NOC 21322: Metallurgical and materials engineers
What metallurgical and materials engineers do
Metallurgical and materials engineers conduct studies of the properties and characteristics of metals and other non-metallic materials and plan, design and develop machinery and processes to concentrate, extract, refine and process metals, alloys and other materials such as ceramics, semiconductors and composite materials. They are employed in consulting engineering firms, mining, metal processing and manufacturing companies, and in government, research and educational institutions.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Conduct studies and design, develop and specify the processes, and machinery to concentrate, extract, refine and process metals from ores
- Conduct studies on the properties and characteristics of materials and design, develop and specify processes for moulding, shaping, forming and thermal treatment of metals, alloys and metallic systems, ceramics, semiconducting and other materials
- Conduct chemical and physical analytical studies, failure analyses and other studies and recommend material selection, design of materials, corrosion control measures, operational testing and other procedures
- Coordinate production testing and control of metal refining, smelting or foundry operations or non-metallic materials production operations
- Supervise technologists, technicians and other engineers and scientists.
Job titles under NOC 21322
15 job titles are classified here, including ceramics engineer, corrosion engineer, electrometallurgical engineer.
- ceramics engineer
- coal preparation consulting engineer
- corrosion engineer
- electrometallurgical engineer
- extractive engineer
- extractive metallurgy engineer
- foundry engineer
- hydrometallurgical engineer
- materials engineer
- metallurgical engineer
- physical metallurgical engineer
- pyrometallurgical engineer
- refining and metalworking engineer
- smelting plant engineer
- welding engineer
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in metallurgical, materials, ceramic or chemical 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.
Metallurgical and materials 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 | $33.17/hr | $48.08/hr | $66.35/hr |
Toronto ON | $37.22/hr | $53.30/hr | $75.86/hr |
Montréal QC | $35.00/hr | $50.22/hr | $73.56/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $31.91/hr | $50.75/hr | $71.83/hr |
Calgary AB | $42.10/hr | $63.78/hr | $102.44/hr |
Edmonton AB | $38.69/hr | $57.38/hr | $83.44/hr |
Ottawa ON | $39.71/hr | $57.40/hr | $83.18/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $33.98/hr | $49.71/hr | $75.28/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $37.52/hr | $53.91/hr | $83.41/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $32.69/hr | $49.85/hr | $70.51/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $31.33/hr | $50.88/hr | $78.46/hr |
Quebec | $33.98/hr | $49.71/hr | $75.28/hr |
Ontario | $35.78/hr | $53.14/hr | $79.86/hr |
Alberta | $36.69/hr | $58.86/hr | $93.93/hr |
British Columbia | $31.62/hr | $50.37/hr | $73.68/hr |
Using NOC 21322 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 15 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Chemical engineers (NOC 21320)
- Chemists (NOC 21101)
- Engineering managers (NOC 20010)
- Materials scientist (NOC 21109)
- Mining engineers (NOC 21330)
- Physical metallurgist (NOC 21109)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for metallurgical and materials engineers?
Metallurgical and materials engineers are NOC 2021 unit group 21322. Example job titles in this group include ceramics engineer, corrosion engineer, electrometallurgical engineer, foundry engineer.
What TEER is NOC 21322?
NOC 21322 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 metallurgical and materials engineers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $48.08/hr, about $94,000 a year full-time, with a range of $33.17/hr to $66.35/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.