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Metallurgical and materials engineers (NOC 2142)

Table of contents
About this job Earnings and Outlook Duties Work environment Workforce and employment statistics
Job requirements Work-related skills Related careers Career paths and resources
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About this job

Metallurgical and materials engineers:

  • carry out studies of the properties and characteristics of metals and other non-metallic materials
  • plan, design and develop machinery and processes to concentrate, extract, refine and process metals, alloys and other materials such as ceramics, semiconductors and composite materials
  • work for consulting engineering firms; mining, metal processing and manufacturing companies; and in government, research and educational institutions
Common job titles
  • engineer, coal preparation consulting
  • engineer, corrosion
  • engineer, electrometallurgical
  • engineer, physical metallurgical
  • engineer, pyrometallurgical
  • engineer, refining and metalworking
  • engineer, coal preparation consulting
  • engineer, corrosion
  • engineer, electrometallurgical
  • engineer, extractive metallurgy
  • engineer, foundry
  • engineer, hydrometallurgical

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$103,550

Source: 2020 Job Bank Wage data

Note:Estimated median employment income based on 2020 Job Bank median hourly wage rate (median annual salary = hourly wage rate x 40 (hours per week) x 52.14 (weeks per year))

Provincial hourly rate

  • High
  • Median
  • Low

Source: 2020 Job Bank Wage Report

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2021-2031)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

  • 2021 - 2026
  • 2026 - 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 110

  • 2022
  • 2026
  • 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
38.5%
50 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
61.5%
80 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Select a region to view regional outlook
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
Cariboo
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Kootenay
Employment in 2021:
50
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
0.2%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
10
Mainland / Southwest
Employment in 2021:
310
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.3%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
100
North Coast & Nechako
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Northeast
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Thompson-Okanagan
Employment in 2021:
30
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
0.5%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
10
Vancouver Island / Coast
Employment in 2021:
30
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.4%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
10

N/A - Data not available

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Metallurgical and materials engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

  • carry out studies and design, develop and specify the processes and machinery to concentrate, extract, refine and process metals from ores
  • carry out studies on the properties and characteristics of materials, and design, develop and specify processes for moulding, shaping, forming and thermal treatment of metals, alloys and metallic systems, ceramics, semiconducting and other materials
  • carry out chemical and physical studies, failure analyses and other studies, and recommend material selection, design of materials, corrosion control measures, operational testing and other procedures
  • co-ordinate production testing and control of metal refining, smelting or foundry operations or non-metallic materials production operations
  • supervise technologists, technicians and other engineers and scientists

Work environment

Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office or school.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

300 workers are employed
53% of workers are working mostly full time

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by gender

  Men
  Women

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by age group

  15 - 24 years
  25 - 44 years
  45 - 64 years
  65+ years

Source: 2016 Census

Labour force by industry

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services:
49%
Manufacturing:
27%
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction:
7%
Utilities:
7%
Wholesale Trade:
4%
View more industry data

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by region

Select your region:
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
  % employment of this occupation
  % employment of all occupations
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland / Southwest
North Coast & Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island / Coast

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2016 Census

Career paths and resources

Career paths

Metallurgical engineers research and develop new alloys and systems for extracting metal from ores, while materials engineers research and develop new non-metallic materials with physical characteristics to meet specific requirements.

There is considerable mobility between engineering specializations at the less senior levels, and engineers often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.

Metallurgical and materials engineers also work closely with other engineers and scientists and mobility is possible between some fields of specialization.

Additional resources

Additional resources are not currently available for this career.

Profile last updated:
March 25, 2021
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