Chemical engineers
Occupation · NOC 2021 21320 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 21320
- TEER
- 1
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 58
- Median wage, Canada
- C$51.92 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 105
OC<CANCHEMICAL<ENGINEERS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 213204<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8
About this occupation
Chemical engineers research, design, and develop chemical processes and equipment, oversee the operation and maintenance of industrial chemical, plastics, pharmaceutical, resource, pulp and paper, and food processing plants and perform duties related to chemical quality control, environmental protection and biochemical or biotechnical engineering. They are employed in a wide range of manufacturing and processing industries, consulting firms, government, research and educational institutions.
Example job titles
- adhesives engineer
- biochemical engineer
- biotechnical engineer
- chemical process control engineer
- chemical process engineer
- chemical project engineer
- environmental chemical engineer
- industrial hygiene engineer
- industrial waste treatment engineer
- liquid fuels engineer
- petrochemical engineer
- polymer engineer
- pulp and paper engineer
- refinery engineer
- waste treatment engineer
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Conduct economic and technical feasibility studies in areas related to chemical, petroleum, pulp and paper, food or other processing industries
- Conduct research into the development or improvement of chemical engineering processes, reactions and materials
- Evaluate chemical process technology and equipment and determine production specifications
- Design and test chemical processing and associated plants and equipment
- Oversee the construction, modification, operation and maintenance of pilot plants, processing units or processing plants
- Establish and conduct quality control programs, operating procedures and control strategies to ensure consistency and adherence to standards for raw materials, products and waste products or emissions
- Prepare contract documents and evaluate tenders for the process aspects of industrial construction
- Supervise technicians, technologists and other engineers
- May work in an administrative capacity, for example, in the development of guidelines and specifications for the handling of dangerous chemicals, environmental protection, or standards for foods, materials and consumer goods.
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or in a related engineering discipline is required.
- A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
- Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, and after three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 1 |
- Dexcent Engineering7
- Dexcent Inc.2
- NARL Refining Ltd Partnership2
- MMR Consulting Inc.2
- GA International inc.2
- Microdermic Inc1
- Polyten Inc.1
- Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc.1
- Secure Energy (Drilling Services) Inc.1
- GE Betz Canada Company1
- Buhler (Canada) Inc.1
- Bioastra Technologies inc.1
- Ionomr Innovations Inc.1
- Oligo Médic inc.1
- Blue Solutions Canada Inc1
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 85 |
| 2025 | 0 | 75 |
| 2024 | 0 | 55 |
| 2023 | 0 | 95 |
| 2022 | 0 | 80 |
| 2021 | 0 | 60 |
| 2020 | 0 | 5 |
| 2019 | 0 | 95 |
| 2018 | 0 | 120 |
| 2017 | 0 | 160 |
| 2016 | 0 | 160 |
| 2015 | 0 | 240 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 240 |
| 2016 | 160 |
| 2017 | 160 |
| 2018 | 120 |
| 2019 | 95 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 60 |
| 2022 | 80 |
| 2023 | 95 |
| 2024 | 55 |
| 2025 | 75 |
| 2026 | 85 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
New permanent residents by year
Data table
| 2015 | 310 |
| 2016 | 180 |
| 2017 | 100 |
| 2018 | 180 |
| 2019 | 180 |
| 2020 | 75 |
| 2021 | 115 |
| 2022 | 120 |
| 2023 | 135 |
| 2024 | 95 |
| 2025 | 70 |
| 2026 | 60 |
- Federal Skilled Worker980
- Canadian Experience Class770
- Provincial Nominee Program140
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$27.45 | C$51.92 | C$76.92 |
| Alberta | C$44.23 | C$64.90 | C$118.79 |
| British Columbia | C$25.64 | C$53.33 | C$70.00 |
| Manitoba | C$27.67 | C$40.32 | C$60.24 |
| New Brunswick | C$33.35 | C$52.45 | C$72.52 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$38.44 | C$56.50 | C$72.17 |
| Ontario | C$28.85 | C$51.28 | C$72.12 |
| Quebec | C$25.00 | C$44.31 | C$65.38 |
| Saskatchewan | C$27.92 | C$46.43 | C$81.39 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 105
- Vacancies advertised
- 110
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$39.96
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