NOC 2021 · 21102 · TEER 1
NOC 21102: Geoscientists and oceanographers
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Geoscientists include geologists, geochemists and geophysicists who conduct programs of exploration and research to extend knowledge of the structure, composition and processes of the earth, to locate, identify and extract hydrocarbon, mineral and groundwater resources and to assess and mitigate the effects of development and waste disposal projects on the environment. Oceanographers conduct programs of exploration and research on ocean processes and phenomena, biological, chemical and physical characteristics of oceans, interactions with atmospheric and geological environments and impacts of human activity on oceans and marine ecosystems. Geoscientists are employed by petroleum and mining companies, consulting geology, geophysics and engineering firms and by governments and educational institutions, or they may be self-employed. Oceanographers are employed by governments, educational institutions and private companies engaged in exploration of seafloor deposits and seafarming areas, or they may be self-employed.
TEER
TEER 1
Usually needs a university degree
Median wage (Canada)
$50.00 / hour
Job Bank, 2023-2024
High-wage tier (from 3 Nov 2026)
Tier 2
+40 CRS for Canadian work, or 70 for a job offer
Express Entry categories
None
General and program draws only
Express Entry
How NOC 21102 counts for Express Entry
- Federal Skilled Worker: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of continuous skilled (TEER 0–3) work in the last 10 years and 67 points on the FSW grid.
- Canadian Experience Class: eligible occupationNeeds 1 year of skilled (TEER 0–3) work in Canada in the last 3 years.
- Federal Skilled Trades: not eligibleNeeds 2 years of work in an eligible trade group in the last 5 years, plus a job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.
High-wage CRS points
NOC 21102 is in tier 2 of IRCC's high-wage list, in effect from 3 November 2026.
| 12+ months of Canadian work | +40 points on top of work-length points |
|---|---|
| Qualifying job offer (no LMIA) | 70 points |
You get whichever option scores higher, not both.
See all 186 high-wage occupationsCategory-based draws
NOC 21102 is not on any of IRCC's 2026 occupation categories. You can still be invited through general, program-specific or French-language draws.
IRCC category listsDuties
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Geoscientists
- Conduct theoretical and applied research to extend knowledge of surface and subsurface features of the earth, its history and the operation of physical, chemical and biological systems that control its evolution
- Plan, direct and participate in geological, geochemical and geophysical field studies, drilling and geological testing programs
- Plan and conduct seismic, geodetic, electromagnetic, magnetic, gravimetric, radiometric, radar and other remote sensing programs
- Plan, direct and participate in analyses of geological, geochemical and geophysical survey data, well logs and other test results, maps, notes and cross sections
- Develop models and applied software for the analysis and interpretation of data
- Plan and conduct analytical studies of core samples, drill cuttings and rock samples to identify chemical, mineral, hydrocarbon and biological composition and to assess depositional environments and geological age
- Assess the size, orientation and composition of mineral ore bodies and hydrocarbon deposits
- Identify deposits of construction materials and determine their characteristics and suitability for use as concrete aggregates, road fill or for other applications
- Conduct geological and geophysical studies for regional development and advise in areas such as site selection, waste management and restoration of contaminated sites
- Recommend the acquisition of lands, exploration and mapping programs and mine development
- Identify and advise on anticipated natural risks such as slope erosion, landslides, soil instability, subsidence, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
- May supervise and coordinate well drilling, completion and work-overs and mining activities.
- Geologists may specialize in fields such as coal geology, environmental geology, geochronology, hydrogeology, mineral deposits or mining, petroleum geology, stratigraphy, tectonics, volcanology or in other fields.
- Geochemists may specialize in analytical geochemistry, hydrogeochemistry, mineral or petroleum geochemistry or in other fields.
- Geophysicists may specialize in areas, such as petroleum geology, earth physics, geodesy, geoelectromagnetism, seismology or in other fields.
- Oceanographers
- Conduct theoretical and applied oceanographic research programs and expeditions to extend knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological properties and functioning of oceans
- Plan, direct and participate in sampling and analysis of seawater, plankton, fish, sediments and rocks
- Study physical properties of oceans to develop models, charts and computer simulations of ocean conditions, such as tides, waves, currents and sediment transport
- Explore ocean floor and submarine geological structures, conduct seismic surveys and study formation of ocean basins and other structures to map ocean floor, coastal erosion, sediment accumulation and areas for offshore oil and gas exploration
- Plan and conduct investigations on ocean chemical properties and processes, ocean floor and marine atmosphere and undersea volcanoes to study impacts of environmental changes
- Study marine life and interaction with physical and chemical environments to assess impacts of pollutants on marine ecology and to develop ecologically-based methods of seafarming.
- Oceanographers may specialize in biological, chemical, geological or physical oceanography, or in other fields related to the study of oceans.
