Graphic designers and illustrators
Occupation · NOC 2021 52120 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 52120
- TEER
- 2
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 9,372
- Median wage, Canada
- C$31.25 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1,661
OC<CANGRAPHIC<DESIGNERS<AND<ILLUSTRATORS<<<< 521206<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<2
About this occupation
Graphic designers conceptualize and produce graphic art and visual materials to effectively communicate information for publications, advertising, films, packaging, posters, signs and interactive media such as Web sites and CDs. They are employed by advertising and graphic design firms, by establishments with advertising or communications departments and by multimedia production companies, or they may be self-employed. Graphic designers who are also supervisors, project managers or consultants are included in this unit group. Illustrators conceptualize and create illustrations to represent information through images. They are almost solely self-employed.
Example job titles
- 3D animation artist
- advertising designer
- animator - animated films
- bank note designer
- cartoonist
- commercial artist
- graphic artist
- graphic designer
- graphic designer - multimedia
- illustrator
- layout designer
- medical illustrator
- multimedia illustrator
- scientific illustrator
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Graphic designers
- Consult with clients to establish the overall look, graphic elements and content of communications materials in order to meet their needs
- Determine the medium best suited to produce the desired visual effect and the most appropriate vehicle for communication
- Develop the graphic elements that meet the clients' objectives
- Prepare sketches, layouts and graphic elements of the subjects to be rendered using traditional tools, multimedia software and image processing, layout and design software
- Estimate cost of materials and time to complete graphic design
- Use existing photo and illustration banks and typography guides or hire an illustrator or photographer to produce images that meet clients' communications needs
- Establish guidelines for illustrators or photographers
- Coordinate all aspects of production for print, audio-visual or electronic materials, such as Web sites, CDs and interactive terminals
Employment requirements
- A university degree in visual arts with specialization in graphic design, commercial art, graphic communications or cartooning or completion of a college diploma program in graphic arts is required.
- Experience or training in multimedia design at a post-secondary, college or technical institution may be required.
- In addition to the arts, training in biology, engineering, architecture or a scientific field is usually required for medical, technical and scientific illustrators.
- Creative ability and artistic talent, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are required for graphic designers and illustrators.
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 | 1,765 |
| 2017 | 1,284 |
| 2018 | 716 |
| 2019 | 983 |
| 2020 | 539 |
| 2021 | 545 |
| 2022 | 1,315 |
| 2023 | 1,046 |
| 2024 | 632 |
| 2025 | 453 |
| 2026 | 94 |
- British Columbia4,593
- Quebec3,788
- Ontario815
- Alberta129
- Nova Scotia23
- Manitoba18
- Saskatchewan5
- New Brunswick1
- Studios Framestore Inc.492
- Productions Double Negative Montreal Ltee483
- Industrial Light & Magic (Vancouver) Inc.457
- Deluxe Toronto Ltd.448
- Sony Pictures Imageworks Canada Inc.416
- Double Negative Canada Productions Ltd.385
- Technicolor Canada Inc. et ses divisions321
- Technicolor Canada Inc291
- Technicolor Canada Inc255
- Image Engine Design Inc.252
- Scanline VFX Inc.237
- Digital Domain Productions 3.0 (BC), Ltd225
- Cinesite Inc.205
- ICON Creative Studio Inc.194
- Rodeo Fx152
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 | 360 | 625 |
| 2025 | 370 | 685 |
| 2024 | 580 | 810 |
| 2023 | 1,160 | 1,370 |
| 2022 | 990 | 2,700 |
| 2021 | 590 | 2,900 |
| 2020 | 500 | 2,605 |
| 2019 | 940 | 3,655 |
| 2018 | 945 | 2,715 |
| 2017 | 1,190 | 2,365 |
| 2016 | 1,740 | 1,725 |
| 2015 | 1,295 | 1,350 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 2,645 |
| 2016 | 3,465 |
| 2017 | 3,555 |
| 2018 | 3,660 |
| 2019 | 4,595 |
| 2020 | 3,105 |
| 2021 | 3,490 |
| 2022 | 3,690 |
| 2023 | 2,530 |
| 2024 | 1,390 |
| 2025 | 1,055 |
| 2026 | 985 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
New permanent residents by year
Data table
| 2015 | 460 |
| 2016 | 620 |
| 2017 | 940 |
| 2018 | 950 |
| 2019 | 965 |
| 2020 | 725 |
| 2021 | 1,615 |
| 2022 | 960 |
| 2023 | 1,105 |
| 2024 | 770 |
| 2025 | 535 |
| 2026 | 265 |
- Canadian Experience Class5,315
- Provincial Nominee Program1,695
- Federal Skilled Worker1,135
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$20.00 | C$31.25 | C$52.88 |
| Alberta | C$18.00 | C$26.30 | C$45.19 |
| British Columbia | C$24.04 | C$35.00 | C$57.69 |
| Manitoba | C$18.00 | C$25.64 | C$38.57 |
| New Brunswick | C$19.82 | C$27.77 | C$44.43 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$19.23 | C$25.00 | C$38.75 |
| Nova Scotia | C$21.15 | C$28.85 | C$45.64 |
| Ontario | C$21.00 | C$32.69 | C$52.88 |
| Quebec | C$20.00 | C$30.00 | C$51.28 |
| Saskatchewan | C$18.00 | C$23.00 | C$34.62 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 1,661
- Vacancies advertised
- 3,651
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$25.00
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