NOC 2021 · 21331 · TEER 1
NOC 21331: Geological engineers
Official NOC 2021, Job Bank and IRCC data · checked 21 October 2026
Geological engineers conduct geological and geotechnical studies to assess suitability of locations for civil engineering, mining and oil and gas projects; and plan, design, develop and supervise programs of geological data acquisition and analysis and the preparation of geological engineering reports and recommendations. They are employed in consulting engineering companies, electrical utilities, mining and petroleum companies and in government and research and educational institutions.
TEER
TEER 1
Usually needs a university degree
Median wage (Canada)
$49.81 / hour
Job Bank, 2024
High-wage tier (from 3 Nov 2026)
Tier 2
+40 CRS for Canadian work, or 70 for a job offer
Express Entry categories
STEM
Category-based draws (2026)
Express Entry
How NOC 21331 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 21331 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
- STEM
At least 12 months of full-time work experience (or equal part-time) in the past 3 years in one listed occupation, plus Express Entry eligibility and the round instructions.
IRCC category listsDuties
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Plan, develop and coordinate programs of geotechnical, geological, geophysical or geohydrological data acquisition, analysis and mapping to assist in the development of civil engineering, mining, petroleum and waste management projects or for regional development
- Analyze and prepare recommendations and reports for construction or improvements to foundations of civil engineering projects such as rock excavation, pressure grouting and hydraulic channel erosion control
- Analyze and prepare recommendations and reports on settlement of buildings, stability of slopes and fills, and probable effects of landslides and earthquakes to support construction and civil engineering projects
- Conduct theoretical and applied study of groundwater flow and contamination and develop prescriptions for site selection, treatment and construction
- Plan, develop, coordinate and conduct theoretical and experimental studies in mining exploration, mine evaluation and feasibility studies relative to the mining industry
- Conduct surveys and studies of ore deposits, ore reserve calculations and mine design
- Design, develop and implement computer applications for geophysics, geochemistry, geology, mapping and related fields
- Supervise technologists, technicians and other engineers and scientists.
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
- geological engineer
- geophysical engineer
- hydrogeological engineer - engineering
All 7 job titles in NOC 21331
- geological engineer
- geophysical engineer
- geotechnical engineer
- hydrogeological engineer - engineering
- hydrogeology engineer
- supervising engineer - petrography
- supervising engineer - rock sciences
Requirements
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in geological engineering or in a related discipline is required.
- A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
- Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
Additional information
- There is considerable mobility between engineering specializations at the less senior levels.
- Supervisory and senior positions in this unit group require experience.
- Geological engineers work closely with geologists and other scientists and engineers, and mobility is possible between some fields of specialization.
- Engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.
This occupation may be regulated in some provinces. You may need a licence or certificate from the provincial regulator before you can work in it in Canada, even if you hold permanent residence.
Wages
Wages for NOC 21331 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 | $31.27 | $49.81 | $83.24 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $41.42 | $53.89 | $74.83 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Nova Scotia | $37.89 | $60.63 | $88.52 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| New Brunswick | $36.15 | $48.81 | $71.94 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Quebec | $31.94 | $48.84 | $70.51 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Ontario | $25.45 | $45.00 | $52.88 | Labour Force Survey, 2023-2024 |
| Manitoba | $30.36 | $44.86 | $72.68 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Saskatchewan | $31.61 | $52.45 | $86.51 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| Alberta | $33.17 | $52.81 | $83.81 | Small Area Estimation, 2024 |
| British Columbia | $34.99 | $53.98 | $87.38 | Small Area Estimation, 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 Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta.
