Canada’s proposed Express Entry high-wage occupation factor could give an additional Comprehensive Ranking System boost to candidates in 37 of the 89 occupations already prioritized through category-based selection. The change has not yet been implemented, but the proposal would award extra points based on whether an occupation’s median wage is significantly above Canada’s median wage.
Proposed high-wage factor
The proposed system would create three tiers of bonus points for occupations paying at least:
- 2x Canada’s median wage;
- 1.5x Canada’s median wage;
- 1.3x Canada’s median wage.
The assessment in the source uses a median hourly wage of $30.77, based on the latest 2025 figure from Statistics Canada’s Labour Market Survey and Census. Immigration officials said this figure would be used to establish the median wage for the proposed high-wage factor.
Eligibility would be based on the Job Bank median wage of the occupation in which the candidate has work experience and/or a job offer. The candidate’s own previous, current, or future personal rate of pay would not be considered.
The government has not announced when the high-wage factor will be implemented. The broader Express Entry reform package has been given a 12–18 month implementation timeline, though officials have said the high-wage factor and other CRS changes could roll out earlier.
Category-based occupations that may benefit
There are currently 89 occupations prioritized through Express Entry category-based selection. Under the proposed high-wage factor, 37 of them are currently positioned to receive higher CRS scoring.
Occupations at least 2x the median annual wage
| Occupation | Category | Most recent CRS cut-off | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture and science managers (20011) | STEM | N/A | $62.56 |
| General practitioners and family physicians (31102) | Healthcare and social services; Physicians with Canadian work experience | 467; 169 | $111.64 |
| Nurse practitioners (31302) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $61.54 |
| Senior managers — financial, communications and other business services (00012) | Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 429 | $96.15 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (31100) | Healthcare and social services; Physicians with Canadian work experience | 467; 169 | $149.66 |
| Specialists in surgery (31101) | Healthcare and social services; Physicians with Canadian work experience | 467; 169 | $201.52 |
NOCs 31102, 31100, and 31101 fall under both Healthcare and social services and Physicians with Canadian work experience, meaning they can be drawn through either category.
Occupations at least 1.5x the median annual wage
| Occupation | Category | Most recent CRS cut-off | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors (72600) | Transport | N/A | $52.00 |
| Civil engineers (21300) | STEM | N/A | $48.56 |
| Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces (40042) | Skilled military recruits | N/A | $55.03 |
| Construction managers (70010) | Trade | 477 | $48.72 |
| Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services (82021) | Trade | 477 | $50.00 |
| Cybersecurity specialists (21220) | STEM | N/A | $49.52 |
| Dentists (31110) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $52.88 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers (21310) | STEM | N/A | $50.67 |
| Geological engineers (21331) | STEM | N/A | $49.81 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors (31300) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $46.43 |
| Pharmacists (31120) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $55.49 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals (31303) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $46.81 |
| Psychologists (31200) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $52.88 |
| University professors and lecturers (41200) | Researchers with Canadian work experience | N/A | $58.89 |
| Veterinarians (31103) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $60.00 |
Occupations at least 1.3x the median annual wage
| Occupation | Category | Most recent CRS cut-off | Median hourly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors (22313) | Transport | N/A | $40.47 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (31112) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $46.15 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists (32111) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $45.00 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists (31121) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $41.63 |
| Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (41221) | Education | 462 | $43.27 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers (21321) | STEM | N/A | $44.23 |
| Industrial electricians (72201) | Trade | 477 | $42.00 |
| Mechanical engineers (21301) | STEM | N/A | $45.67 |
| Medical sonographers (32122) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $42.00 |
| Occupational therapists (31203) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $46.00 |
| Physiotherapists (31202) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $46.15 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (31301) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $43.27 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (32103) | Healthcare and social services | 467 | $41.00 |
| Secondary school teachers (41220) | Education | 462 | $45.67 |
| Senior managers — construction, transportation, production and utilities (00015) | Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 429 | $46.04 |
| Senior managers — trade, broadcasting and other services (00014) | Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 429 | $42.38 |
The source could not assess Senior managers — health, education, social and community services and membership organizations (NOC 00013), because the required Job Bank data was unavailable.
After implementation, IRCC is expected to maintain an official complete list of eligible occupations for the high-wage factor. The list is expected to be published on the IRCC website and updated regularly, likely annually.
Express Entry category-based selection
Express Entry is Canada’s main application management system for skilled workers seeking permanent residence outside Quebec.
Category-based selection allows the federal government to invite candidates in selected occupations at lower CRS cut-off scores than general or program-specific draws.
There are currently nine occupational category-based selection groups:
- Healthcare and social services;
- Science, technology, engineering and math;
- Trade;
- Education;
- Transport;
- Physicians with Canadian work experience;
- Senior managers with Canadian work experience;
- Researchers with Canadian work experience;
- Skilled military recruits.
Unless a category states otherwise, candidates must have at least 12 months of work experience in a single eligible occupation within the past three years. The work experience may be from Canada or abroad and does not need to be continuous.
As of the source article’s publication, there had been 10 category-based Express Entry draws in 2026. Occupational category-based cut-off scores ranged from 169 to 477, compared with 507 to 518 for Canadian Experience Class draws.
What the change could mean for candidates
The proposed high-wage factor would add another layer of prioritization inside Express Entry.
Candidates already eligible for category-based selection may benefit further if their occupation’s Job Bank median wage meets one of the proposed high-wage thresholds. This could be especially relevant for candidates in healthcare, STEM, trades, education, transport, senior management, research, and military recruitment categories.
The key caveat is that the system is still proposed. Until implemented, the current Express Entry and category-based selection rules continue to apply.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
