NOC 2021 · 21203 · TEER 1
NOC 21203: Land surveyors
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Land surveyors plan, direct and conduct legal surveys to establish the location of real property boundaries, contours and other natural or human-made features, and prepare and maintain cross-sectional drawings, official plans, records and documents pertaining to these surveys. They are employed by federal, provincial and municipal governments, private sector land surveying establishments, real estate development, natural resource, engineering and construction firms, or they may be self-employed.
TEER
TEER 1
Usually needs a university degree
Median wage (Canada)
$42.20 / hour
Job Bank, 2023-2024
High-wage tier (from 3 Nov 2026)
Tier 3
+20 CRS for Canadian work, or 50 for a job offer
Express Entry categories
None
General and program draws only
Express Entry
How NOC 21203 counts for Express Entry
- Federal Skilled Worker: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of continuous skilled (TEER 0–3) work in the last 10 years and 67 points on the FSW grid.
- Canadian Experience Class: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of skilled (TEER 0–3) work in Canada in the last 3 years.
- Federal Skilled Trades: not eligibleNeeds 2 years of work in an eligible trade group in the last 5 years, plus a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.
High-wage CRS points
NOC 21203 is in tier 3 of IRCC's high-wage list, in effect from 3 November 2026.
| 12+ months of Canadian work | +20 points on top of work-length points |
|---|---|
| Qualifying job offer (no LMIA) | 50 points |
You get whichever option scores higher, not both.
See all 186 high-wage occupationsCategory-based draws
NOC 21203 is not on any of IRCC's 2026 occupation categories. You can still be invited through general, program-specific or French-language draws.
IRCC category listsDuties
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Develop survey plans, methods and procedures for conducting legal surveys
- Plan, direct and supervise or conduct surveys to establish and mark legal boundaries of properties, parcels of lands, provincial and Canada Lands, Aboriginal land claims, wellsites, mining claims, utility rights-of-way, roadways and highways
- Survey and lay out subdivisions for rural and urban development
- Determine precise locations using electronic distance measuring equipment, global positioning systems (GPS), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)/drones
- Analyze, manage and display data using geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design and drafting (CAD)
- Record all measurements and other information obtained during survey activities
- Prepare or supervise the preparation and compilation of all data, plans, charts, records and documents related to surveys of real property boundaries
- Certify and assume liability for surveys made to establish real property boundaries
- Advise, provide consultation and testify as an expert witness on matters related to legal surveys
- May supervise other land surveyors, and land survey technologists and technicians.
For Express Entry, your experience must match the lead statement and most of these duties, not only the job title.
Job titles
Example job titles
- cadastral surveyor
- Canada lands surveyor
- city surveyor
- land surveyor
- property surveyor
All 15 job titles in NOC 21203
- cadastral surveyor
- Canada lands surveyor
- city surveyor
- commissioned land surveyor
- country surveyor
- land survey supervisor
- land surveying party chief
- land surveyor
- legal surveyor
- pipeline surveyor
- port surveyor
- professional land surveyor
- property surveyor
- provincial land surveyor
- railway surveyor
Also includes: land survey supervisor.
Requirements
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in geomatics engineering or survey engineering or a college diploma in survey science or geomatics technology with additional academic credits and successful completion of equivalent examinations set by a regional board of examiners for land surveyors is required.
- A one- to three-year articling period is required.
- Successful completion of professional land surveyor examinations is required.
- A federal or provincial land surveyor's licence is required.
Additional information
- Federal statutes require a separate licence from the Association of Canada Land Surveyors to survey areas such as national parks, Aboriginal lands, offshore areas and northern territories.
This occupation may be regulated in some provinces. You may need a licence or certificate from the provincial regulator before you can work in it in Canada, even if you hold permanent residence.
Wages
Wages for NOC 21203 in Canada
Low, median and high wages per hour in Canadian dollars, from ESDC Job Bank's 2025 wage data.
| Region | Low | Median | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $29.00 | $42.20 | $60.51 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $22.60 | $39.88 | $51.16 | Employment Insurance Survey Data, 2023-2024 |
| Nova Scotia | $30.00 | $36.06 | $63.94 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| New Brunswick | $25.73 | $39.92 | $67.47 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Quebec | $30.00 | $40.06 | $51.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Ontario | $26.54 | $39.36 | $62.08 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Manitoba | $26.81 | $41.23 | $65.31 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Alberta | $26.00 | $48.53 | $61.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| British Columbia | $35.00 | $40.87 | $60.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
Provinces with too little data are not shown. Wages vary by city and employer; see Job Bank for regional figures.
Job outlook
Job outlook by province, 2025–2027
Job Bank's 3-year employment outlook for this occupation, by province and territory.
ModerateNewfoundland and Labrador
The employment outlook will be Moderate for land surveyors (NOC 21203) in Newfoundland and Labrador for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment decline will lead to the loss of a few positions.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about land surveyors in Newfoundland and Labrador:
Approximately 250 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Land surveyors mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 59%
Construction (NAICS 23): 23%
Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 8%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 91% compared to 83% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 9% compared to 17% for all occupations
33% of land surveyors work all year, while 67% work only part of the year, compared to 56% and 43% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 35 weeks compared to 40 weeks for all occupations.
