VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility
From→ToFind a corridor EN
☰

Software engineers and designers

Occupation · NOC 2021 21231 · Canada

NOC 2021 code
21231
TEER
1
Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
9,976
Median wage, Canada
C$56.49 per hour
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
2,162
NOC21231TEER 1
Year by year
Data as at 2026
OC<CANSOFTWARE<ENGINEERS<AND<DESIGNERS<<<<<<
212313<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

About this occupation

Software engineers and designers research, design, evaluate, integrate and maintain software applications, technical environments, operating systems, embedded software, information warehouses and telecommunications software. They are employed in information technology consulting firms, information technology research and development firms, and information technology units throughout the private and public sectors, or they may be self-employed.

Example job titles

  • application architect
  • computer software engineer
  • embedded software designer
  • embedded software engineer
  • software architect
  • software design engineer
  • software design verification engineer
  • software designer
  • software testing engineer
  • telecommunications software engineer

Main duties

  • This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Collect and document users' requirements and develop logical and physical specifications
  • Research, evaluate and synthesize technical information to design, develop and test computer-based systems including mobile applications
  • Develop data, process and network models to optimize architecture and to evaluate the performance and reliability of designs
  • Plan, design and coordinate the development, installation, integration and operation of computer-based systems including mobile applications
  • Assess, test, troubleshoot, document, upgrade and develop maintenance procedures for operating systems, communications environments and applications software
  • May lead and coordinate teams of information systems professionals in the development of software and integrated information systems, process control software and other embedded software control systems.

Employment requirements

  • A bachelor's degree, usually in computer science, computer systems engineering, software engineering or mathematics or Completion of a college program in computer science is usually required.
  • A master's or doctoral degree in a related 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, three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering, and passing a professional practice examination.
  • Experience as a computer programmer is usually required.
Source: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification 2021 Version 1.0. Statistics Canada Open LicenceData as at NOC 2021 v1.0

Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)

Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.

Approved positions by year

1,0672,13320162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
1,0672,133201620182020202220242026
Data table
2016278
2017758
2018638
20191,103
20201,101
20211,185
20222,133
20231,023
2024899
2025722
2026136
By province or territory
  1. Ontario4,281
  2. British Columbia3,833
  3. Quebec1,360
  4. Alberta256
  5. Manitoba107
  6. Nova Scotia80
  7. New Brunswick30
  8. Saskatchewan17
  9. Newfoundland and Labrador8
  10. Prince Edward Island4
Employers with the most positions
  1. Amazon Development Centre Canada ULC1,210
  2. Amazon Canada Fulfillment Services, ULC585
  3. Amazon Canada Fulfillment Services Inc.579
  4. Amazon Canada Fulfillment Services, ULC532
  5. Autodesk Canada Co.129
  6. Fortinet Technologies (Canada) ULC109
  7. Google Canada Corporation74
  8. SkipTheDishes Restaurant Services71
  9. ShoreWise Consulting LLC70
  10. Behavox Software (Canada) Inc.60
  11. Electronic Arts (Canada), Inc.56
  12. 10380008 Canada Inc.54
  13. Loblaws Inc.49
  14. Syntronic Research and Development Canada Inc.48
  15. Salesforce.com Canada Corporation46
By stream
  1. Global Talent Stream (TFWP)6,693
  2. High-wage stream (TFWP)2,985
  3. LMIA for permanent residence only19
  4. Low-wage stream (TFWP)1
Source: ESDC, Temporary Foreign Worker Program: employers who received positive and negative LMIAs (June 2014 – 2026 Q1). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2026 Q1

Wages

Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.

AreaLowMedianHigh
CanadaC$35.00C$56.49C$91.35
AlbertaC$36.06C$51.92C$100.00
British ColumbiaC$35.00C$62.50C$99.04
ManitobaC$20.00C$46.15C$69.23
New BrunswickC$26.44C$52.88C$81.73
Newfoundland and LabradorC$33.48C$48.88C$71.24
Nova ScotiaC$32.32C$52.50C$98.56
OntarioC$36.06C$56.73C$88.00
QuebecC$35.00C$53.60C$86.54
SaskatchewanC$33.65C$50.48C$74.71
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
2,162
Vacancies advertised
2,345
Median advertised minimum hourly wage
C$34.00
Source: ESDC, Wages by occupation and economic region (2025 release). Open Government Licence – Canada; ESDC, Job Bank job postings, January–September 2026. Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 24 Oct 2026

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more