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Beekeeper

Beekeepers manage colonies of honeybees in apiaries (bee yards). Their goal is to produce honey and hive by-products, such as pollen and beeswax, and to pollinate crops and breed bees.

Also Known As

Apiarist, Farmer

NOC Codes

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.

2006 NOC

  • 8251: Farmers and Farm Managers

2006 NOC-S

  • I011: Farmers and Farm Managers

2011 NOC

  • 0821: Managers in agriculture

2016 NOC

  • 0821: Managers in agriculture

2021 NOC

  • 80020: Managers in agriculture

2023 OaSIS

  • 80020.00: Managers in agriculture
Duties
Updated Mar 21, 2023

Beekeeping duties vary with the seasons. In general, beekeepers:

  • Prepare colonies for honey and beeswax production, pollination, and over-wintering
  • Inspect colonies for vitality, queen performance, level of food reserves, and parasites or disease
  • Manage bee colonies by feeding bees, replacing queen bees, dividing colonies, replacing honeycombs, and keeping records
  • Monitor hive health issues and apply treatments
  • Move bees to different locations to pollinate crops
  • Collect and package honey, pollen, and beeswax and market to consumers, retailers, or packers
  • Train workers in food safety and occupational health and safety, and maintain related records
  • Maintain and repair the bee yard and beekeeping equipment including special protective clothing, bee smokers, hive tools, and carpentry tools
  • Operate and maintain farm trucks, forklifts, and machines like grass mowers and chemical sprayers for controlling grass around hives
  • Operate and maintain food-processing, honey-extraction, and packaging equipment
  • Maintain warehouse and equipment
  • Use pesticides and antibiotics responsibly

In winter, beekeepers regularly check over-wintering colonies. They maintain and build hive boxes and equipment in preparation for spring and must follow food safety and biosecurity guidelines and regulations when harvesting and processing hive products.

In large-scale commercial operations, depending on years of experience, beekeepers may have varying responsibilities. For example:

  • Apiary harvesters harvest honey and clean and maintain hive equipment and the bee yard.
  • Apiary workers assist apiary technicians with all aspects of caring for bees, operating and maintaining equipment, and collecting and packaging honey.
  • Apiary technicians do all the above. In addition, they may supervise staff and interact with external farm personnel, like supply companies and owners of other apiaries.
Working Conditions
Updated Mar 21, 2023
  • Strength Required Lift up to 20 kg

Beekeepers are busiest in spring, summer, and fall. They work long hours in the summer. In winter, they may average 20 hours or less per week in an established operation. They work evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Beekeepers work outside in all kinds of weather. Although automation and mechanization have helped, the work is often repetitive and physically demanding, and requires lifting heavy items.

Beekeepers must follow safety guidelines and wear protective clothing to avoid injury to themselves or others when working with machinery, tools, and hives. Hygiene practices must be followed to prevent or control the spread of diseases from hive to hive and the contamination of hive products.

Interests & Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Farmers and Farm Managers

2006 NOC: 8251

Interest Codes

Interest Codes for This NOC Group
DIRECTIVE

Interest in supervising and hiring farm workers; and in determining amounts and kinds of crops to be grown and livestock to be raised, and in purchasing farm machinery, livestock, seed, feed and other supplies

METHODICAL

Interest in co-ordinating information to plant, cultivate and harvest crops; and in raising and breeding livestock and poultry

OBJECTIVE

Interest in driving - operating and maintaining farm machinery, equipment and buildings

Your Interest Codes

To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide

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 for this NOC group 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.

Learn About Interests

Abilities

Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.

Mental Abilities

General Learning Ability

Verbal Ability

Numerical Ability

Visual Abilities

Spatial Perception

Form Perception

Clerical Perception

Physical Abilities

Motor Coordination

Finger Dexterity

Manual Dexterity

Understanding Abilities

A Quick Guide

You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Learn About Abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 21, 2023

Beekeepers need:

  • Adaptability
  • Fitness, coordination, and manual dexterity
  • The ability to tolerate bee stings (they must not be allergic to them)
  • The ability to follow instructions and work without supervision
  • The ability to work with a team
  • The ability to market their products successfully
  • A responsible attitude
  • A willingness to learn

They should enjoy:

