NOC 21331: Geological engineers
What geological engineers do
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.
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.
Job titles under NOC 21331
7 job titles are classified here, including geological engineer, geophysical engineer, hydrogeological engineer - engineering.
- geological engineer
- geophysical engineer
- geotechnical engineer
- hydrogeological engineer - engineering
- hydrogeology engineer
- supervising engineer - petrography
- supervising engineer - rock sciences
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.
Geological 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 | $31.27/hr | $49.81/hr | $83.24/hr |
Toronto ON | $32.92/hr | $47.42/hr | $70.20/hr |
Montréal QC | $31.38/hr | $47.14/hr | $70.28/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $36.66/hr | $54.21/hr | $82.76/hr |
Edmonton AB | $32.09/hr | $50.43/hr | $83.23/hr |
Ottawa ON | $32.51/hr | $45.89/hr | $71.04/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $26.03/hr | $45.29/hr | $65.55/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $31.94/hr | $48.84/hr | $70.51/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $34.18/hr | $45.62/hr | $68.94/hr |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | $34.83/hr | $48.98/hr | $70.98/hr |
Halifax NS | $40.67/hr | $61.93/hr | $92.41/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $38.70/hr | $55.38/hr | $86.63/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Newfoundland and Labrador | $41.42/hr | $53.89/hr | $74.83/hr |
Nova Scotia | $37.89/hr | $60.63/hr | $88.52/hr |
New Brunswick | $36.15/hr | $48.81/hr | $71.94/hr |
Quebec | $31.94/hr | $48.84/hr | $70.51/hr |
Ontario | $25.45/hr | $45.00/hr | $52.88/hr |
Manitoba | $30.36/hr | $44.86/hr | $72.68/hr |
Saskatchewan | $31.61/hr | $52.45/hr | $86.51/hr |
Alberta | $33.17/hr | $52.81/hr | $83.81/hr |
British Columbia | $34.99/hr | $53.98/hr | $87.38/hr |
Using NOC 21331 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 7 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Civil engineers (NOC 21300)
- Engineering managers (NOC 20010)
- Geoscientists and oceanographers (NOC 21102)
- Land surveyors (NOC 21203)
- Mining engineers (NOC 21330)
- Petroleum engineers (NOC 21332)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for geological engineers?
Geological engineers are NOC 2021 unit group 21331. Example job titles in this group include geological engineer, geophysical engineer, hydrogeological engineer - engineering.
What TEER is NOC 21331?
NOC 21331 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 geological engineers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $49.81/hr, about $97,000 a year full-time, with a range of $31.27/hr to $83.24/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.