NOC 65201: Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-02 · Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Quick answer
NOC 65201 (Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations) is a TEER 5 occupation — not skilled work for FSW or CEC. It is not on IRCC's high-wage list. It isn't on any current category-based draw list.
TEER
TEER 5
Not skilled for FSW/CEC
High-wage
Not listed
No extra CRS points
Category draws
None
IRCC 2026 lists
| NOC 2021 code | 65201 |
|---|---|
| Title | Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations |
| Broad category | Sales and service occupations |
| TEER | TEER 5 — usually short-term work demonstration and no formal education |
Example job titles
- bartender helper
- bus boy/girl
- cafeteria counter attendant
- cook's helper
- dishwasher
- fast-food preparer
- food counter attendant
- food preparer
Main 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
Your duties should match the lead statement and most of the main duties to use this NOC — check the full profile on the official NOC site.
Related occupations
- NOC 65200 — Food and beverage servers
- NOC 65202 — Meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale
- NOC 65210 — Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services
- NOC 65211 — Operators and attendants in amusement, recreation and sport
- NOC 65220 — Pet groomers and animal care workers
- NOC 65229 — Other support occupations in personal services
- NOC 65100 — Cashiers
- NOC 65101 — Service station attendants
- NOC 65102 — Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers
- NOC 65109 — Other sales related occupations
← NOC 65200 Food and beverage servers · NOC 65202 Meat cutters and fishmongers - retail and wholesale →
Calculate your CRS score → · All NOC codes · High-wage list
TEER 5 also matters for work permits: see the spousal open work permit (TEER rules for spouses of workers), LMIA explained and the Atlantic Immigration Program (job offers in TEER 0–4).
Sources: Statistics Canada NOC 2021 V1.0; IRCC high-wage occupations; IRCC category-based selection; IRCC who can apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is NOC 65201 eligible for Express Entry?+
NOC 65201 is a TEER 5 occupation. IRCC only counts TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 work as skilled experience for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, so this occupation alone generally won't meet those requirements. Provincial programs may differ.
Is NOC 65201 a high-wage occupation?+
No. NOC 65201 isn't on IRCC's Express Entry high-wage occupations list, so it doesn't earn the extra high-wage or job offer CRS points. Canadian work-length points can still apply for TEER 0–3 work.
Which Express Entry category draws include NOC 65201?+
None of IRCC's current category-based selection lists include NOC 65201. Candidates can still be invited in general, program-specific (such as CEC) or PNP rounds.