41100 – Judges
This occupation is on IRCC's Express Entry high-wage list (median wage at least 2 times the average median wage). From November 3, 2026, 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience in it can add 70 CRS points, or a qualifying job offer in it can earn 100 points. Only the higher of the two counts, not both.
Lead statement
Judges adjudicate civil and criminal cases and administer justice in courts of law.
Main duties
- Preside over courts of law, interpret and enforce rules of procedure and make rulings regarding the admissibility of evidence
- Instruct the jury on laws that are applicable to the case
- Weigh and consider evidence in non-jury trials and decide legal guilt or innocence or degree of liability of the accused or defendant
- Pass sentence on persons convicted in criminal cases and determine damages or other appropriate remedy in civil cases
- Grant divorces and divide assets between spouses
- Determine custody of children between contesting parents and other guardians
- Enforce court orders for access or support
- Supervise other judges and court officers.
Employment requirements
- Extensive experience as a lawyer or as a professor of law with continuous membership in the bar association is usually required.
- Membership in good standing with a provincial or territorial law society or bar association is required.
- Judges are appointed by federal or provincial cabinets.
- Those appointed to more senior positions in a court, such as chief justice, usually have experience as judges in that court.
Example job titles
administrative judge · appellate court judge · associate chief justice · chief justice · county court judge · Court of Queen's Bench justice · district and surrogate court judge · district court judge · family court judge · Federal Court of Appeal justice · federal court justice - trial division · federal trial court justice · judge - law · justice · youth court judge · magistrate court judge · probate court judge · provincial court of appeal justice · small claims court judge · superior court justice · Supreme Court justice · Supreme Court of Canada justice · Tax Court judge · provincial court judge · provincial supreme court justice · county judge · deputy justice · federal court justice · juvenile court judge · trial court judge · puisne judge
Wages (per year)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $310,000 | $387,006 | $414,900 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $311,400 | $426,900 | $426,900 |
| Nova Scotia | $331,920 | $414,900 | $414,900 |
| New Brunswick | $331,920 | $414,900 | $414,900 |
| Quebec | $264,030 | $310,000 | $414,900 |
| Ontario | $387,006 | $414,900 | $416,900 |
| Manitoba | $354,017 | $354,017 | $455,000 |
| Saskatchewan | $376,865 | $395,708 | $414,900 |
| Alberta | $348,102 | $348,102 | $414,900 |
| British Columbia | $369,360 | $369,360 | $414,900 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.