Petroleum engineers
Occupation · NOC 2021 21332 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 21332
- TEER
- 1
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 10
- Median wage, Canada
- C$64.90 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 8
OC<CANPETROLEUM<ENGINEERS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 213327<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4
About this occupation
Petroleum engineers conduct studies for the exploration, development and extraction of oil and gas deposits; and plan, design, develop and supervise projects for the drilling, completion, testing and re-working of oil and gas wells. They are employed by petroleum producing companies, consulting companies, well logging or testing companies, government, and research and educational institutions.
Example job titles
- oil and gas drilling engineer
- oil and gas production engineer
- petroleum engineer
- petroleum reservoir engineer
- petroleum well completion engineer
- subsea engineer
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Conduct feasibility assessment studies for developing new oil and gas fields
- Direct and monitor oil and gas drilling operations
- Develop drilling programs, select sites and specify drilling fluids, bit selection, drill stem testing procedures and equipment
- Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing and well surveys
- Design and select artificial lift machinery, and well and surface production equipment and systems, and specify programs for corrosion control and oil or gas treatment
- Develop specifications for and monitor and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery
- Analyze reservoir rock and fluid data to design optimum recovery methods and to predict reservoir performance and reserves
- Monitor and forecast oil and gas reservoir performance and recommend oil recovery techniques which extend the economic life of wells
- Design, develop and coordinate the installation, maintenance and operation of subsea well-head and production equipment.
Employment requirements
- A bachelor's degree in petroleum 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 | 4 |
| 2017 | 6 |
- Transocean Canada Drilling Company5
- Seadrill Canada Ltd.2
- Subsea 7 Canada Inc.2
- RGL Reservoir Management 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 | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 5 |
| 2024 | 10 | 25 |
| 2023 | 10 | 0 |
| 2022 | 10 | 20 |
| 2021 | 10 | 10 |
| 2020 | 0 | 10 |
| 2019 | 0 | 25 |
| 2018 | 0 | 50 |
| 2017 | 0 | 45 |
| 2016 | 5 | 55 |
| 2015 | 5 | 80 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 85 |
| 2016 | 60 |
| 2017 | 45 |
| 2018 | 50 |
| 2019 | 25 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 35 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 10 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
New permanent residents by year
Data table
| 2015 | 235 |
| 2016 | 140 |
| 2017 | 50 |
| 2018 | 130 |
| 2019 | 120 |
| 2020 | 55 |
| 2021 | 65 |
| 2022 | 85 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2026 | 5 |
- Federal Skilled Worker670
- Provincial Nominee Program185
- Canadian Experience Class150
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$46.25 | C$64.90 | C$96.15 |
| Alberta | C$46.67 | C$66.35 | C$96.15 |
| British Columbia | C$40.53 | C$55.46 | C$82.73 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$38.46 | C$60.10 | C$72.12 |
| Ontario | C$52.88 | C$67.30 | C$74.52 |
| Quebec | C$30.79 | C$48.18 | C$74.25 |
| Saskatchewan | C$52.88 | C$67.87 | C$92.79 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 8
- Vacancies advertised
- 12
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$46.25
Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more