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NOC 42204: Religion workers

Official definition · Statistics Canada NOC 2021 v1.0 · statcan.gc.ca ↗

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.

Median Pay$20.19/hrPrevailing median rate
TEER LevelLevel 2Express Entry pool
Priority StreamGeneral StreamCategory draws
Official Titles32 TitlesGovernment aliases
Interactive Reference Letter Tool

Official Main Duties for NOC 42204

Select the duties you perform in your actual job. Under IRCC guidelines, you must perform at least 60% of these duties for a successful work permit or PR reference letter.

32 official aliases
Checklist (5 official duties):Click each to toggle
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IRCC Reference Letter Rule:

Your employer reference letter must confirm you performed the main actions described in the duties above. Avoid copying words directly from the NOC description — officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.

Live Match Score⚠ Needs 3 More
0%
0 of 5 selected
0%60% Recommended100%
Below 60% Target (0%)To qualify for NOC 42204, your employer letter should verify at least 3 main duties. Select 3 more to see if your experience matches.
Minimum Needed3 Duties
Current StatusIncomplete

Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 42204

Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Religion workers is categorized under TEER 2. Occupations in this tier typically require completion of a 2- to 3-year post-secondary diploma, apprenticeship training, or specialized technical certifications.

Express Entry Alignment

Qualifies directly for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. Work experience must be full-time (or equivalent part-time) and continuous for at least one year.

Target Category Status

Currently evaluated under standard General and CEC invitation rounds, or targeted through provincial in-demand lists such as Ontario (OINP), British Columbia (BC PNP), or Alberta (AAIP).

NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 Transition & Equivalency

Open Full NOC Converter Tool

Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, this occupation was mapped under the following 4-digit code(s). When preparing your Express Entry profile or work reference letters, you must use the new 5-digit code NOC 42204.

Former NOC 42174-Digit Legacy
Other religious occupations
VC1 - Code Change
Job Bank Open Data (2025/2026)

Regional Wages Across Canada

Legal Benchmark for LMIA

Under Canadian immigration law, an employer hiring you under an LMIA must pay you at least the median wage listed below for your province.

Province / TerritoryLow WageMedian WageHigh Wage
Canada (National Average)$15$20.19/hr$37.61
Prince Edward Island$16.5/hr$19.72/hr$30.4/hr
Nova Scotia$17.35/hr$24.8/hr$32.59/hr
New Brunswick$16.62/hr$23.31/hr$32.33/hr
Quebec$18/hr$25/hr$43.54/hr
Ontario$17.6/hr$21/hr$36/hr
Manitoba$16/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/hr

🏙️Top Metropolitan Cities Wage Rates (ESDC 2025/2026)

Economic Region Benchmarks

Official ESDC prevailing median wages across major Canadian metropolitan regions. Crucial for LMIA prevailing wage compliance and local job offer evaluations.

Montréal
$24.44/hr
$18.16 - $37.37
Toronto
$21/hr
$17.6 - $36
Calgary
$24.77/hr
$17.83 - $34.87
Edmonton
$25.34/hr
$18.91 - $34.98
Vancouver
$19.96/hr
$17.85 - $25

Employment Requirements

These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:

  • 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.

Official Job Titles for NOC 42204

32 Titles Listed

If your current job title matches any of these official examples, this NOC code is likely the right choice for your Express Entry reference letter:

brother/sister - religionChristian science practitionerdeaconmissionarymonknunpastoral animatorreligious education workerSalvation Army field workeranimator - spiritual guidancecantorChristian Science nurse - non-medicalChristian science workerchurch workercorporate intercessordeaconessexegetefaith healergospel workerhazzanhome mission worker - religionmohelmother superior/religious superiornovice - religionpantheepostulantragireligious superior - religious communityreligious superior/mother superiorSalvation Army captainSalvation Army workersister/brother - religion

Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)

Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:

Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 42204 (Religion workers)

Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.

Yes. Because NOC 42204 is classified as TEER 2, it qualifies for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry.
For an LMIA work permit, your employer must offer at least the median wage of $20.19/hr (or the prevailing median rate in your specific Canadian province of employment).
Under Section 75(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), your employment reference letter must confirm you perform the actions in the lead statement and a substantial number (recommended at least 60%) of the official main duties listed above. You do not need to perform 100% of the duties.
Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, Religion workers was categorized under NOC 4217 (Other religious occupations). In NOC 2021, it transitioned to NOC 42204 under TEER 2.
According to official ESDC Job Bank benchmarks, the prevailing median rate for NOC 42204 is $24.44/hr in Montréal, $21/hr in Toronto, $24.77/hr in Calgary, $25.34/hr in Edmonton, $19.96/hr in Vancouver.
Next Steps for NOC 42204

Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs

Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 42204, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.

Last verified: September 2026