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Air Quality Engineer, Civil Engineer, Environmental Process Design Engineer, Hazardous Waste Management Engineer, Professional Engineer, Remediation and Reclamation Specialist, Solid Waste Management Engineer, Waste Management Specialist, Water Quality Specialist, Water Treatment Specialist
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
Environmental engineers work closely with facility managers and other professionals. They assess, design, and plan site operations. They may be involved in activities such as:
Environmental engineers may:
Environmental engineers often work with:
Environmental engineers use a variety of tools to plan and manage systems. These include computers, computer simulation models, and monitoring instruments and techniques. Engineering and environmental science are rapidly developing fields. Environmental engineers must constantly upgrade their skills and knowledge.
Environmental engineers work in offices, labs, industrial plants, and in the field.
They may work long hours. They may work under pressure to meet reporting deadlines. When in the field, they may have to withstand a variety of working conditions and harsh weather.
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 synthesizing information to conduct research in order to determine project requirements, to develop construction specifications and procedures, and to conduct feasibility studies, economic analyses, municipal and regional traffic studies, environmental impact studies and other investigations
Interest in precision working to conduct technical analyses of survey and field data for development of topographic, soil, hydrological and other information; in conducting field services for civil works; and in monitoring air, water and soil quality and developing procedures to clean up contaminated sites
Interest in supervising technicians, technologists and other engineers; and in overseeing land surveys and construction work, in approving survey and civil design work, in evaluating and recommending building and construction materials, in approving designs, calculations and cost estimates, in ensuring that construction plans meet guidelines and specifications of building codes and other regulations, and in establishing and monitoring construction work schedules
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.
Environmental engineers need:
Environmental engineers should enjoy:
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.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 88 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 12, 2021 and Apr 23, 2024.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Evaluate and recommend appropriate building and construction materials | 51 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Interpret, review and approve survey and civil design work | 49 |
| Tasks: Prepare contract documents and review and evaluate tenders for construction projects | 46 |
| Tasks: Establish and monitor construction work schedules | 43 |
| Tasks: Develop construction specifications and procedures | 43 |
| Tasks: Confer with clients and other members of the engineering team and conduct research to determine project requirements | 39 |
| Tasks: Conduct field services for civil works | 39 |
| Tasks: Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers and review and approve designs, calculations and cost estimates | 38 |
| Construction Specialization: Organized | 37 |
| Construction Specialization: Accurate | 35 |
The minimum requirement for environmental engineers is a 4-year degree in environmental engineering or a related discipline. For example, environmental engineers working with emissions may have a chemical engineering background and specialize in environmental engineering. Remediation and reclamation engineers may have a background in civil engineering or geoscience.
Environmental engineers should be able to use advanced technology, such as computer models and testing apparatus, to assess environmental contamination and performance.
They also need knowledge of current regulations to provide guidance on environmental best practices. Such practices are important in municipal and industrial operation and management.
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 search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
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.
Certain professional titles or duties within this occupation are protected by provincial legislation. Requirements vary if you use these titles or perform these duties.
The related legislation is shown below. If there are multiple related legislations, select a certification heading to learn about each one.
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] and Engineering and Geoscience Professions General Regulation [pdf], you must register as a 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.
For information on what you need and other details, visit the certification profile Engineer.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Environmental engineers may work for:
Some environmental engineers move into related fields such as recycling management or environmental auditing. Those with master’s (M.Sc., M.Eng.) or doctoral (PhD) degrees may work in consulting or research or teach at the university or college level.
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.
In the 2131: Civil engineers occupational group, 78.8% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 2131: Civil engineers occupational group is expected to have an average annual growth of 1.9% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 154 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
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 example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
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.
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 | $27.00 | $64.79 | $40.18 | $36.39 |
| Overall | $35.21 | $81.07 | $52.19 | $49.12 |
| Top | $39.23 | $134.90 | $72.23 | $68.00 |
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
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $104,417 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing | $106,922 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $103,671 |
| Public Administration | $108,915 |
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) website: www.apega.ca
Canadian Society for Bioengineering (CSBE) website: csbe-scgab.ca
Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) website: csce.ca
Engineers Canada website: engineerscanada.ca
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2022. 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.
