NOC 21301: Mechanical engineers
What mechanical engineers do
Mechanical engineers research, design and develop machinery and systems for heating, ventilating and air conditioning, power generation, transportation, processing and manufacturing. They also perform duties related to the evaluation, installation, operation and maintenance of mechanical systems. They are employed by consulting firms, by power-generating utilities and in a wide range of manufacturing, processing and transportation industries, or they may be self-employed.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Conduct research into the feasibility, design, operation and performance of mechanisms, components and systems
- Plan and manage projects, and prepare material, cost and timing estimates, reports and design specifications for machinery and systems
- Design power plants, machines, components, tools, fixtures and equipment
- Analyze dynamics and vibrations of mechanical systems and structures
- Supervise and inspect the installation, modification and commissioning of mechanical systems at construction sites or in industrial facilities
- Develop maintenance standards, schedules and programs and provide guidance to industrial maintenance crews
- Investigate mechanical failures or unexpected maintenance problems
- Prepare contract documents and evaluate tenders for industrial construction or maintenance
- Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers and review and approve designs, calculations and cost estimates.
Job titles under NOC 21301
46 job titles are classified here, including acoustics engineer, automotive engineer, design engineer - mechanical.
- acoustical engineer
- acoustics and vibration engineer
- acoustics engineer
- automotive engineer
- building systems engineer
- building systems engineering project manager
- chief mechanical engineer
- consulting mechanical engineer
- cryogenics engineer
- design engineer - mechanical
- diesel engineer - design and research
- energy conservation engineer
- fluid mechanics engineer
- gas utilization mechanical engineer
- heating specialist engineer
- heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) engineer
- internal combustion engineer
- lubrication engineer
- maintenance engineering lead - mechanical
- marine mechanical engineer
- mechanical design engineer
- mechanical engineer
- mechanical engineering lead
- mechanical engineering project manager
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or in a related engineering 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, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
Mechanical engineers wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $30.00/hr | $45.67/hr | $72.49/hr |
Toronto ON | $31.25/hr | $46.15/hr | $72.68/hr |
Montréal QC | $30.43/hr | $44.52/hr | $66.39/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $32.31/hr | $43.27/hr | $72.12/hr |
Calgary AB | $36.06/hr | $52.88/hr | $100.00/hr |
Edmonton AB | $20.00/hr | $52.53/hr | $76.92/hr |
Ottawa ON | $33.00/hr | $48.92/hr | $73.09/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $28.88/hr | $42.71/hr | $64.28/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $30.00/hr | $44.00/hr | $66.83/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $26.92/hr | $43.27/hr | $67.00/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $31.02/hr | $46.09/hr | $71.42/hr |
London ON | $25.18/hr | $41.03/hr | $111.78/hr |
Halifax NS | $29.11/hr | $45.01/hr | $64.55/hr |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | $32.21/hr | $47.53/hr | $72.07/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $33.65/hr | $43.27/hr | $69.00/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $33.16/hr | $53.71/hr | $83.60/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $35.00/hr | $47.31/hr | $75.00/hr |
Nova Scotia | $27.90/hr | $43.86/hr | $66.03/hr |
New Brunswick | $31.25/hr | $45.67/hr | $82.05/hr |
Quebec | $30.00/hr | $44.00/hr | $66.83/hr |
Ontario | $30.45/hr | $46.42/hr | $72.49/hr |
Manitoba | $28.20/hr | $42.82/hr | $65.23/hr |
Saskatchewan | $33.65/hr | $50.00/hr | $64.90/hr |
Alberta | $33.65/hr | $52.88/hr | $96.15/hr |
British Columbia | $32.00/hr | $43.27/hr | $72.12/hr |
Using NOC 21301 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 46 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Engineering managers (NOC 20010)
- Industrial and manufacturing engineers (NOC 21321)
- Metallurgical and materials engineers (NOC 21322)
- Power engineer (NOC 92100)
- Stationary engineer (NOC 92100)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for mechanical engineers?
Mechanical engineers are NOC 2021 unit group 21301. Example job titles in this group include acoustics engineer, automotive engineer, design engineer - mechanical, energy conservation engineer.
What TEER is NOC 21301?
NOC 21301 is TEER 1 (University degree). Usually requires a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate), or experience from a related TEER 2 occupation. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do mechanical engineers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $45.67/hr, about $89,000 a year full-time, with a range of $30.00/hr to $72.49/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.