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Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations

Occupation · NOC 2021 65201 · Canada

NOC 2021 code
65201
TEER
5
Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
25,207
Median wage, Canada
C$16.55 per hour
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
23,271
NOC65201TEER 5
Year by year
Data as at 2026
OC<CANFOOD<COUNTER<ATTENDANTS<KITCHEN<HELPER
652012<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

About this occupation

Food counter attendants and food preparers prepare, heat and finish cooking simple food items and serve customers at food counters. Kitchen helpers, food service helpers and dishwashers clear tables, clean kitchen areas, wash dishes, and perform various other activities to assist workers who prepare or serve food and beverages. They are employed by restaurants, cafés, hotels, fast food outlets, cafeterias, hospitals and other establishments.

Example job titles

  • bartender helper
  • bus boy/girl
  • cafeteria counter attendant
  • cook's helper
  • dishwasher
  • fast-food preparer
  • food counter attendant
  • food preparer
  • food service helper
  • ice cream counter attendant
  • kitchen helper
  • salad bar attendant
  • sandwich maker

Main duties

  • This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Food counter attendants and food preparers
  • Take customers' orders
  • Clean, peel, slice and trim foodstuffs using manual and electric appliances
  • Use deep fryer, grill, oven, dispensers and other equipment to prepare fast food items such as sandwiches, hamburgers, fries, salads, ice cream dishes, milkshakes and other beverages
  • Portion, assemble, and wrap food or place it directly on plates for service to patrons, and package take-out food
  • Use equipment to prepare hot beverages such as coffee and tea specialties
  • Serve customers at counters or buffet tables
  • Stock refrigerators and salad bars and keep records of the quantities of food used
  • May receive payment for food items purchased.

Employment requirements

  • Some secondary school education is usually required.
  • On-the-job training is provided.
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

4,8709,73920162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
4,8709,739201620182020202220242026
Data table
2016192
201791
201873
2019565
2020215
202116
20224,278
20238,334
20249,739
20251,510
2026194
By province or territory
  1. Alberta8,425
  2. British Columbia5,775
  3. Quebec4,940
  4. Ontario2,736
  5. Saskatchewan1,103
  6. Manitoba1,001
  7. Nova Scotia520
  8. New Brunswick441
  9. Newfoundland and Labrador115
  10. Northwest Territories79
  11. Prince Edward Island32
  12. Yukon31
  13. Nunavut9
Employers with the most positions
  1. FMI Atlantic Inc.171
  2. North American Midway Entertainment-Canada Co.120
  3. Restaurex Corporation100
  4. PBR Enterprises Ltd.97
  5. 426889 BC LTD96
  6. Krawchuk Enterprises Inc.93
  7. Redberry Crown Restaurants LP93
  8. WESTERN RESTAURANT FRANCHISES INC O/A A & W RESTAURANT80
  9. Tim Hortons78
  10. Chirp Foods Inc77
  11. Gerbenco Holdings Ltd72
  12. JACMAR Restaurants Inc.70
  13. Équipe PCJ inc.67
  14. Maje+Cie Inc.63
  15. McT&T Foods LTD63
By stream
  1. Low-wage stream (TFWP)24,683
  2. High-wage stream (TFWP)332
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

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).

YearTFWP permitsIMP permits
20261,1101,060
20254,250965
20248,4751,275
20235,735820
2022800430
202120280
2020195175
2019350220
201870210
201780410
20166451,165
20151,1001,150

All work permits by year

4,8759,750201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
4,8759,7502015201720192021202320252026
Data table
20152,250
20161,810
2017490
2018280
2019570
2020370
2021300
20221,230
20236,555
20249,750
20255,215
20262,170
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (values rounded to the nearest 5; 1–4 suppressed). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at Jun 2026

Permanent residence

Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).

New permanent residents by year

1,3152,630201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
1,3152,6302015201720192021202320252026
Data table
20151,320
20161,280
2017930
2018760
2019645
2020265
20211,135
20221,130
20231,855
20242,630
20251,655
2026850
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (values rounded to the nearest 5; 1–4 suppressed). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at Jun 2026

Wages

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

AreaLowMedianHigh
CanadaC$15.00C$16.55C$21.50
AlbertaC$15.00C$16.00C$20.00
British ColumbiaC$17.85C$17.85C$23.00
ManitobaC$16.00C$16.00C$18.50
New BrunswickC$15.65C$15.65C$21.00
Newfoundland and LabradorC$16.00C$16.00C$22.00
Nova ScotiaC$16.50C$16.50C$18.77
OntarioC$17.60C$17.60C$21.00
QuebecC$16.10C$16.50C$21.75
SaskatchewanC$15.35C$15.35C$20.19
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
23,271
Vacancies advertised
46,717
Median advertised minimum hourly wage
C$17.60
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