NOC 2021 · 21321 · TEER 1
NOC 21321: Industrial and manufacturing engineers
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Industrial and manufacturing engineers conduct studies, and develop and supervise programs to achieve the best use of equipment, human resources, technology, materials and procedures to enhance efficiency and productivity. They are employed in consulting firms, manufacturing and processing companies, in government, financial, health care and other institutions, or they may be self-employed.
TEER
TEER 1
Usually needs a university degree
Median wage (Canada)
$44.23 / 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 21321 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 21321 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:
- Plan and design plant layouts and facilities
- Study new machinery and facilities and recommend or select efficient combinations
- Develop flexible or integrated manufacturing systems and procedures
- Conduct studies and implement programs to determine optimum inventory levels for production and to allow optimum utilization of machinery, materials and resources
- Analyze costs of production
- Design, develop and conduct time studies and work simplification programs
- Determine human resource and skill requirements and develop training programs
- Develop performance standards, evaluation systems and wage and incentive programs
- Conduct studies of the reliability and performance of plant facilities and production or administrative systems
- Develop maintenance standards, schedules and programs
- Establish programs and conduct studies to enhance industrial health and safety or to identify and correct fire and other hazards
- Evaluate or assess industrial facilities
- Supervise technicians, technologists, analysts, administrative staff and other engineers.
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
- computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) engineer
- fire prevention engineer
- industrial engineer
- manufacturing engineer
- plant engineer
- production engineer
- quality control engineer
- safety engineer
- work measurement engineer
All 21 job titles in NOC 21321
- computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) engineer
- consulting industrial engineer
- cost engineer
- efficiency engineer
- fire prevention engineer
- industrial efficiency engineer
- industrial engineer
- industrial engineering project manager
- industrial safety engineer
- maintenance engineering lead - industrial and manufacturing
- manufacturing engineer
- manufacturing engineering lead
- methods engineer
- plant engineer
- production engineer
- quality assurance (QA) engineer
- quality control engineer
- safety engineer
- systems engineer - manufacturing
- time-study engineer
- work measurement engineer
Requirements
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in industrial engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
- A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
- Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
Additional information
- Industrial engineers develop and implement organizational and management systems, and manufacturing engineers design production processes.
- There is considerable mobility between industrial engineering specializations at the less senior levels.
- Supervisory and senior positions in this unit group require experience.
- Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.
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 21321 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 | $44.23 | $75.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $29.90 | $48.90 | $77.38 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Prince Edward Island | $27.68 | $40.23 | $61.43 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Nova Scotia | $28.85 | $43.59 | $68.27 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| New Brunswick | $27.95 | $43.03 | $64.09 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Quebec | $30.05 | $43.03 | $69.23 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Ontario | $27.88 | $45.67 | $76.92 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Manitoba | $27.50 | $42.74 | $53.85 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Saskatchewan | $30.00 | $45.41 | $70.42 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Alberta | $32.00 | $57.69 | $120.19 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| British Columbia | $22.50 | $43.27 | $55.29 | 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 Alberta.
GoodAlberta
The employment outlook will be Good for industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321) in Alberta 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.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about industrial and manufacturing engineers in Alberta:
Approximately 2,850 people work in this occupation.
Industrial and manufacturing engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 33%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 21%
Construction (NAICS 23): 5%
Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 5%
Machinery manufacturing (NAICS 333): 5%
74% of industrial and manufacturing engineers 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 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
10% of industrial and manufacturing engineers 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: less than 5% 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: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 62% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 28% compared to 9% for all occupations
ModerateNova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Moderate for industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321) 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 small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about industrial and manufacturing engineers in Nova Scotia:
Approximately 600 people work in this occupation.
Industrial and manufacturing engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Plastics and rubber products and chemicals manufacturing (NAICS 325-326): 21%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 11%
Utilities (NAICS 22): 10%
Hospitals (NAICS 622): 8%
Computer and Electrical Manufacturing (NAICS 334-335): 6%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 91% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 9% compared to 18% for all occupations
75% of industrial and manufacturing engineers work all year, while 25% 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.
7% of industrial and manufacturing engineers are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 71% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 28% 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: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: 72% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 22% compared to 10% for all occupations
ModerateManitoba
The employment outlook will be Moderate for industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321) in Manitoba for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.
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.
Demand for this occupation is driven by businesses seeking to increase efficiency, reduce waste and become more productive and profitable.
Key trends for this occupation include process improvement, such as Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma, smart factories integrating artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and sensors, and 3D printing.
Jobs are concentrated in the Winnipeg region.
Here are some key facts about industrial and manufacturing engineers in Manitoba:
Approximately 750 people work in this occupation.
