farm worker?
It depends on where and how you work. Crops, harvest and greenhouses: 85101. Livestock: 85100.
What TEER is NOC 85101?
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 85101 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 85101 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 85101 pay in Canada?
The Job Bank median across Canada is $18.00 an hour, with most wages between $16.00 and $25.00. Pay varies by province: see the table above.
Where is the official description?
On the Statistics Canada and ESDC NOC site: search 85101 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.
- 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.