Engineering Jobs in Canada – A 2025 Look

Engineering is one of Canada’s top growth professions, with over 100,000 job openings anticipated by 2025. Engineers play an indispensable role in shaping the country’s future as infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, and resource industries drive economic expansion. This guide examines the breadth of engineering jobs, licensing processes, expected job growth, typical salaries, and tips for finding employment in Canada.

Source: https://outpostrecruitment.com/about/engineering-professionals

What do We Know about the Engineering Profession in Canada?

Engineering is a respected, regulated profession in Canada. Only licensed engineers, designated as Professional Engineers (P.Eng.), can independently practice engineering and take responsibility for projects. The exclusive right to use the “engineer” title ensures standards are upheld, and public safety is protected.

Canada’s engineering regulators, such as Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), Engineers Nova Scotia, and the Association of Professional Engineers of BC (APEGBC), oversee licensing and enforce standards within their jurisdictions. Engineers Canada acts as the national body that sets standards for the provincial/territorial regulators.

To gain licensure as a P.Eng., candidates must meet benchmark education requirements, obtain work experience under supervision, and pass a Professional Practice Examination (PPE) on ethics, laws, standards, and practices. Licensed engineers must adhere to rigorous technical, professional, and ethical standards.

What is Engineering Job Market Outlook?

Engineering is poised for robust growth in Canada, with over 100,000 job openings anticipated between 2020 and 2025. According to Engineers Canada’s labour market report, much of this demand stems from replacement needs as senior engineers retire in large numbers.

New domestic engineering graduates are insufficient to fill this talent gap, heightening the need for experienced, internationally trained engineers in the medium term. Job growth is concentrated in civil, mechanical, electrical/electronics, chemical, and software engineering fields.

Regional variations exist, with the strongest outlook in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and British Columbia based on significant infrastructure and technology investments. However, niche opportunities span every province given localized infrastructure, resource extraction, utilities, and manufacturing needs.

What are Immigration Pathways for Engineers?

To help bridge demand, Canada offers several immigration pathways that facilitate skilled worker entry for engineers:

Federal Skilled Worker Program

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is an Express Entry stream for professionals with in-demand skills like engineering. Instead of occupation-specific criteria, candidates are scored under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Points are allocated based on education, skilled work experience, language ability, and other factors like a job offer. Profiles above minimum cutoff scores in regular draws get an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency.

Many engineers obtain high points for their specialized degrees, private-sector experience, and English/French fluency, giving them an edge for selection under the FSW program.

Provincial Nominee Programs

Canadian provinces and territories can nominate newcomers to fill economic and labour market needs through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Most provinces have PNP streams that expedite selection for engineering or technology professionals.

For instance, Ontario’s Employer Job Offer stream prioritizes foreign workers with a permanent job offer in an in-demand occupation. BC’s Tech Pilot offers expedited processing for tech workers with job offers from established BC companies.

Several provinces also organize PNP draws targeting Express Entry candidates with engineering backgrounds. A nomination adds 600 points to one’s CRS score for permanent residency.

Atlantic Immigration Program

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) helps attract and retain global talent in Canada’s four eastern provinces. Skilled workers, international graduates, and expatriate Atlantic Canadians can apply for permanent residency through AIP streams tailored to local workforce needs.

AIP facilitates immigration for engineers and other high-demand occupations in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland/Labrador. It acts as a launchpad for careers in regional engineering firms and resource development projects.

Salaries for Engineers in Canada

Engineers earn some of the highest salaries among regulated professions in Canada, typically about $94,294 annually (updated at December 30, 2024), which is higher than Canadian-born employees’ national annual average wage is $72,800. According to the Government of Canada’s 2021 wage survey, the median hourly wages for principal engineering occupations are:

• Civil engineers: $43.08/hour
• Mechanical engineers: $45.38/hour
• Electrical engineers: $46.83/hour
• Chemical engineers: $45.71/hour
• Industrial and manufacturing engineers: $43.65/hour
• Software engineers and designers: $48.08/hour

Salaries rise significantly with specialized experience and management roles. Total compensation often extends far beyond base pay, with additional benefits like profit-sharing bonuses, stock options, and performance incentives.

Alberta consistently tops engineering pay scales thanks to oil/gas and construction demands. Ontario, Quebec, BC, and Saskatchewan also offer high engineering salaries, varying by metro region and industry. Canada’s big cities attract top talent across engineering disciplines.

Source: https://ca.indeed.com/career/engineer/salaries

Licensing Process for Foreign Engineers

Immigrant engineers face hurdles in obtaining licensure but can access mentored work permits or training programs to start their Canadian careers. The main steps include:

1. Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): Graduates undergo an ECA to ensure their foreign engineering degrees meet Canadian standards. The assessment also vets subject matter, course hours, and grade scores.
2. Registration and Work Assessment: Applicants register with their provincial/territorial regulator and submit past work experience records for review. Supervised Canadian experience often satisfies requirements.
3. Provisional Licenses and EIT Programs: Where candidates lack whole work experience or Canadian exposure, provisional licenses allow mentored practice. Many regulators offer “Engineer-in-Training” programs on the licensure path.
4. Language Testing: Engineers must verify English or French competency via approved tests like IELTS or TEFAQ. The required complexity level depends on the regulator and location.
5. Character References: Applicants need reference letters attesting to their integrity, judgment, and reputation. A licensed engineer must sponsor newcomers.
6. Professional Practice Exam: Finally, the PPE tests applicants on ethics, professionalism, laws, and standards relevant to Canadian engineering practice. Exam fees range from $250 to $575.

