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Professional occupations in religion (NOC 4154)

High opportunity occupation
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
View full profile

About this job

Ministers of religion:

  • run religious services
  • give the rites of a religious faith or denomination
  • provide spiritual and moral guidance and perform other functions associated with the practice of a religion
  • work in churches, synagogues, temples or other places of worship
  • may also work in other institutions such as schools, hospitals and prisons
Common job titles
  • archbishop
  • archdeacon
  • bishop
  • imam
  • minister - religion
  • moderator - religion
  • archbishop
  • archdeacon
  • bishop
  • cardinal
  • chancellor - religion
  • chaplain

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$53,475

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: 2,160

  • 2022
  • 2026
  • 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
56.7%
1,230 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
43.3%
940 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:
260
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.8%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
70
Kootenay
Employment in 2021:
100
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
3.3%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
60
Mainland / Southwest
Employment in 2021:
3,130
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
2.2%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
1,350
North Coast & Nechako
Employment in 2021:
110
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.8%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
30
Northeast
Employment in 2021:
120
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.4%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
20
Thompson-Okanagan
Employment in 2021:
790
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
1.5%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
270
Vancouver Island / Coast
Employment in 2021:
790
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
2.0%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
370

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Ministers of religion perform some or all of the following duties:

  • conduct regular religious services
  • administer rites of faiths such as marriages and funerals
  • pray and promote spirituality by delivering sermons and other talks
  • provide spiritual and moral guidance to members of a religious faith
  • supervise, plan and administer programs of religious education
  • may participate in humanitarian endeavours, social services and welfare activities
  • may share in the administrative and financial operation of a religious community
  • may provide consultation services to government and other organizations.

Work environment

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in an office setting.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

4,600 workers are employed
60% 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

Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services:
92%
Health Care and Social Assistance:
3%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services:
1%
Educational Services:
1%
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

Source: 2016 Census

Career paths and resources

Career paths

Counsellors usually become specialized in a particular area through training and experience.
 
Progression to social service management positions is possible with additional training and experience.

Additional resources

Additional resources are not currently available for this career.

Profile last updated:
March 25, 2021
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