Water career trends and growth very promising

Salaries

Earnings for water quality workers vary significantly, both for entry level positions and for workers with experience. These wage variations are linked to different types of employers and practice areas.

Employers in mining, oil and gas, and environmental consulting offer the highest paying positions. Annual earnings are lower for workers employed by governments, conservation organizations, watershed management organizations and other NGOs.

The average starting salary for water quality jobs is $55,284. The average salary for workers with at least five years of experience is $84,239. Hydrogeologists earn the highest starting salary, at an average of $74,100.

Future demand and hiring forecasts

The demand for water quality professionals is increasing. Employers of chemists, hydrogeologists, green building professionals, water utility engineers and environmental engineers are the most likely to expect their staffing levels to increase in the future.

While there’s a higher concentration of workers near both of Canada’s coasts and in Alberta, there are different drivers of demand for water quality practitioners in each province. For example, Alberta’s oil and gas industry has driven high demand for water engineering occupations, water quality managers in natural resources, and water quality scientists and technicians.

According to water quality professionals, climate change is the most commonly cited trend affecting the water quality job market and skills requirements.

Additional factors that will shape the demand for water quality professionals are:

• Increasing investment and development in resource industries, such as new mines, oil and gas development, and forestry;
• Retirements of water quality professionals over the next decade; and
• Changes in water quality standards including new regulations and technologies.

Jennifer Schultz is with ECO Canada. This article appeared in ES&E’s January/February 2015 issue.