Other Professional Occupations in Physical Sciences
Job description
These individuals conduct studies and research on metals, soils, and materials. Some also specialize as astronauts. They are employed by:
- The government
- Educational institutions
- Various industrial companies
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Climatic conditions
Main tasks
Metallurgists
- Conduct studies on the properties and production of metals and alloys.
Soil Scientists
- Conduct research on the composition, distribution, and evolution of soils.
Material Specialists
- Research the properties, composition, and production of materials (e.g. ceramics).
Astronauts
- Command and pilot spacecraft or serve as a crew member on board spacecraft.
- Ensure the maintenance of spacecraft.
- Repair and install equipment on the space station.
- Launch and retrieve satellites.
Advancement and mobility
- Experience leads to mobility between the specializations of this group.
- Experience leads to other areas of the physical sciences or to management positions.
Hourly wage
Not available.Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 25.8% Female
- 74.2% Male
- 25.8% Female
- 74.2% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 9131% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 541719% of jobs
-
NAICS 5413, 541419% of jobs
-
NAICS 33112% of jobs
-
NAICS 33212% of jobs
-
Others7% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 9131% of jobs
-
NAICS 5416, 541719% of jobs
-
NAICS 5413, 541419% of jobs
-
NAICS 33112% of jobs
-
NAICS 33212% of jobs
-
Others7% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
University
Metallurgical engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 80%
20% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 83.3%
16.7% of graduates pursue further studies
Mining and metallurgical engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 80%
13.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 77.8%
22.2% of graduates pursue further studies
Physics or physical sciences
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 22.5%
74.6% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 56.5%
41.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Sometimes required
- A Master’s or Doctoral degree is usually required for Research Scientists.
- A graduate degree in applied sciences (engineering, medicine, etc.) may be required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Information processing
- Data collection
- Reading comprehension
- Critical thought
- Science
- Written expression
- Oral expression
- Mathematics
- Solving complex problems
- Active listening
- System analysis
- Result evaluation
- Systems evaluation
- Judgment and decision-making
- Operation analysis
- Active learning
- Coordination
- Time management
- Social perception
Abilities
- Written comprehension
- Awareness of issues
- Deductive reasoning
- Verbal skills
- Inductive reasoning
- Information organization
- Mathematical reasoning
- Near vision
- Classification
- Oral comprehension
- Written expression
- Idea generation
- Processing flexibility
- Basic numeracy
- Speech clarity
- Originality
- Speech recognition
- Selective attention
- Perception speed
- Visualization
Knowledge and attributes
- Critical thinking
- Autonomy
- Spoken and written bilingualism (French and English)
- Capacity to work in a team
- Rigour
- Knowledge of computer science, digital and electronics
- Respect standards and regulations
- Desire to upgrade one’s competencies
- Sense of observation
- Knowledge of physics
Interests
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work with numbers
- Carry out research
- Develop and exploit natural resources
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Official name of the NOC 21109
Other professional occupations in physical sciences
Job titles
- Astronaut
- Metallurgist
- Soil scientist
- Materials engineering scientist
- Ballistician
- Ballistics examiner
- Research scientist - ceramics
- Research scientist - composite materials
- Firearms examiner
- Firearms expert
- Hydrometallurgist
- Metallographer
- Physical metallurgist
- Extractive metallurgist
- Research metallurgist
- Pedologist
- Pyrometallurgist
- Materials scientist
- Cosmonaut
Skill type
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026