NOC 42204: Religion workers
What religion workers do
Religion workers include brothers, nuns, monks, religious education workers and others who provide support to ministers of religion or to a religious community and who perform certain functions associated with the practice of a religion. They may perform these duties in churches, synagogues, temples or other places of worship; in institutions such as schools, hospitals and prisons; or in industrial facilities, corporate enterprises; or they may work in private practice.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Assist at services of public worship and religious rites
- Provide religious education, spiritual guidance and moral support to members of a religious community
- Conduct outreach activities and facilitate community involvement
- Administer programs providing food, clothing and shelter
- May plan, organize and lead worship services and church activities for a specific audience.
Job titles under NOC 42204
32 job titles are classified here, including brother/sister - religion, Christian science practitioner, deacon.
- animator - spiritual guidance
- brother/sister - religion
- cantor
- Christian Science nurse - non-medical
- Christian science practitioner
- Christian science worker
- church worker
- corporate intercessor
- deacon
- deaconess
- exegete
- faith healer
- gospel worker
- hazzan
- home mission worker - religion
- missionary
- mohel
- monk
- mother superior/religious superior
- novice - religion
- nun
- panthee
- pastoral animator
- postulant
Employment requirements
- Completion of college, university or other program in religious studies may be required, depending on the particular occupation and religion.
- There may be other employment requirements depending on the particular occupation and religion.
Religion workers wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $15.00/hr | $20.19/hr | $37.61/hr |
Toronto ON | $17.60/hr | $21.00/hr | $36.00/hr |
Montréal QC | $18.04/hr | $24.49/hr | $34.71/hr |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | $17.85/hr | $19.96/hr | $25.00/hr |
Calgary AB | $17.83/hr | $24.77/hr | $34.87/hr |
Edmonton AB | $18.91/hr | $25.34/hr | $34.98/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $16.00/hr | $22.13/hr | $27.98/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $18.00/hr | $25.00/hr | $43.54/hr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | $17.60/hr | $21.63/hr | $30.77/hr |
London ON | $17.60/hr | $22.42/hr | $24.23/hr |
Halifax NS | $18.33/hr | $24.67/hr | $30.79/hr |
Saskatoon Saskatoon–Biggar region, SK | $17.82/hr | $24.54/hr | $27.86/hr |
Regina Regina–Moose Mountain region, SK | $18.33/hr | $21.25/hr | $28.01/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Nova Scotia | $17.35/hr | $24.80/hr | $32.59/hr |
New Brunswick | $16.62/hr | $23.31/hr | $32.33/hr |
Quebec | $18.00/hr | $25.00/hr | $43.54/hr |
Ontario | $17.60/hr | $21.00/hr | $36.00/hr |
Manitoba | $16.00/hr | $22.42/hr | $32.14/hr |
Saskatchewan | $15.35/hr | $20.46/hr | $31.58/hr |
Alberta | $17.47/hr | $24.68/hr | $34.64/hr |
British Columbia | $17.85/hr | $19.96/hr | $25.00/hr |
Using NOC 42204 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 32 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Medical missionary (NOC 31102)
- Religious leaders (NOC 41302)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for religion workers?
Religion workers are NOC 2021 unit group 42204. Example job titles in this group include brother/sister - religion, Christian science practitioner, deacon, missionary.
What TEER is NOC 42204?
NOC 42204 is TEER 2 (College diploma or apprenticeship (2+ years)). Usually requires a 2–3 year college program or a 2–5 year apprenticeship, or the occupation carries supervisory or significant safety responsibilities. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do religion workers earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $20.19/hr, about $39,000 a year full-time, with a range of $15.00/hr to $37.61/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.