NOC 2021 · 21220 · TEER 1
NOC 21220: Cybersecurity specialists
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Cybersecurity specialists develop, plan, recommend, implement, improve and monitor security measures to protect an organization's computer networks, connected devices and information to prevent unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of the information or of the systems on which the information resides. They are employed in information technology consulting firms and in information technology units throughout the public and private sectors.
TEER
TEER 1
Usually needs a university degree
Median wage (Canada)
$49.52 / hour
Job Bank, 2023-2024
High-wage tier (from 3 Nov 2026)
Tier 2
+40 CRS for Canadian work, or 70 for a job offer
Express Entry categories
STEM
Category-based draws (2026)
Express Entry
How NOC 21220 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 21220 is in tier 2 of IRCC's high-wage list, in effect from 3 November 2026.
| 12+ months of Canadian work | +40 points on top of work-length points |
|---|---|
| Qualifying job offer (no LMIA) | 70 points |
You get whichever option scores higher, not both.
See all 186 high-wage occupationsCategory-based draws
- STEM
At least 12 months of full-time work experience (or equal part-time) in the past 3 years in one listed occupation, plus Express Entry eligibility and the round instructions.
IRCC category listsDuties
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Confer with clients to identify and document requirements, assess physical and technical security risks to data, software and hardware
- Apply encryption protocols, and manage keys to ensure security of data is maintained while at rest and in transit
- Monitor access and credentials for information and systems
- Install, test and operate security software and tools such as anti-virus and automated threat detection/prevent systems to ensure security measures are in place and working as intended
- Monitor for cyber attacks, intrusions and unusual, unauthorised or illegal activity
- Plan and carry out security measures in response to cybersecurity events and incidents in accordance with an organization's incident response plan to protect information, data and systems
- Document computer security and emergency measures policies, procedures, and tests.
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
- cybersecurity analyst
- informatics security analyst
- informatics security consultant
- information technology (IT) security specialist
- systems security analyst
All 19 job titles in NOC 21220
- application security engineer
- communicator research operator - Canadian Armed Forces
- cyber operator - Canadian Armed Forces
- cybersecurity analyst
- cybersecurity consultant
- cybersecurity specialist
- informatics security analyst
- informatics security consultant
- information technology (IT) project manager - cybersecurity
- information technology (IT) security analyst
- Information technology (IT) security architect
- information technology (IT) security consultant
- information technology (IT) security specialist
- Internet security analyst
- network security analyst
- network security engineer
- systems security analyst
- systems security engineer
- systems security planner
Requirements
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in computer science, computer security, computer systems engineering, information systems or completion of a college program in information technology, network administration or other computer science related program is usually required.
- Certification or training provided by software vendors may be required by some employers.
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 21220 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 | $30.00 | $49.52 | $72.12 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $35.32 | $47.44 | $63.51 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Nova Scotia | $31.25 | $42.05 | $96.15 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| New Brunswick | $31.25 | $45.19 | $80.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Quebec | $30.67 | $49.23 | $71.43 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Ontario | $30.00 | $51.28 | $72.12 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Manitoba | $23.00 | $45.00 | $69.71 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Saskatchewan | $35.00 | $45.64 | $76.92 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Alberta | $35.40 | $50.51 | $87.09 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| British Columbia | $32.00 | $47.80 | $108.17 | 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 rates the 3-year outlook as good or very good in Nova Scotia, Quebec.
GoodNova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Good for cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about cybersecurity specialists in Nova Scotia:
Approximately 800 people work in this occupation.
Cybersecurity specialists mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 38%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 9%
Monetary Authorities - central bank and securities, commodity contracts and other intermediation and related activities (NAICS 521, 522, 523): 8%
Utilities (NAICS 22): 6%
Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 5%
84% of cybersecurity specialists work all year, while 16% 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 48 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
Less than 5% of cybersecurity specialists are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 86% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 14% 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: 12% compared to 27% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 36% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 22% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 24% compared to 10% for all occupations
GoodQuebec
The employment outlook will be Good for cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about cybersecurity specialists in Quebec:
Approximately 7,350 people work in this occupation.
Cybersecurity specialists mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 33%
Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (NAICS 52, 53): 18%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 9%
Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 9%
83% of cybersecurity specialists work all year, while 17% 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 48 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
7% of cybersecurity specialists are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 83% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 17% 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: 6% compared to 19% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 33% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 28% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 27% compared to 11% for all occupations
ModerateNew Brunswick
The employment outlook will be Moderate for cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220) in New Brunswick for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Cybersecurity specialists are employed in information technology consulting firms, information technology research and development firms, and information technology units throughout the private and public sectors.
Increasing reliance on technology (including remote work) has led to more attempted network breaches on behalf of cyber criminals, leading to work for cybersecurity specialists in this area. Cloud and artificial intelligence security are also broadening the scope of work.
It is important for cybersecurity specialists to maintain up-to-date knowledge on emerging systems, technologies and regulations. Knowledge and experience with network administration may be required.
Experience and up-to-date skills in a programming language such as Python may enhance job prospects.
Industry recognized certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate maybe be required.
Increased application of technology, including the automation of routine tasks, may change the role of cybersecurity specialists going forward.
Here are some key facts about cybersecurity specialists in New Brunswick:
Approximately 550 people work in this occupation.
