NOC 2021 · 21234 · TEER 1
NOC 21234: Web developers and programmers
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Web developers and programmers use a variety of programming languages to design, create and modify websites. They analyze users' needs to implement content, graphics, performance, and website capacity. They may also integrate websites with other computer applications. They are employed in computer software development firms, information technology consulting firms, information technology units throughout the public and private sectors, advertising agencies or they may be self-employed.
TEER
TEER 1
Usually needs a university degree
Median wage (Canada)
$38.46 / 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 21234 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 21234 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 21234 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, write, modify, integrate and test Web site related code and web application interfaces
- Conduct tests and analyze data to monitor quality, security, user interface experiences and to identify areas for improvement
- Develop and implement procedures for ongoing web site revision
- Monitor and maintain Web site functionality
- May participate in Web site architecture and design in collaboration with designers or clients
- May research and evaluate a variety of interactive media software products.
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
- electronic business (e-business) Web site developer
- Internet site developer
- Web developer
- Web manager
- Web programmer
- Web site developer
All 15 job titles in NOC 21234
- back-end web developer
- corporate Webmaster
- electronic business (e-business) Web site developer
- electronic commerce (e-commerce) Web site developer
- front-end web developer
- full stack web developer
- Internet site developer
- Intranet site developer
- web application developer
- Web developer
- Web integrator
- Web manager
- Web programmer
- Web site developer
- Webmaster
Requirements
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree, usually in computer science, computer programming, web development or software engineering or completion of a college program in computer science or related field is usually required.
- Experience as a computer programmer is usually required.
Wages
Wages for NOC 21234 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 | $21.48 | $38.46 | $57.16 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $25.39 | $35.65 | $46.76 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Prince Edward Island | $22.84 | $34.71 | $57.69 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Nova Scotia | $22.56 | $38.46 | $63.70 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| New Brunswick | $28.85 | $35.00 | $45.67 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Quebec | $21.48 | $38.46 | $50.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Ontario | $21.63 | $40.00 | $56.41 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Manitoba | $20.00 | $31.25 | $42.50 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Saskatchewan | $24.93 | $38.25 | $56.69 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Alberta | $25.89 | $40.23 | $58.39 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| British Columbia | $20.00 | $37.50 | $65.00 | 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.
ModeratePrince Edward Island
The employment outlook will be Moderate for web developers and programmers (NOC 21234) in Prince Edward Island 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.
The prospect for employment in this occupation is expected to be favorable, driven by the continued expansion of e-commerce, digital marketing, and mobile technologies. These professionals design, build, and maintain websites and web applications for businesses, governments, and organizations in nearly every sector. While pre-designed templates and outsourcing have streamlined some tasks, the need for skilled developers with expertise in front-end and back-end programming, cloud integration, cybersecurity, and responsive design remains favourable. Individuals pursuing this career should focus on learning modern programming languages (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python), understanding user experience (UX) principles, and staying current with emerging web technologies. Remote work and freelance opportunities are common, making this a flexible and globally connected career path.
Here are some key facts about web developers and programmers in Prince Edward Island:
Approximately 200 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Web developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 69%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 13%
Universities (NAICS 6113): 8%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 94% compared to 84% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 6% compared to 16% for all occupations
78% of web developers and programmers work all year, while 22% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
22% of web developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 78% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 22% 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: 5% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 32% compared to 25% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 43% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 11% compared to 8% for all occupations
ModerateNova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Moderate for web developers and programmers (NOC 21234) 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 moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about web developers and programmers in Nova Scotia:
Approximately 600 people work in this occupation.
Web developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 63%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 89% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 11% compared to 18% for all occupations
70% of web developers and programmers work all year, while 30% 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 44 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
19% of web developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 75% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 25% compared to 49% 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: 18% 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: 26% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 36% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 17% compared to 10% for all occupations
ModerateNew Brunswick
The employment outlook will be Moderate for web developers and programmers (NOC 21234) 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.
Web developers and programmers are employed throughout the private and public sectors and are often self-employed.
The increasing presence of online commerce platforms that allow users to build websites themselves using pre-established templates will limit growth in demand for these professionals, going forward.
Ongoing skills development is a requirement within this occupation as the rate of change and introduction of new technologies is more rapid compared to other occupations. Experience with website security, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and certain types of social media may also be beneficial.
In addition to sound technical knowledge, professionals with strong communication, soft skills and business knowledge may fare better in the labour market.
Here are some key facts about web developers and programmers in New Brunswick:
Approximately 500 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Web developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 46%
Computer and Electrical Manufacturing (NAICS 334-335): 14%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 9%
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
73% of web developers and programmers work all year, while 27% 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 44 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
20% of web developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 10% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 72% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 28% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 18% compared to 30% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 6% compared to 12% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 30% compared to 23% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 32% compared to 16% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 13% compared to 7% for all occupations
ModerateManitoba
The employment outlook will be Moderate for web developers and programmers (NOC 21234) in Manitoba for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few 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 related to Internet and mobile technology use as a channel for marketing and consuming products and services, as well as for online financial transactions.
