NOC 21332: Petroleum engineers
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.
Official Main Duties for NOC 21332
Select the duties you perform in your actual job. Under IRCC guidelines, you must perform at least 60% of these duties for a successful work permit or PR reference letter.
Your employer reference letter must confirm you performed the main actions described in the duties above. Avoid copying words directly from the NOC description — officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.
Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 21332
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Petroleum engineers is categorized under TEER 1. Occupations in this tier typically require a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate) or substantial managerial tenure.
Express Entry Alignment
Qualifies directly for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. Work experience must be full-time (or equivalent part-time) and continuous for at least one year.
Target Category Status
Currently evaluated under standard General and CEC invitation rounds, or targeted through provincial in-demand lists such as Ontario (OINP), British Columbia (BC PNP), or Alberta (AAIP).
NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 Transition & Equivalency
Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, this occupation was mapped under the following 4-digit code(s). When preparing your Express Entry profile or work reference letters, you must use the new 5-digit code NOC 21332.
Regional Wages Across Canada
Under Canadian immigration law, an employer hiring you under an LMIA must pay you at least the median wage listed below for your province.
| Province / Territory | Low Wage | Median Wage | High Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (National Average) | $46.25 | $64.9/hr | $96.15 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $38.46/hr | $60.1/hr | $72.12/hr |
| Quebec → | $30.79/hr | $48.18/hr | $74.25/hr |
| Ontario → | $52.88/hr | $67.3/hr | $74.52/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $52.88/hr | $67.87/hr | $92.79/hr |
| Alberta → | $46.67/hr | $66.35/hr | $96.15/hr |
| British Columbia → | $40.53/hr | $55.46/hr | $82.73/hr |
🏙️Top Metropolitan Cities Wage Rates (ESDC 2025/2026)
Economic Region BenchmarksOfficial ESDC prevailing median wages across major Canadian metropolitan regions. Crucial for LMIA prevailing wage compliance and local job offer evaluations.
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- 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.
Official Job Titles for NOC 21332
19 Titles ListedIf your current job title matches any of these official examples, this NOC code is likely the right choice for your Express Entry reference letter:
Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)
Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:
- Chemical engineers (See 21320 Chemical engineers)View NOC 21320→
- Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services (See 82021 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services)View NOC 82021→
- Engineering managers (See 20010 Engineering managers)View NOC 20010→
- Geological engineers (See 21331 Geological engineers)View NOC 21331→
- Geoscientists and oceanographers (See 21102 Geoscientists and oceanographers)View NOC 21102→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 21332 (Petroleum engineers)
Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.
Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs
Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 21332, explore your TEER 1 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.