  • Taking a methodical approach to their work
  • Being respectful of the land on which their bees are located
  • Working with landowners, whose land they rent for placement of hives

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Managers in agriculture

2016 NOC: 0821

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 34 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 04, 2021 and Sep 30, 2024.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Equipment and Machinery Experience: Truck
Tasks: Maintain farm machinery, equipment and buildings
Equipment and Machinery Experience: Tractor
Organized
Attention to detail
Tasks: Perform general farm duties
Team player
Initiative
Work Setting: Rural area
Computer Systems: Valid driver's licence
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 21, 2023
  • Minimum Education Varies

Beekeepers must have knowledge about:

  • Bee biology and behaviour
  • Hive status, such as bee health and strength
  • Nectar sources and honey quality
  • Identification and control of bee diseases, parasites, and predators
  • Antibiotic regulations
  • Proper use of pesticides, antibiotics, and chemicals
  • Industry issues, trends, and marketing
  • Provincial legislation (the Bee Act, Bee Regulation, and Honey Grading Regulation)
  • Food safety, occupational health and safety training, and employment regulations
  • Financial and production record keeping

Some employers prefer to hire applicants who have:

  • First aid and CPR training
  • Hand tool skills
  • Experience operating and maintaining trucks, forklifts, and other equipment including food processing and packing equipment

Inexperienced beekeepers should gain experience by working with established beekeepers. Anyone who has bees must register their hives annually with the Government of Alberta.

The Government of Alberta offers the Green Certificate Program. The program provides apprenticeship-style training. It combines hands-on farm mentorship with formal education.

The program is free and available to students at all Alberta high schools. Various specialties, such as beekeeping, are offered at each level. Graduates of the Level I Green Certificate Program are certified as farm production technicians. They may earn credits toward their high school diploma for each specialty they complete. Level II (farm production supervisor) and III (agribusiness manager) Green Certificates are also available. They are meant for people interested in a career in agriculture.

To participate in the Green Certificate Program, trainees must be at least 15 years of age and in grade 10, 11, or 12. The training takes about a year. That allows trainees to experience all 4 seasons on a farm.

For more information on registration requirements and other details, students may visit the Green Certificate Program website or ask their guidance counsellor.

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 21, 2023
  • Certification Not Regulated

To use some pesticides, beekeepers must hold a pesticide applicator certificate. Completion of the Farmer Pesticide Certificate course through the Government of Alberta is recommended.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 21, 2023

Large beekeeping operations often hire beekeeping assistants (apiary harvesters and workers) over the summer months. Some employ assistants year-round. There is considerable demand for beekeeping assistants in Alberta due to a growing demand for hives to pollinate seed canola in southern Alberta.

Beekeepers may start their own businesses or buy an established apiary. Setting up a commercial beekeeping business requires a large capital investment. This is in addition to the cost of land. Anyone who has bees must register their hives annually with the Government of Alberta.

Beekeepers who have 100 or more hives are eligible to become producers with the Alberta Beekeepers Commission.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Managers in agriculture
2016 NOC: 0821

95.7% of people in this occupational group work in:

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the short-term demand forecasted for this occupation in Alberta over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Managers in agriculture
2021 NOC: 80020
Medium
Demand
25,800
Employed

Source: 2023-2025 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Managers in agriculture
2016 NOC: 0821
3.1%
Annual Growth
(Above Average)
778
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 21, 2023

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Managers in agriculture

2016 NOC: 0821
Average Wage
$33.59
Per Hour
Average Salary
$73,729.00
Per Year
Average Hours
42.9
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
12
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 0821 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

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.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.

B: Good Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.


Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $15.23 $48.08 $26.81 $25.64
Overall $19.38 $57.69 $33.59 $28.00
Top $23.08 $63.46 $37.90 $32.00

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.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Agriculture
Public Administration

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
18%
18%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
37%
37%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
4%
4%
Vacancy Rate
3%
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Agriculture and Related Technologies
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 21, 2023

Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation website: www.alberta.ca/agriculture-and-irrigation.aspx

Alberta Beekeepers Commission website: www.albertabeekeepers.ca

Alberta Beekeepers website: www.albertabeekeepers.com

Canadian Honey Council website: honeycouncil.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 21, 2023. 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.

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