For Express Entry, your experience must match the lead statement and most of these duties, not only the job title.
Job titles
Example job titles
- development geologist
- environmental geologist
- exploration geologist
- geochemist
- geologist
- geophysicist
- glaciologist
- groundwater geologist
- hydrogeologist
- hydrologist
- mine geologist
- mineralogist
- oceanographer
- paleontologist
- petroleum geologist
- petrologist
- sedimentologist
- seismologist
- stratigrapher
All 54 job titles in NOC 21102
- biological oceanographer
- biostratigrapher
- chemical oceanographer
- coal geologist
- consulting geologist
- consulting geophysicist
- development geologist
- environmental geologist
- exploration geologist
- exploration geophysicist
- fisheries oceanographer
- geochemist
- geodesist
- geological oceanographer
- geologist
- geomorphologist
- geophysicist
- glaciologist
- groundwater geologist
- hydrogeologist
- hydrographic surveyor - geology
- hydrologist
- ice specialist - oceanography
- marine geologist
- marine geophysicist
- micropaleontologist
- mine geologist
- mineralogist
- mining geologist
- oceanographer
- oil geologist
- paleobotanist
- paleoecologist
- paleontologist
- palynologist
- petrographer
- petroleum geologist
- petrologist
- petrophysicist
- photogeologist
- physical oceanographer
- placer geologist
- prospecting geologist
- quaternarist
- quaternary scientist
- quaternary specialist
- remote sensing geologist
- sedimentary geologist
- sedimentologist
- seismologist
- stratigrapher
- structural geologist
- volcanologist
- wellsite coordinator - geology
Requirements
Employment requirements
- Geoscientists require a university degree in geology, geochemistry, geophysics or a related discipline.
- A master's or doctoral degree in geophysics, physics, mathematics or engineering may be required for employment as a geophysicist.
- Registration with a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers, geologists, geophysicists or geoscientists is usually required for employment and is mandatory to practice in all provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island and the Yukon.
- Geologists and geophysicists are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program and after several years of supervised work experience and, in some provinces, after passing a professional practice examination.
- Oceanographers require a university degree in science, mathematics, statistics or engineering and usually require a graduate degree in oceanography.
Additional information
- Mobility between specializations in this group is possible with experience.
- Progression to supervisory or higher level positions is possible with experience in this unit group.
- Advancement to management positions in mining, petroleum and other industries is possible with experience.
Wages
Wages for NOC 21102 in Canada
Low, median and high wages per hour in Canadian dollars, from ESDC Job Bank's 2025 wage data.
| Region | Low | Median | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $30.77 | $50.00 | $100.00 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $27.47 | $50.00 | $96.15 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Nova Scotia | $30.67 | $48.72 | $76.92 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| New Brunswick | $30.67 | $48.72 | $76.92 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Quebec | $31.25 | $48.08 | $66.67 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Ontario | $33.65 | $57.69 | $79.49 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Manitoba | $23.17 | $44.23 | $51.92 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Saskatchewan | $27.50 | $52.20 | $77.88 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Alberta | $28.85 | $44.43 | $117.95 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| British Columbia | $30.77 | $51.28 | $87.18 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
Provinces with too little data are not shown. Wages vary by city and employer; see Job Bank for regional figures.
Job outlook
Job outlook by province, 2025–2027
Job Bank rates the 3-year outlook as good or very good in Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Saskatchewan.
GoodNewfoundland and Labrador
The employment outlook will be Good for geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102) in Newfoundland and Labrador for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about geoscientists and oceanographers in Newfoundland and Labrador:
Approximately 500 people work in this occupation.
Geoscientists and oceanographers mainly work in the following sectors:
Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 27%
Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 21%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 16%
Support activities for mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 213): 15%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 13%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 95% compared to 83% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
66% of geoscientists and oceanographers work all year, while 34% work only part of the year, compared to 56% and 43% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 40 weeks for all occupations.
11% of geoscientists and oceanographers are self-employed compared to an average of 8% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 74% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 26% compared to 49% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: 55% compared to 14% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 42% compared to 7% for all occupations
GoodQuebec
The employment outlook will be Good for geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about geoscientists and oceanographers in Quebec:
Approximately 1,700 people work in this occupation.
Geoscientists and oceanographers mainly work in the following sectors:
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 38%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 27%
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 13%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 6%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 5%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 94% compared to 82% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 6% compared to 18% for all occupations
65% of geoscientists and oceanographers work all year, while 35% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
10% of geoscientists and oceanographers are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 72% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 28% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 37% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 57% compared to 11% for all occupations
GoodSaskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Good for geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102) in Saskatchewan for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about geoscientists and oceanographers in Saskatchewan:
Approximately 500 people work in this occupation.
