Priest Salary in Canada

In 2025, the median wage for priests was $27.53/hr.

Priests in Canada

Priests in Canada, classified under NOC 41302 as religious leaders, conduct religious services, administer rites such as marriages and funerals, provide spiritual guidance, and support their communities in churches and other settings. Catholic priests alone numbered around 6,200 in recent years, while the broader group of religious leaders includes ministers, imams, rabbis and others across denominations. Salaries vary significantly by denomination, location and role, with national median hourly wages around 27 to 28 dollars and annual earnings often ranging from 35,000 to 70,000 Canadian dollars or more, frequently supplemented by housing allowances or benefits. Job prospects are mixed with steady demand driven by retirements and community needs, though overall openings may be limited by declining participation in some faiths and varying regional opportunities. Work conditions typically involve irregular hours exceeding 40 per week including evenings, weekends and holidays for services and pastoral care, with roles demanding strong interpersonal skills, theological education such as a master’s in divinity, and a period of supervised training. Employment is often full time at around 70 percent, centered in places of worship, with additional duties in hospitals, schools or correctional facilities.

PRIEST (NOC 41302)
2025	Wages/hr
Community/Area	Low	Median	High
Canada	17.31	27.53	44.07
Newfoundland and Labrador	16.35	23.56	31.00
Prince Edward Island	20.00	27.03	43.27
Nova Scotia	16.75	25.39	40.87
New Brunswick	15.90	24.04	33.42
Quebec	16.83	23.08	35.90
Ontario	18.46	28.85	57.69
Manitoba	16.00	24.62	33.65
Saskatchewan	15.38	26.67	38.46
Alberta	19.23	26.25	44.07
British Columbia	17.85	30.00	39.42
Yukon Territory	24.49	34.01	54.66
Northwest Territories	21.61	36.69	50.44
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. 2026

In Canada, the median wage for priests and religious professionals was $23.08/hr. in 2016

Salaries for construction labourers vary by province. In 2016, they reported the highest wages in Ontario.

PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONS IN RELIGION (NOC 4154-A)
2016	Wages ($/hr)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	11.54	23.08	38
Ontario	11.54	22.44	41.5
Québec	10.75	21	40
Alberta	14.13	26.44	39.23
Saskatchewan	12.12	21.94	36.06
British Columbia	10.85	24.04	35
Newfoundland and Labrador	10.5	19.71	33
New Brunswick	10.65	19.71	31
Prince Edward Island	14.42	20.19	30.77
Nova Scotia	10.7	20	30.53
Manitoba	13.46	21.63	28.85
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yukon	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. November 2016*

*Wages are reviewed and updated on the Job Bank Web site on an annual basis.

Licensing

This occupation is not regulated in Canada. This means that you are not required to be registered with one of the provincial or territorial regulatory bodies to be authorized to practise this occupation in Canada.