Professionals in Religion
(NOC 4154)
in All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community ServicesProfessionals in this group oversee religious services, administer the rites of a religious faith or denomination, provide spiritual and moral guidance, and do other tasks related with the practice of a religion. They carry out these duties in churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, or other places of worship. They may also work in other institutions like schools, hospitals, and prisons.
Job Outlook
Average
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Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
The employment outlook over the next few years for this occupational group is “average”, which indicates the chances of a qualified individual finding work is comparable to the average for all occupations in Nova Scotia. This is a fairly large occupation in Nova Scotia so job opportunities occur fairly regularly. The number employed in this occupation is expected to decline moderately over the next few years, which will likely limit the number of new opportunities available. With a large percent of workers being 55 years of age and older, retirements are expected to be a key contributor to employment opportunities over the coming years. Professionals in Religion most commonly work full-time hours.
The median employment income for 58% of Professionals in Religion who worked full-time, year-round in 2015 was $46,142. Across all occupations in Nova Scotia, 59% of those who worked full-time year round had a median employment income of $43,600.
(Source: 2016 Census)
Hourly Pay
$15.00
Minimum$24.04
Median$33.65
MaximumAnnual Pay
$8,862
Minimum$37,988
Median$65,937
MaximumCompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Hourly Pay
$14.74
Minimum$33.28
Median$46.76
MaximumAnnual Pay
$5,616
Minimum$44,335
Median$92,599
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Professionals in this group oversee religious services, administer the rites of a religious faith or denomination, provide spiritual and moral guidance, and do other tasks related with the practice of a religion. They carry out these duties in churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, or other places of worship. They may also work in other institutions like schools, hospitals, and prisons.
Job duties
Ministers of religion:
- Conduct regular religious services.
- Administer rites of faiths like marriages and funerals.
- Pray and promote spirituality by giving sermons and other talks.
- Provide spiritual and moral guidance to members of a religious faith.
- Supervise, plan, and administer religious education programs.
- May participate in humanitarian, social service, and welfare activities.
- May share in the administrative and financial operation of a religious community.
- May provide consultation services to government and other organizations.
Sample job titles
- chaplain
- clergyman/woman
- evangelist
- imam
- minister
- pastor
- preacher
- priest
- rabbi
- reverend
Skills
You should be sensitive, reliable, discreet, and interested in serving the needs of others. Patience, self-discipline, and emotional stability are also important. You must be able to communicate clearly, both spoken and in writing. Leadership and organizational skills are necessary. An understanding of human nature and the behavioural sciences is essential for counselling.
Job requirements
- Educational requirements vary, depending on the religion, and range from the completion of a college or other program in religious studies to a master's of divinity degree.
Other considerations
These jobs may require working long and irregular hours in administrative, educational, and community service activities. A period of study with a senior minister is usually required. Progression to senior positions included in this group, within a religious order, is possible with experience.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
Southern
Annapolis Valley
North Shore
Cape Breton
Compared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration
Health care and social assistance
What is the age of Employment?
65+
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
15-24
Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
35-44
45-54
25-34
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
Master
$42,836 median annual incomeBachelor
$35,973 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$29,765 median annual incomeDoctorate
$56,493 median annual incomeHigh school
$43,806 median annual incomeCompared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services
Bachelor
$45,929 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$35,398 median annual incomeMaster
$71,043 median annual incomeHigh school
$29,055 median annual incomeDoctorate
$100,443 median annual incomeEducation & training
Divinity/Ministry (BDiv, MDiv)
College or University ProgramThese programs prepare students for ordination as ministers or priests in any of the Christian religious traditions. They include courses in the theology and polity of a particular church, church law, liturgy and ritual, principles of pastoral ministry, homiletics, evangelism, church/parish organization and management, Christian ethics, church history, and related studies.
Institutions providing this program
Wolfville, NS
Lay Ministry
College or University ProgramThese programs prepare non-ordained individuals to serve as lay pastors, religious educators, youth leaders, and other professional positions open to the laity in local churches and other settings. They include courses in bible studies, theology, spirituality, pastoral counselling, foundations of ministry, effective communication, and church leadership.
Institutions providing this program
Philosophy
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. They include courses in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.
Institutions providing this program
Wolfville, NS
Sydney, NS
Religion/Religious Studies
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on the nature of religious belief and specific religious and quasi-religious systems. They include courses in phenomenology, the sociology, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, literature and art of religion, mythology, scriptural and textual studies, religious history and politics, and specific studies of particular faith communities and their behaviour.
Institutions providing this program
Wolfville, NS
Sydney, NS
Theology/Theological Studies
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on the beliefs and doctrine of a particular religious faith from the intramural point of view of that faith. They include courses in systematic theology, historical theology, moral theology, doctrinal studies, dogmatics, apologetics, and applications to specific questions of ecclesiastical polity and religious life.
Institutions providing this program
Wolfville, NS
Youth Ministry
College or University ProgramThese programs prepare the ordained clergy and other religious professionals to provide spiritual, counselling, and leadership services to children, adolescents, and young adults. They include courses in child and adolescent psychology, human growth and development, family studies, communication skills, religious education, youth counselling, small group leadership, planning and organizing youth activities, volunteer supervision, and youth evangelism and worship.
Institutions providing this program
Employment requirements & contacts
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Contacts
Additional resources
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