GoodQuebec
The employment outlook will be Good for geological engineers (NOC 21331) in Quebec for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
A moderate number of 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 geological engineers in Quebec:
Approximately 650 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Geological engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 64%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 12%
Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 8%
71% of geological engineers work all year, while 28% 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 47 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
6% of geological engineers are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 76% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 24% 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: n/a
bachelor's degree: 45% compared to 17% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 52% compared to 11% for all occupations
GoodSaskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Good for geological engineers (NOC 21331) in Saskatchewan for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
A moderate number of 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 geological engineers in Saskatchewan:
Approximately 150 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Geological engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): more than 95%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 92% compared to 81% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 8% compared to 19% for all occupations
85% of geological engineers work all year, while 15% 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 48 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
8% of geological engineers are self-employed compared to an average of 16% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 85% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 15% 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: 52% compared to 18% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 44% compared to 7% for all occupations
GoodAlberta
The employment outlook will be Good for geological engineers (NOC 21331) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
A moderate number of 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 geological engineers in Alberta:
Approximately 700 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Geological engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 73%
Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 14%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 95% compared to 80% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 5% compared to 20% for all occupations
72% of geological engineers work all year, while 28% 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 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
11% of geological engineers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 78% compared to 53% for all occupations
Women: 22% 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: less than 5% compared to 28% for all occupations
apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a
college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a
bachelor's degree: 54% compared to 21% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 44% compared to 9% for all occupations
ModerateOntario
The employment outlook will be Moderate for geological engineers (NOC 21331) in Ontario for the 2025-2027 period.
The following factors contributed to this outlook:
Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.
Several positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
What Types of Employers Are Out There?
Engineering services
Metal ore mining
What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?
The construction industry should see a fair level of activity including major infrastructure projects, which will support demand for geological engineering services
Over the longer term, the growing clean technology sector will boost the demand for certain raw materials
What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?
Generally, ‘engineering’ is a regulated occupation in Ontario. Individuals must be licensed by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) to practise ‘professional’ engineering in the province
An unlicensed engineering graduate can carry out work in the occupation, however a licensed engineer must take responsibility and sign off on the work
What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?
In general, Bridging Programs are available to assist internationally trained professionals in various fields enter the labour market more quickly in the province.
Here are some key facts about geological engineers in Ontario:
Approximately 900 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Geological engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 83%
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (NAICS 21): 6%
80% of geological engineers work all year, while 20% 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 48 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
7% of geological engineers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 82% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 18% 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: 5% compared to 22% for all occupations
bachelor's degree: 51% compared to 24% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 43% compared to 13% for all occupations
ModerateBritish Columbia
The employment outlook will be Moderate for geological engineers (NOC 21331) 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.
A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
Employment opportunities for engineers continue to be strong across multiple sectors (for example IT, oil and gas, manufacturing, mining, utilities, construction).
The high level of technical knowledge required for this occupation makes recruitment difficult.
Here are some key facts about geological engineers in British Columbia:
Approximately 1,100 people worked in this occupation in May 2021.
Geological engineers mainly work in the following sectors:
Architectural, engineering and design services (NAICS 5413): 85%
The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
Full-time workers: 92% compared to 78% for all occupations
Part-time workers: 8% compared to 22% for all occupations
73% of geological engineers work all year, while 27% 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 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
11% of geological engineers are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
Men: 78% compared to 52% for all occupations
Women: 22% 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 28% for all occupations
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: 54% compared to 22% for all occupations
university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 44% compared to 12% for all occupations
UndeterminedNewfoundland and Labrador
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedPrince Edward Island
An employment outlook has not been assigned to this occupation in this region due to low levels of employment.
UndeterminedNova Scotia
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.
UndeterminedManitoba
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 21331 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.
Questions
NOC 21331: common questions
What is the NOC code for geological engineers?
What TEER category is NOC 21331?
Is NOC 21331 eligible for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21331 a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?
Is NOC 21331 eligible for category-based Express Entry draws?
What is the median wage for NOC 21331 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
- 213Professional occupations in engineeringSub-major Group
- 2133Natural resources engineersMinor Group
- 21331Geological engineers
Enquiry
Is NOC 21331 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.
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