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Biosystems Engineer, Design Engineer, Farm Equipment Engineer, Professional Engineer, Bioresource Engineer, Biological Engineer
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
| Starting | $47.14 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $55.72 |
| Top | $72.17 |
Interest in synthesizing information to develop criteria and specifications for the design, manufacture and construction of equipment, structures and facilities, and for processes and procedures
Interest in precision working to design machinery, equipment and systems, and to use technical equipment to conduct experiments and perform data analysis
Interest in supervising the installation of equipment and systems
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Agricultural engineers apply engineering principles and techniques to the efficient and effective production, development and evaluation of agricultural crops, livestock, fish, food and energy.
Agricultural engineers may specialize in areas such as the relationships among organisms and their environments, soil and water, structures and environments, power and machinery, electronic and computer applications, or electrical power and processing. Depending on their specialty, they may:
Agricultural engineers work in offices but sometimes travel to production or processing sites, research laboratories or other locations to do field tests or study equipment and processes. Their work can be very demanding and time consuming due to the seasonal and weather-dependent nature of the industries in which they work.
Agricultural engineers need the following characteristics:
They should enjoy being innovative and doing work that requires precision.
Agricultural engineering students may find a farm background helpful but it is not essential.
A bachelor's degree in agricultural or bioresource engineering is the usual educational prerequisite for working in this field, although individuals who have degrees in civil, mechanical or other branches of engineering may work in certain types of agricultural engineering positions.
Currently, no bachelor degree programs in agricultural engineering are offered in Alberta. However, a scholarship is available for Alberta students studying in this field in other provinces. For more information, contact the Office of Student Awards at the University of Alberta.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
Professional engineers design, construct, evaluate, advise, monitor and report on the performance of materials, equipment, systems, works, processes and structures.
Under Alberta’s Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act [pdf], you must be a registered member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) to practice as a Professional Engineer or engage in the practice of engineering. You do not have to register if you work under the direct supervision of a professional engineer and do not call yourself a Professional Engineer or use the word “engineer” in your job title.
Registration as a Professional Engineer in Alberta requires successful completion of:
A new Provisional Member category has been introduced. For official, detailed information about registration requirements, contact APEGA.
Engineers who are registered and in good standing with a regulatory organization elsewhere in Canada are eligible for registration in Alberta if the 2 jurisdictions require similar responsibilities and competencies.
For more information, see What if I am already certified in another province or territory in Canada? and the APEGA website.
To learn about certification for internationally educated engineers, see Professional Engineer Registration Process.
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA)
1500 Scotia One, 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4A2
Canada
Call: 780-426-3990
Toll-free in North America: 1-800-661-7020
Email: email@apega.ca
Website: www.apega.ca
Agricultural engineering graduates usually begin working as trainees. As they gain experience, they advance to positions of greater responsibility in industry, government, universities or research institutes. Agricultural engineers in industry are employed by:
They work as:
In government, agricultural engineers may work:
Teaching or conducting research at the university level generally requires a doctoral (PhD) degree.
Advancement may come through assignments to more difficult or more responsible work, doing independent agricultural research, or developing new agricultural products. For those who have an interest in supervisory, administrative or management positions, work as a chief engineer or plant manager may be an option. Many engineers seeking executive positions obtain graduate training in engineering or business administration to improve their opportunities for advancement.
Agricultural engineers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 2148: Other professional pngineers. In Alberta, 86% of people employed in this classification work in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (PDF) industry.
The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 2148: Other professional engineers, n.e.c. occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.6% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 39 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
A growing number of agricultural engineers are finding employment in developing countries where their skills are needed to adapt existing technologies to local conditions.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $32.16 | $60.75 | $47.14 | $47.11 |
| Overall | $40.50 | $71.16 | $55.72 | $54.79 |
| Top | $51.49 | $93.32 | $72.17 | $70.56 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $112,155 |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | $101,023 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $100,316 |
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) website: www.apega.ca
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development website: www.agric.gov.ab.ca
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) website: www.asabe.org
Canadian Society for Bioengineering (CSBE) website: www.bioeng.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Jan 13, 2014. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.