Cybersecurity specialists mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 50%
Insurance Carriers and related activities (NAICS 524, 526): 9%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 9%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 6%
Utilities (NAICS 22): 5%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 91% compared to 84% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 9% compared to 16% for all occupations
77% of cybersecurity specialists work all year, while 23% 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 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 80% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 20% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: 12% compared to 30% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 36% compared to 23% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 34% compared to 16% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 8% compared to 7% for all occupations
ModerateManitoba
The employment outlook will be Moderate for cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220) 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.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Demand for this occupation is driven by increasing evolving technology and the high cost of cyber-attacks and data breaches to businesses, organizations and government.
Key trends include decentralized IT environments to contain threats, cloud security, supply chain vendor security, and zero-trust architecture that requires constant verification.
Jobs are concentrated in the Winnipeg region.
Here are some key facts about cybersecurity specialists in Manitoba:
Approximately 350 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Cybersecurity specialists mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 23%
Insurance Carriers and related activities (NAICS 524, 526): 18%
Monetary Authorities - central bank and securities, commodity contracts and other intermediation and related activities (NAICS 521, 522, 523): 8%
Universities (NAICS 6113): 8%
Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 7%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 93% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 7% compared to 19% for all occupations
79% of cybersecurity specialists work all year, while 21% 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 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
9% of cybersecurity specialists are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 89% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 11% compared to 47% 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: 9% compared to 31% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 8% compared to 12% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 42% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 23% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 17% compared to 8% for all occupations
ModerateSaskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Moderate for cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220) in Saskatchewan for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about cybersecurity specialists in Saskatchewan:
Approximately 150 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Cybersecurity specialists mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 31%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 15%
Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 8%
Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services (NAICS 5412): 8%
Other schools and instruction (NAICS 6115-6117): 8%
73% of cybersecurity specialists work all year, while 27% 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 45 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
10% of cybersecurity specialists are self-employed compared to an average of 16% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 81% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 19% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: 6% compared to 11% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 16% compared to 33% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 6% compared to 15% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 19% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 38% compared to 18% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 16% compared to 7% for all occupations
ModerateAlberta
The employment outlook will be Moderate for cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220) 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.
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 cybersecurity specialists in Alberta:
Approximately 2,750 people work in this occupation.
Cybersecurity specialists mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 37%
Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 7%
Monetary Authorities - central bank and securities, commodity contracts and other intermediation and related activities (NAICS 521, 522, 523): 7%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 6%
Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 5%
79% of cybersecurity specialists work all year, while 21% 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 47 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
9% of cybersecurity specialists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 78% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 22% 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: 11% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 32% compared to 19% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 34% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 20% compared to 9% for all occupations
ModerateBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Moderate for cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Burnaby, in the Lower Mainland, is home to the Canadian headquarters of Fortinet and its global “FortiGuard Labs” R&D campus, one of the world’s largest cybersecurity companies.
The federal commitment to defense spending will create additional demand for cybersecurity analysts, software developers, quantum computing specialists as well as AI and surveillance tech engineers.
Banking, insurance and property services are undergoing increased technological innovation and rapid digitalization that is expected to increase the need for skilled workers in data analysis, cybersecurity and digital client services.
Here are some key facts about cybersecurity specialists in British Columbia:
Approximately 2,900 people work in this occupation.
Cybersecurity specialists mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 36%
Monetary Authorities - central bank and securities, commodity contracts and other intermediation and related activities (NAICS 521, 522, 523): 8%
Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 8%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 6%
Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 6%
84% of cybersecurity specialists work all year, while 16% 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 48 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
10% of cybersecurity specialists are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 80% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 20% 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: 10% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 6% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 26% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 38% compared to 22% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 20% compared to 12% for all occupations
LimitedOntario
The employment outlook will be Limited for cybersecurity specialists (NOC 21220) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.
Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
What Types of Employers Are Out There?
Various industries, but the leading share employed in computer systems design services
Finance and insurance, mainly banks
Public administration, largely federal government departments
What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?
The extensive use of advanced digital tools across all industries
Prevalence,
growing
concern, and rising costs of cybersecurity breaches
Investments to strengthen the cybersecurity systems in business operations will also create job opportunities for these Specialists
However, the pace of job growth may be affected by recent restructuring in the technology sector
What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?
In addition to other formal education,
employers tend to seek candidates with specialized experience, notably in cybersecurity and auditing, and using programming languages such as Python
Professional certifications, particularly Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP),
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
are also common in job postings
What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?
In general, Bridging Programs are available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in the province.
Here are some key facts about cybersecurity specialists in Ontario:
Approximately 13,800 people work in this occupation.
Cybersecurity specialists mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 32%
Monetary Authorities - central bank and securities, commodity contracts and other intermediation and related activities (NAICS 521, 522, 523): 16%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 13%
Management and administrative services (NAICS 55, 56): 7%
Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 5%
81% of cybersecurity specialists work all year, while 19% 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 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
8% of cybersecurity specialists are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 80% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 20% 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: 10% 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: 25% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 38% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 24% compared to 13% for all occupations
UndeterminedNewfoundland and Labrador
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedPrince Edward Island
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 21220 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.
- 21221 Business systems specialists
- 20012 Computer and information systems managers
- 21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
- 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
- 21223 Database analysts and data administrators
- 21222 Information systems specialists
- 21232 Software developers and programmers
- 21231 Software engineers and designers
- 21233 Web designers
- 21234 Web developers and programmers
Same occupation group
Computer and information systems professionals
Questions
NOC 21220: common questions
What is the NOC code for cybersecurity specialists?
What TEER category is NOC 21220?
Is NOC 21220 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21220 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21220 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 21220 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
- 2122Computer and information systems professionalsMinor Group
- 21220Cybersecurity specialists
Enquiry
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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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