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Emerging Occupations

Reclamation Specialist

In general, reclamation specialists restore disturbed land to productive condition after it has been impacted by erosion, mining, oil and gas activities, flooding, commercial development or other processes.

This is an emerging occupation. It may have evolved from an existing occupation or emerged in response to consumer needs or technological advances.

Also Known As

Biochemist, Ecotoxicologist, Environmental Agrologist, Environmental Engineer, Environmental Geologist, Environmental Scientist, Environmental Technician, Pollution Control Technologist, Reclamation Engineer, Remediation Specialist

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

  • 2131: Civil Engineers*

2006 NOC-S

  • C031: Civil Engineers*

2011 NOC

  • 2131: Civil engineers*

2016 NOC

  • 2131: Civil engineers*

2021 NOC

  • 21300: Civil engineers*

2023 OaSIS

  • 21300.00: Civil engineers*

*This NOC group is considered similar to the Reclamation Specialist occupation. Because this occupation is only similar to the NOC group, related details and labour market information may not be accurate.

Duties
Updated Mar 05, 2021

Reclamation specialists:

  • Identify contaminated or damaged areas
  • Develop plans to reclaim or restore these areas
  • Inspect, monitor and evaluate reclamation projects
  • Maintain compliance with all government environmental regulations

Among other tasks, reclamation specialists must:

  • Document pre-disturbance soil, vegetation and land forms
  • Research site histories, including typical land-use practices for the site
  • Identify and map pollution pathways and their environmental impacts
  • Prepare conceptual site models
  • Perform soil and groundwater testing
  • Develop and implement reclamation plans, including processes and procedures for removing contaminants and restoring sites to their natural state or equivalent land use
  • Provide cost estimates and schedules for reclamation plans
  • Monitor groundwater, soil and vegetation
  • Evaluate ongoing reclamation projects
  • Understand and apply relevant regulatory requirements for land reclamation
  • Research reclamation techniques
  • Liaise with clients and regulatory bodies

Reclamation specialists may work alongside soil scientists, agrologists, geologists, environmental engineers, or other specialists.

Working Conditions
Updated Mar 05, 2021
  • Strength Required Lift up to 10 kg

Reclamation specialists spend part of their time in office settings planning projects and part of their time in the field performing site investigations and inspections.

Fieldwork is organized around site conditions and requirements. Some fieldwork may take place outside of the Monday-to-Friday workweek. It may include walking or hiking through outdoor areas, as well as collecting soil, groundwater and vegetation samples. Lifting of materials up to 10 kg may be involved.

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.

Civil Engineers*

2006 NOC: 2131

*This data is for a NOC group that is similar to the Reclamation Specialist occupation.

Interest Codes

Interest Codes for This NOC Group
INNOVATIVE

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

OBJECTIVE

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

DIRECTIVE

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

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 05, 2021

Reclamation specialists need:

  • Communication skills
  • Organizational skills
  • The ability to work alone or in a team
  • The ability to think and plan long-term
  • The ability to work to deadlines

Reclamation specialists should be passionate about environmental stewardship and enjoy working in the outdoors.

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

Civil engineers*

2016 NOC: 2131

*This data is for a NOC group that is similar to the Reclamation Specialist occupation.

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 105 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Nov 12, 2021 and Oct 09, 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.
Tasks: Evaluate and recommend appropriate building and construction materials
Tasks: Interpret, review and approve survey and civil design work
Tasks: Prepare contract documents and review and evaluate tenders for construction projects
Tasks: Confer with clients and other members of the engineering team and conduct research to determine project requirements
Tasks: Develop construction specifications and procedures
Tasks: Establish and monitor construction work schedules
Tasks: Conduct field services for civil works
Organized
Accurate
Tasks: Ensure construction plans meet guidelines and specifications of building codes and other regulations
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 05, 2021
  • Minimum Education 2 years post-secondary

Most emerging occupations develop from more than one occupation. People working in this occupation may come from a variety of education and training backgrounds. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should contact associations and employers in this field to investigate education options and employment possibilities.

Reclamation specialists typically require an undergraduate degree in one of the following fields:

  • Environmental science
  • Environmental engineering
  • Earth and water science
  • Soil science
  • Agriculture
  • Agrology
  • Hydrogeology
  • Geography

However, it may also be possible to find employment with a technical diploma in a related field.

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

*This data is for a NOC group that is similar to the Reclamation Specialist occupation.

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 05, 2021
  • Certification Not Regulated

There is no professional certifications specific to reclamation specialists. However, many reclamation specialists are certified as agrologists, engineers, geoscientists, biologists or environmental practitioners.

ECO Canada offers an Environmental Professional (EP) certification. Visit their website for details.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 05, 2021

Emerging occupations typically are the result of:

  • An increased human need
  • Technological advances
  • Greater specialization within an occupation

Often there are too few people working in an emerging occupation to gather survey information. Therefore, it can be difficult to define advancement opportunities or employment outlook. Some Albertans already are working in this emerging occupation, but future demand for it is unknown.

Reclamation specialists are employed by:

  • Environmental and engineering consulting firms
  • Waste management firms
  • Oil and gas, mining and forestry companies
  • Non-government organizations (NGOs)
  • Various levels of government
  • Colleges, universities and research institutes
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.

Civil engineers
2016 NOC: 2131*

78.8% of people in this occupational group work in:

*This data is for a NOC group that is similar to the Reclamation Specialist occupation.

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.

Civil engineers*
2021 NOC: 21300
High
Demand
11,400
Employed

*This data is for a NOC group that is similar to the Reclamation Specialist occupation.

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

Explore emerging workplace trends in Alberta that could affect this occupation.

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

Civil engineers*
2016 NOC: 2131
2.5%
Annual Growth
(Above Average)
250
New Positions

*This data is for a NOC group that is similar to the Reclamation Specialist occupation.

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.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 05, 2021

Often there are too few people working in an emerging occupation to gather survey information. Therefore, no current provincial salary data is available for this occupation.

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.

Civil engineers*

2016 NOC: 2131

*This data is for a NOC group that is similar to the Reclamation Specialist occupation.

Average Wage
$52.19
Per Hour
Average Salary
$104,417.00
Per Year
Average Hours
38.6
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
12
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
2021 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 2131 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.

A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

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.


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 $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

  • 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
Manufacturing
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
Public Administration

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
30%
30%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
7%
7%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
3%
3%
Vacancy Rate
N/A
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Engineering and Science Technologies
  • Environment, Forestry and Related Studies
  • Sciences
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 05, 2021

ECO Canada: eco.ca

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

Updated Mar 05, 2021. 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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