9% of land surveyors are self-employed compared to an average of 8% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 87% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 13% compared to 49% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: 8% compared to 27% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 8% compared to 17% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 69% compared to 23% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 10% compared to 14% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
ModerateNova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Moderate for land surveyors (NOC 21203) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about land surveyors in Nova Scotia:
Approximately 200 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Land surveyors mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 61%
Construction (NAICS 23): 31%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 90% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 10% compared to 18% for all occupations
62% of land surveyors work all year, while 38% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
32% of land surveyors are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 93% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 7% compared to 49% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: 14% compared to 27% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 51% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 22% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
ModerateOntario
The employment outlook will be Moderate for land surveyors (NOC 21203) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
What Types of Employers Are Out There?
The majority are employed in architectural, engineering and related services
Construction
What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?
Demand mostly driven by investments in public infrastructure, residential expansion, land development and revitalization
Large investments planned and being undertaken in health care and educational facilities
Significant public-sector funding for transit infrastructure projects
Population growth, which is resulting in significant levels of new residential construction
What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?
Professional land surveying includes different specializations, and the category ‘Cadastral Surveying’ (legal boundary) is associated with the land surveyor occupation
Cadastral surveying is regulated by the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS) and only licensed members can use the title “Ontario Land Surveyor” and carry out cadastral surveys in Ontario
A person who is not licensed may perform work within the practice of cadastral surveys but under the direction, and supervision of a licensed member.
Here are some key facts about land surveyors in Ontario:
Approximately 1,700 people work in this occupation.
Land surveyors mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 71%
Construction (NAICS 23): 16%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 92% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 8% compared to 19% for all occupations
66% of land surveyors work all year, while 34% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
10% of land surveyors are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 93% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 7% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 14% compared to 25% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 37% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 37% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 7% compared to 13% for all occupations
ModerateManitoba
The employment outlook will be Moderate for land surveyors (NOC 21203) in Manitoba for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about land surveyors in Manitoba:
Approximately 200 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Land surveyors mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 51%
Construction (NAICS 23): 20%
Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 9%
Utilities (NAICS 22): 8%
70% of land surveyors work all year, while 30% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 93% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 7% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: 32% compared to 31% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 43% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 9% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
ModerateSaskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Moderate for land surveyors (NOC 21203) in Saskatchewan for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
Here are some key facts about land surveyors in Saskatchewan:
Approximately 150 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Land surveyors mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 73%
Construction (NAICS 23): 19%
Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 5%
56% of land surveyors work all year, while 44% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 93% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 7% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: 20% compared to 33% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 7% compared to 15% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 40% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 30% compared to 18% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: n/a
ModerateAlberta
The employment outlook will be Moderate for land surveyors (NOC 21203) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about land surveyors in Alberta:
Approximately 1,950 people work in this occupation.
Land surveyors mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 72%
Construction (NAICS 23): 16%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 94% compared to 80% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 6% compared to 20% for all occupations
50% of land surveyors work all year, while 50% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
8% of land surveyors are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 92% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 8% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 10% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 25% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 12% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 38% compared to 19% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 20% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
ModerateBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Moderate for land surveyors (NOC 21203) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.
Here are some key facts about land surveyors in British Columbia:
Approximately 1,100 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Land surveyors mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 71%
Construction (NAICS 23): 15%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 95% compared to 78% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
74% of land surveyors work all year, while 26% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
19% of land surveyors are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 93% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 7% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 16% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 7% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 36% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 36% compared to 22% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
LimitedQuebec
The employment outlook will be Limited for land surveyors (NOC 21203) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about land surveyors in Quebec:
Approximately 2,000 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Land surveyors mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 60%
Construction (NAICS 23): 28%
56% of land surveyors work all year, while 44% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
18% of land surveyors are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 86% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 14% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 25% compared to 19% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 22% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 44% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
UndeterminedPrince Edward Island
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNew Brunswick
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNorthwest Territories
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNunavut
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
Source: ESDC Job Bank, 3-year employment outlooks 2025–2027 (released December 2025).
Provinces
Provincial Nominee Programs
A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. Most provinces run occupation-targeted draws or in-demand lists, and some accept TEER 4 and 5 occupations that Express Entry does not.
Provincial lists change often, sometimes between draws. We check whether NOC 21203 is being targeted by any province as part of a consultation.
Similar occupations
Related NOC codes
Classified elsewhere
If your duties fit one of these better, use that code instead.
Same occupation group
Architects, urban planners and land surveyors
Questions
NOC 21203: common questions
What is the NOC code for land surveyors?
What TEER category is NOC 21203?
Is NOC 21203 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21203 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21203 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 21203 in Canada?
Classification
Where it sits in NOC 2021
- 2Natural and applied sciences and related occupationsBroad Category
- 21Professional occupations in natural and applied sciencesMajor Group
- 212Professional occupations in applied sciences (except engineering)Sub-major Group
- 2120Architects, urban planners and land surveyorsMinor Group
- 21203Land surveyors
Enquiry
Is NOC 21203 your occupation? Ask us about your options.
Tell us your duties, experience and language scores. We will confirm your NOC code and the Canadian routes that fit.
Sources: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0, Job Bank wages (2025), Job Bank outlooks 2025–2027 and IRCC. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Checked 21 October 2026.
NOC 2026 is due from Statistics Canada in December 2026. IRCC still uses NOC 2021 codes, and this page will show any change once IRCC switches.
This page is general information, not immigration advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada, IRCC or ESDC.
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