In-Demand Engineering Fields

While engineers are sought-after across sectors, some specializations dominate hiring forecasts. These include:

Civil Engineering

Urban growth, infrastructure renewal, and transit expansion require civil engineers to plan and execute projects like:

• Roads, bridges, railways
• Water, wastewater, and stormwater systems
• Dams, tunnels
• Commercial and residential buildings

According to Engineers Canada’s 2020 labour market assessment, employers will need to hire 7,000 civil engineers yearly through 2025 to replace retirees and meet demand growth. Civil engineers comprise 13% of the engineering workforce.

Ontario requires up to 13,000 new civil engineers between 2019 and 2025. Major cities and regional growth centers have a voracious need for these skills.

Source: https://www.ediweekly.com/demand-for-100k-engineers-over-next-ten-years-in-canada/

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineers apply physics and materials science to design, analyze, simulate, and maintain mechanical systems and products. Key focus areas include:

• Machine design: Robotics, heavy machinery, agricultural equipment
• Energy systems: Power plant equipment, internal combustion engines, batteries
• Manufacturing: Assembly lines, 3D printing, computer-controlled tools
• HVAC-R: Heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment

These professionals work in various industrial sectors, including manufacturing, construction, aerospace, defence, transportation, and resource extraction.

Rising demand stems from automated systems and process innovations, renewable energy infrastructure, and advanced green manufacturing techniques, which require specialized mechanical engineering expertise.

Electrical Engineering

Electrical engineers focus on power generation equipment and transmission infrastructure, electronics, telecommunications networks, electrical control systems, and smart power grids.

Their versatility attracts employers across utilities, renewable energy technology, IT infrastructure, resource extraction, construction, and related fields.

With expansions underway for 5G and rural broadband access, renewable energy systems, microgrids, and regional power infrastructure, electrical engineers play indispensable roles in building and supporting these initiatives.

Software Engineering

Also known as software developers or computer programmers, software engineers use engineering principles to design, develop, and test software applications, networks, and database systems tailored to industry and client needs.

Software engineers work with various programming languages and models, such as object-oriented design. Their expertise in blending computer science, mathematics, and engineering allows them to build innovative solutions.

As one of Canada’s fastest-growing occupations, software engineering offers immense potential for both new graduates and mid-career switchers, especially in major tech hubs like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Waterloo.

Petroleum and Mining Engineering

• Petroleum engineers assess drilling sites and design equipment and methods to extract oil and gas efficiently, economically, and safely. They estimate reserves and production potential. Years of study provide the needed expertise in geology, mechanics, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics.
• Similarly, mining engineers fill planning and operational roles for mineral deposits, including precious metals, coal, diamonds, lithium, and industrial metals.

With high oil and commodity prices, employers in Western Canada’s oil/gas basins and mineral belts eagerly recruit experienced petroleum and mining engineers and technicians. Their niche knowledge commands Canada’s highest engineering salaries, often exceeding $200,000 annually.

Engineering Salaries by Province

While specialized skills, roles, and metro regions greatly impact salary ranges, some provincial trends emerge for average engineering incomes across career stages:

Alberta – $110,000 to $175,000+

Due to robust oil/gas, construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure demands, Alberta consistently tops Canadian pay scales. Experienced engineers in Calgary can earn over $200,000 annually.

Read more: Average Salaries in Alberta

Ontario – $80,000 to $130,000

With diverse strengths in construction, telecom, utilities, manufacturing, and emerging technology, Ontario provides stable, lucrative engineering jobs, especially in Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo, and surrounding cities.

Read more: Average Salaries in Ontario

British Columbia – $75,000 to $125,000

Vancouver and resource regions offer great salaries driven by major initiatives in transportation, hydroelectric power generation, liquefied natural gas (LNG), mining, and urban infrastructure development.

Read more: Average Salaries in British Columbia

Quebec – $73,000 to $115,000

Engineering hubs around Montreal and Quebec City support well-paying careers in aerospace, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, software development, and computer sciences. Bilingual engineers access additional opportunities.

Read more: Average Salaries in Quebec

Manitoba – $70,000 to $105,000

A small but mighty hub for agriculture technology, utilities, manufacturing, and resource extraction, Manitoba rewards experienced engineers with salaries exceeding national medians.

Read more: Average Salaries in Manitoba

Engineering Career Growth and Development

Engineers enjoy defined career advancement pathways within technical streams or into management roles:

• Graduates first gain competencies as engineering trainees or interns before earning their P.Eng. and working independently in engineering.
• With several years of experience, senior engineers assume supervisory duties, mentor junior staff, and participate in management discussions. Some also obtain project management training.
• Technical experts and principal engineers are recognized as subject matter authorities. They tackle complex issues and devise innovative solutions using emerging methods and technologies.
• Engineering managers oversee multi-disciplinary teams, budgets, and department strategies. They coordinate engineering streams to execute major initiatives.
• Senior leaders and executives steer the organizational direction and operations through engineering excellence and business acumen.

