Pharmacists
Occupation · NOC 2021 31120 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 31120
- TEER
- 1
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 92
- Median wage, Canada
- C$55.49 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1,936
OC<CANPHARMACISTS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 311209<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8
About this occupation
Community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists compound and dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals and provide consultative services to both clients and health care providers. They are employed in retail pharmacies and health center pharmacies, or they may be self-employed. Industrial pharmacists participate in the research, development, promotion and manufacture of pharmaceutical products. They are employed in pharmaceutical companies and government departments and agencies.
Example job titles
- clinical pharmacist
- community pharmacist
- hospital pharmacist
- industrial pharmacist
- pharmacist
- retail pharmacist
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists
- Check prescriptions for proper dosage
- Compound prescribed pharmaceutical products by calculating, measuring and mixing the quantities of drugs and other ingredients required and filling appropriate containers with correct quantity
- Dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals to customers or to other health care professionals and advise them on indications, contra-indications, adverse effects, drug interactions and dosage
- Maintain medication profiles of customers including registry of poisons and narcotic and controlled drugs
- Ensure proper preparation, packaging, distribution and storage of vaccines, serums, biologicals and other drugs and pharmaceuticals
- Order and maintain stock of pharmaceutical supplies
- Advise customers on selection and use of non-prescription medication
- Renew existing prescriptions in limited circumstances
Employment requirements
- A university degree in pharmacy and a period of supervised practical training are required.
- Licensure is required in all provinces and territories for community and hospital pharmacists.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 13 |
- Sobeys Capital Inc.6
- Murphy's Pharmacies Inc.6
- Save-On-Foods Limited Partnership5
- Rexall Pharmacies (BC) ULC5
- Pharmx Rexall Drugstores Ltd.4
- Freson Market Ltd.4
- Downtown IPharmacy Inc.2
- Overwaitea Food Group Ltd Partnership2
- Primare International Ltd.2
- CIUSSS du Nord de l'Île de Montréal2
- T&T Simms Pharmaceuticals Ltd.2
- Rexall Pharmacies ULC.2
- Ari's Wellness Ltd.2
- Hôpital Général Juif1
- Jocelyn Poissant & Gaétan Couillard Pharmaciens Inc.1
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 | 5 |
| 2020 | 0 | 5 |
| 2017 | 0 | 5 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
New permanent residents by year
Data table
| 2015 | 115 |
| 2016 | 120 |
| 2017 | 210 |
| 2018 | 265 |
| 2019 | 300 |
| 2020 | 140 |
| 2021 | 105 |
| 2022 | 495 |
| 2023 | 220 |
| 2024 | 535 |
| 2025 | 570 |
| 2026 | 435 |
- Federal Skilled Worker2,925
- Provincial Nominee Program1,230
- Canadian Experience Class550
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$40.00 | C$55.49 | C$67.00 |
| Alberta | C$41.24 | C$55.00 | C$62.00 |
| British Columbia | C$40.87 | C$52.00 | C$64.00 |
| Manitoba | C$50.00 | C$56.00 | C$69.23 |
| New Brunswick | C$46.15 | C$52.00 | C$65.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$33.00 | C$51.00 | C$59.00 |
| Nova Scotia | C$41.25 | C$51.00 | C$58.97 |
| Ontario | C$37.00 | C$53.85 | C$65.00 |
| Quebec | C$41.03 | C$63.00 | C$75.00 |
| Saskatchewan | C$35.18 | C$55.33 | C$62.00 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1,936
- Vacancies advertised
- 2,225
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$52.00
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