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Law Enforcement Officer, Natural Resource Officer, Peace Officer
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
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Conservation officers are responsible for protecting natural and cultural resources in Alberta’s public lands. They also keep visitors safe. Conservation officers support land management by ensuring appropriate and safe public land use through:
Conservation officers specialize in conservation compliance and enforcement of laws, regulations, rules, and orders relating to recreation, fish, and wildlife. They:
Conservation officers protect both the public and animals in preventing conflict between humans and wildlife. They:
In public safety and protection, conservation officers:
To learn about other occupations that protect natural resources, visit the Fish and Wildlife Officer and Park Warden occupational profiles.
Conservation officers and park wardens work indoors and outdoors. They often work in extreme weather, remote areas, or rough terrain when responding to illegal activities, wildlife conflicts, and hunting or fishing seasons, which open regardless of weather conditions.
They work irregular hours. This can include evenings, weekends, and holidays. They may work split shifts or standby shifts. They may need to work overtime to respond to complaints or serious events.
Conservation officers regularly need to lift items up to 20 kilograms. They may sometimes need to lift items over 45 kilograms.
They may work alone for extended periods, such as when working in remote locations. They might face risks in the management of wildlife and during the enforcement of legislation.
Conservation officers use enforcement equipment including:
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.
Interest in driving - operating to conduct patrols by truck, aircraft, boat or on foot to ensure compliance with provincial and federal statutes relating to fish, wildlife and the environment; and in implementing and supervising approved techniques in preventing and overcoming damage caused by wildlife
Interest in compiling information when investigating complaints and arresting violators; and in gathering resource data by making inventories of fish, collecting water samples and assisting biologists in scientific research
Interest in speaking with the public to generate awareness of fish and wildlife conservation and regulations; and in supervising or providing firearms safety training courses and trapper education courses
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
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.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
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.
Conservation officers need:
They should enjoy:
Conservation officers need to be healthy, strong, and in good physical condition.
The Government of Alberta accepts different combinations of education and experience. The educational requirement is a 2-year diploma, applied degree, or bachelor’s degree. Acceptable fields include:
Examples of acceptable combinations of education and experience requirements are:
Other conditions of employment include:
The following are considered assets:
The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
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.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
However, conservation officers must be eligible for a peace officer appointment after successful completion of the Conservation Officer Training Academy.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Conservation officers work for the Government of Alberta. They work in provincial parks and public lands.
Those with several years’ experience may advance to supervisory positions such as sergeant or inspector. This is a direct line of succession from an entry-level position up to the Chief Conservation Officer.
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.
Conservation and fishery officers
2016 NOC: 2224
85.3% 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.
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.
Source: 2024-2026 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.
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:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
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.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Conservation officer salaries range from $68,049 to $87,547 (Source: Government of Alberta, 2024 estimates).
Sergeant salaries range from $75,610 to $97,656 (Source: Government of Alberta, 2024 estimates).
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
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.
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.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $30.45 | $39.52 | $33.15 | $30.45 |
| Overall | $30.45 | $51.04 | $39.44 | $38.72 |
| Top | $37.50 | $51.04 | $41.94 | $38.72 |
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
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $75,006 |
|---|---|
| Public Administration | $75,339 |
Government of Alberta, Conservation Officers website: www.alberta.ca/conservation-officers
Government of Alberta, jobs website: www.alberta.ca/find-a-job
Government of Alberta, Research Alberta Public Service Careers website: researchapscareers.alberta.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2025. 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.