Many employers support ongoing career development via tuition subsidies, conference participation, skills training, and leadership programs. Going beyond technical capabilities to build project management, communication, and strategic thinking abilities can amplify career advancement.

Engineering Career Pathways for Immigrants

Licensed engineering roles mandate gaining Canadian work exposure, but transitional opportunities exist to build skills and experience:

• Temporary employment programs, like the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, allow companies to hire immigrants for up to two years to work as mentored engineers.
• Co-op terms, internships, and research assistant jobs provide entry points to learn workplace norms and develop technical abilities.
• Provincial Nominee Programs help skilled immigrant engineers secure permanent residence and eventual licensing, aided by Canadian work experience.
• Bridging programs at hundreds of institutions offer remedial technical preparation, qualifying exams, and co-op terms to facilitate licensure.
• Industrial engineering tech and engineering design roles allow newcomers to support projects using their existing capabilities.
• Specialized HR consulting firms support skilled immigrant integration into engineering teams through recruitment, onboarding, and retention services.

Gaining Canadian work exposure and licensing, specializing in high-demand disciplines, continuously upskilling, and expanding soft skills maximize immigrants’ career mobility.

The Future of Engineering in Canada

As technology reshapes society, engineers play an ever more crucial role in building solutions to humanity’s pressing challenges. Key trends shaping engineering’s future include:

• Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Automation
• AI, robotics, and sophisticated sensors will drive new generations of smart systems and processes requiring engineers with software and data integration abilities.
• Sustainability and Green Technology Leadership
• Climate change concerns position Canada as an R&D hub for clean technologies like renewable energy systems, electrification, green hydrogen fuel cells, and restorative processes.
• Resource Extraction Technology Innovations
• Digital integration and automation allow Canada’s oil/gas and mining sectors to improve safety and efficiency through engineering creativity.
• Biomedical Breakthroughs
• Engineers contribute immense health advances from imaging devices to diagnostics and prosthetics to medical nanotechnology.
• Next-Generation Telecommunications
• Lightning-fast, ubiquitous connectivity depends on creative engineering minds to develop technologies like open radio access networks (O-RAN), 6G wireless, and quantum-safe networks.
• Commercialization of Space
• Expanding satellite networks and new space tourism models beckon engineers to apply their skills in extraterrestrial ways.

Engineering organizations foresee robust demand for practitioners who combine technical excellence, versatility, and collaborative skills to pioneer solutions that propel Canada as an innovation hub.

Tips for Engineering Students and Recent Grads

For students pursuing an engineering profession, these strategies help maximize career success:

• Obtain co-op work terms and summer jobs to build experience and networks.
• Develop expertise in emerging fields like robotics, biomedical engineering, or data sciences.
• Pursue student leadership roles through engineering clubs and associations.
• Attend industry conferences and events to meet potential mentors and employers.
• Complete certifications or training in desired focus areas like CAD software.
• Learn French to access opportunities in Quebec and multinational firms.
• Develop strong communication, presentation, and teamwork abilities.
• Join Toastmasters or take public speaking courses to hone soft skills.
• Seek mentors who can explain real-world engineering practices and provide career guidance.
• Display passion and creative thinking when collaborating and communicating.

With technical rigour and well-rounded abilities, new engineering graduates can excel in diverse workplace settings and roles.

Tips for Immigrant Engineering Students

Immigrant students pursuing Canadian engineering degrees should also:

• Check if foreign credentials qualify for advanced standing in degree programs.
• Gain familiarity with Canadian workplace norms and culture.
• Improve English/French competency through communication programs.
• Develop professional portfolios highlighting international experience.
• Participate in networking events with industry and regulators.
• Complete targeted work terms with engineering employers.

By recognizing existing capabilities while accelerating integration, immigrant learners can achieve engineering success in Canada.

Summary

With over 100,000 jobs to fill, Canada’s engineering profession faces soaring demand due to an aging workforce and growth across infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, technology, and resource extraction.

Immigration pathways like Federal Skilled Worker and Provincial Nominee Programs offer internationally trained engineers and current engineering students means to build careers and attain licensure.

While salaries exceed national averages, licensing requirements dictate gaining supervised Canadian work experience before practicing independently. Joining professional associations and pursuing opportunities in high-demand regions and disciplines maximizes prospects.

With mentorship, niche skills-building, and licensing support, newcomers to Canada access rewarding, stable engineering careers. Essential infrastructure renewal, emerging technologies, and major projects beckon engineering talent as Canada continues growing

FAQs related to Engineering Jobs and Salaries in Canada

Here are the FAQs related to Engineering Jobs and Salaries in Canada that you should be aware of:

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Engineer average salary in Canada, 2025 – ca.talent.com
Top 10 Engineering Careers in Canada (with Salaries) – groomassocies.com
How to immigrate to Canada as an engineer – arrivein.com