Key trends for this occupation include advanced software and artificial intelligence (AI) applications that may dampen the demand for this occupation as it has made it easier for users to design, write and implement their own programs.
The rate of change and new skills learning required for this occupation is more rapid compared to other occupations.
This occupation is not generally limited by geographic boundaries and remote work opportunities may be possible.
Here are some key facts about web developers and programmers in Manitoba:
Approximately 800 people work in this occupation.
Web developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 53%
Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 8%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 85% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 15% compared to 19% for all occupations
69% of web developers and programmers work all year, while 31% 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.
17% of web developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 79% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 21% 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: 20% 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: 26% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 38% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 12% compared to 8% for all occupations
ModerateBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Moderate for web developers and programmers (NOC 21234) 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 moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Banking, insurance and property services are several of the sectors that 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.
The video game development industry remains volatile, with several major studios laying off staff or going out of business.
This may increase competition for other developer roles.
Growth in ecommerce and increasing digitization of retail is creating opportunities for more web development positions.
Here are some key facts about web developers and programmers in British Columbia:
Approximately 4,850 people work in this occupation.
Web developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 65%
Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 5%
Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 5%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 84% compared to 78% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 16% compared to 22% for all occupations
66% of web developers and programmers work all year, while 34% 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 43 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
28% of web developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 78% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 22% 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: 15% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 22% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 43% compared to 22% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 15% compared to 12% for all occupations
LimitedSaskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Limited for web developers and programmers (NOC 21234) in Saskatchewan 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 web developers and programmers in Saskatchewan:
Approximately 600 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Web developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 56%
Universities (NAICS 6113): 8%
Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 5%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 84% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 16% compared to 19% for all occupations
59% of web developers and programmers work all year, while 41% 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 41 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
22% of web developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 16% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 76% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 24% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
high school diploma or equivalent: 20% compared to 33% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 15% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 16% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 42% compared to 18% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 20% compared to 7% for all occupations
Very limitedQuebec
The employment outlook will be Very limited for web developers and programmers (NOC 21234) 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 several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about web developers and programmers in Quebec:
Approximately 7,800 people work in this occupation.
Web developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 57%
Information and cultural industries (NAICS 51): 7%
Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing (NAICS 52, 53): 6%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 89% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 11% compared to 18% for all occupations
70% of web developers and programmers work all year, while 30% 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.
16% of web developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 78% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 22% 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: 9% 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: 34% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 33% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 19% compared to 11% for all occupations
Very limitedOntario
The employment outlook will be Very limited for web developers and programmers (NOC 21234) in Ontario 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 several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
What Types of Employers Are Out There?
Various industries, but half employed in computer systems design and related services
Public administration, largely federal government departments
Finance and insurance, mainly banks
What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?
The need for business operations to have a website to market products and services
will create employment
However, the pace of job growth may be affected by the availability of advanced software which is simplifying the steps in web development,
as well
as recent restructuring in the technology cluster globally
What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?
In addition to other formal education, understanding of programming languages such as Javascript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
Although experience with front-end web development is more commonly required, knowledge of full stack development (front-end and back-end tasks) may be an asset in securing employment
Experience with project management approaches such as Agile is also often required
What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?
In general, Bridging Programs are also available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in the province.
Here are some key facts about web developers and programmers in Ontario:
Approximately 11,450 people work in this occupation.
Web developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 59%
Monetary Authorities - central bank and securities, commodity contracts and other intermediation and related activities (NAICS 521, 522, 523): 5%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 89% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 11% compared to 19% for all occupations
71% of web developers and programmers work all year, while 28% 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.
21% of web developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 74% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 26% 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: 21% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 43% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 20% compared to 13% for all occupations
Very limitedAlberta
The employment outlook will be Very limited for web developers and programmers (NOC 21234) in Alberta 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 web developers and programmers in Alberta:
Approximately 2,300 people work in this occupation.
Web developers and programmers mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 64%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 85% compared to 80% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 15% compared to 20% for all occupations
68% of web developers and programmers work all year, while 32% 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 43 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
27% of web developers and programmers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 76% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 24% 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: 15% 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: 23% compared to 19% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 42% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 15% compared to 9% 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.
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 21234 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.
- 22220 Computer network and web technicians
- 10022 Advertising, marketing and public relations managers
- 21222 Information systems specialists
- 22222 Information systems testing technicians
- 21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
- 21232 Software developers and programmers
- 21233 Web designers
Same occupation group
Computer, software and Web designers and developers
Questions
NOC 21234: common questions
What is the NOC code for web developers and programmers?
What TEER category is NOC 21234?
Is NOC 21234 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21234 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21234 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 21234 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
- 2123Computer, software and Web designers and developersMinor Group
- 21234Web developers and programmers
Enquiry
Is NOC 21234 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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