Industrial and manufacturing engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 17%
Miscellaneous manufacturing (NAICS 339): 13%
Chemical manufacturing (NAICS 325): 11%
Wholesale trade (NAICS 41): 10%
Transportation equipment manufacturing (NAICS 336): 7%
80% of industrial and manufacturing engineers work all year, while 20% 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 48 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
8% of industrial and manufacturing engineers are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 82% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 18% 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: less than 5% 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: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 56% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 33% compared to 8% for all occupations
ModerateSaskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Moderate for industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321) in Saskatchewan 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 small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about industrial and manufacturing engineers in Saskatchewan:
Approximately 250 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Industrial and manufacturing engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Machinery manufacturing (NAICS 333): 23%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 17%
Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 16%
Utilities (NAICS 22): 16%
Food, beverage and tobacco product manufacturing (NAICS 311, 312): 10%
75% of industrial and manufacturing engineers work all year, while 25% 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.
Less than 5% of industrial and manufacturing engineers are self-employed compared to an average of 16% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 80% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 20% 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: n/a
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: n/a
bachelor's degree: 76% compared to 18% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 20% compared to 7% for all occupations
LimitedQuebec
The employment outlook will be Limited for industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few 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 industrial and manufacturing engineers in Quebec:
Approximately 5,500 people work in this occupation.
Industrial and manufacturing engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 16%
Transportation equipment manufacturing (NAICS 336): 15%
Computer and electronic product manufacturing (NAICS 334): 6%
76% of industrial and manufacturing engineers work all year, while 24% 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 43 weeks for all occupations.
Less than 5% of industrial and manufacturing engineers are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 75% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 25% 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: 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 10% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 54% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 28% compared to 11% for all occupations
LimitedOntario
The employment outlook will be Limited for industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment decline will lead to the loss of some 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.
What Types of Employers Are Out There?
Manufacturing companies in areas such as transportation equipment (mostly in motor vehicle and parts), machinery, and computer and electronic goods production
Professional services, mainly architectural, engineering and related services
What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?
Shift towards more advanced manufacturing processes and production systems
However, job prospects are expected to be moderated due to weak business conditions in the sector, particularly in automotive production
Opportunities exist to determine human resource needs, reduce costs and improve workflow in a broad range of areas, such as supply chain management, healthcare and finance
Skills Do I Need to Succeed?
Generally, ‘engineering’ is a regulated occupation in Ontario. Individuals must be licensed by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) to practise ‘professional’ engineering in the province
An unlicensed engineering graduate can carry out work in the occupation, however a licensed engineer must take responsibility and sign off on the work
Knowledge of lean manufacturing practices, Six Sigma methodology,, and AutoCAD design software are common requirements
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 industrial and manufacturing engineers in Ontario:
Approximately 11,800 people work in this occupation.
Industrial and manufacturing engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Motor vehicle, body, trailer and parts manufacturing (NAICS 3361-3363): 25%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 11%
Miscellaneous manufacturing (NAICS 339): 6%
Computer and electronic product manufacturing (NAICS 334): 6%
Machinery manufacturing (NAICS 333): 5%
75% of industrial and manufacturing engineers work all year, while 25% 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 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
6% of industrial and manufacturing engineers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 79% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 21% 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: less than 5% 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: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 56% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 36% compared to 13% for all occupations
LimitedBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Limited for industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321) 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.
Due to the seasonal nature of this occupation, employment opportunities tend to be more favourable during the summer months.
Some physical duties of this occupation could be performed by automation technologies.
The adoption of new technologies such as robotics (including autonomous vehicles, drones, sensors) integrated with digital innovations are expected to bolster industries including construction, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and trade.
Here are some key facts about industrial and manufacturing engineers in British Columbia:
Approximately 2,050 people work in this occupation.
Industrial and manufacturing engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Computer, electronic and electrical product manufacturing (NAICS 334-335): 21%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 17%
Computer systems design services (NAICS 5415): 7%
Machinery manufacturing (NAICS 333): 7%
79% of industrial and manufacturing engineers 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 industrial and manufacturing engineers 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: less than 5% 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: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 57% compared to 22% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 31% compared to 12% 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.
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 21321 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
Manufacturing and processing engineers
Questions
NOC 21321: common questions
What is the NOC code for industrial and manufacturing engineers?
What TEER category is NOC 21321?
Is NOC 21321 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21321 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21321 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 21321 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
- 213Professional occupations in engineeringSub-major Group
- 2132Manufacturing and processing engineersMinor Group
- 21321Industrial and manufacturing engineers
Enquiry
Is NOC 21321 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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