Geoscientists and oceanographers mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 39%
Support activities for mining, oil and gas (NAICS 213): 19%
Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 18%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 6%
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 5%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 94% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 6% compared to 19% for all occupations
61% of geoscientists and oceanographers work all year, while 39% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 39 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
28% of geoscientists and oceanographers are self-employed compared to an average of 16% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 74% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 26% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: 53% compared to 18% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 45% compared to 7% for all occupations
ModerateNova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Moderate for geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about geoscientists and oceanographers in Nova Scotia:
Approximately 350 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Geoscientists and oceanographers mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 36%
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 20%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 19%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 10%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 9%
64% of geoscientists and oceanographers work all year, while 36% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
19% of geoscientists and oceanographers are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 77% compared to 51% for all occupations
Women: 23% compared to 49% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: 55% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 45% compared to 10% for all occupations
ModerateOntario
The employment outlook will be Moderate for geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about geoscientists and oceanographers in Ontario:
Approximately 2,900 people work in this occupation.
Geoscientists and oceanographers mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 40%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 28%
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 11%
Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 5%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 90% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 10% compared to 19% for all occupations
72% of geoscientists and oceanographers work all year, while 28% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
19% of geoscientists and oceanographers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 70% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 30% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 50% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 49% compared to 13% for all occupations
ModerateManitoba
The employment outlook will be Moderate for geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102) in Manitoba for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment is expected to remain relatively stable.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about geoscientists and oceanographers in Manitoba:
Approximately 200 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Geoscientists and oceanographers mainly work in the following sectors:
Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 44%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 28%
Support activities for mining, oil and gas (NAICS 213): 7%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 7%
66% of geoscientists and oceanographers work all year, while 34% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 44 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
Less than 5% of geoscientists and oceanographers are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 64% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 36% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: 73% compared to 20% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 25% compared to 8% for all occupations
ModerateAlberta
The employment outlook will be Moderate for geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment decline will lead to the loss of some positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about geoscientists and oceanographers in Alberta:
Approximately 2,850 people work in this occupation.
Geoscientists and oceanographers mainly work in the following sectors:
Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 44%
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 25%
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 10%
Support activities for mining, oil and gas (NAICS 213): 6%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 88% compared to 80% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 12% compared to 20% for all occupations
64% of geoscientists and oceanographers work all year, while 36% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
22% of geoscientists and oceanographers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 75% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 25% compared to 47% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 19% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 56% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 42% compared to 9% for all occupations
ModerateBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Moderate for geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Here are some key facts about geoscientists and oceanographers in British Columbia:
Approximately 2,400 people work in this occupation.
Geoscientists and oceanographers mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 36%
Support activities for mining, oil and gas (NAICS 213): 18%
Mining and quarrying (NAICS 212): 16%
Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 12%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 89% compared to 78% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 11% compared to 22% for all occupations
62% of geoscientists and oceanographers work all year, while 38% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 42 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
28% of geoscientists and oceanographers are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 74% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 26% compared to 48% for all occupations
The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
no high school diploma: n/a
high school diploma or equivalent: n/a
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: less than 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 46% compared to 22% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 53% compared to 12% for all occupations
UndeterminedPrince Edward Island
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNew Brunswick
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNorthwest Territories
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNunavut
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
Source: ESDC Job Bank, 3-year employment outlooks 2025–2027 (released December 2025).
Provinces
Provincial Nominee Programs
A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. Most provinces run occupation-targeted draws or in-demand lists, and some accept TEER 4 and 5 occupations that Express Entry does not.
Provincial lists change often, sometimes between draws. We check whether NOC 21102 is being targeted by any province as part of a consultation.
Similar occupations
Related NOC codes
Classified elsewhere
If your duties fit one of these better, use that code instead.
Same occupation group
Physical science professionals
Questions
NOC 21102: common questions
What is the NOC code for geoscientists and oceanographers?
What TEER category is NOC 21102?
Is NOC 21102 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21102 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21102 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 21102 in Canada?
Classification
Where it sits in NOC 2021
- 2Natural and applied sciences and related occupationsBroad Category
- 21Professional occupations in natural and applied sciencesMajor Group
- 211Professional occupations in natural sciencesSub-major Group
- 2110Physical science professionalsMinor Group
- 21102Geoscientists and oceanographers
Enquiry
Is NOC 21102 your occupation? Ask us about your options.
Tell us your duties, experience and language scores. We will confirm your NOC code and the Canadian routes that fit.
Sources: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0, Job Bank wages (2025), Job Bank outlooks 2025–2027 and IRCC. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Checked 21 October 2026.
NOC 2026 is due from Statistics Canada in December 2026. IRCC still uses NOC 2021 codes, and this page will show any change once IRCC switches.
This page is general information, not immigration advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada, IRCC or ESDC.
Plan your move to Canada
A first consultation covers eligibility, realistic timelines, total cost and the tax consequences of the move. You leave with a written plan, not a brochure.