The Canadian Unitarian Council joins the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in calling congregations to compensate all staff within the salary range of the Unitarian UUA Fair Compensation Guidelines program. For ordained clergy, the salary is comprised of salary and housing. The information prepared by the UUA in the following guidelines refer to specific health insurance, retirement fund and tax information which is relevant in the US. However, the principles outlined and some of the issues are useful in a Canadian context.

The recommended salary ranges are based on wage rates (not the cost-of-living) in communities across Canada. Communities where (or near) our congregations are located have been assigned one of five Geographic (Geo) Indices based on wages paid in that community. Based on research done by the UUA, the salary ranges are appropriate and equitable for the Canadian context, and the salary figures should be read as the equivalent of the Canadian dollar.

• Job descriptions for Salary Recommendations
• Geo Index Table (Word): reflects variations in wages actually paid by geographical area. The table for Canada is reassessed only every few years. Currently, Canadians are still referencing the 2016 Geo Index Table.
• Once you have identified the Geo Index for your community you may use the following Salary Recommendations to set compensation for your congregation’s staff. If you are not yet able to compensate staff according to these recommendations they will help you set compensation goals.
• 2020-2021 Salary Recommendations follow:
  • Geo Index 1 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
  • Geo Index 2 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
  • Geo Index 3 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
  • Geo Index 4 Salary Recommendations 2019-2020 (PDF)
  • Geo Index 5 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
  • Geo Index 6 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
  • Geo Index 7 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
• More information may be found here on the UUA website under Salary Recommendations for Congregational Staff.
• The UUA supports and trains compensation consultants, including Canadian consultants. These consultants support congregations in understanding compensation guidelines and help them to develop compensation packages which reflect our values. The Canadian Compensation consultants are Barry Coburn and Nicoline Guerrier, and you can reach them at  compconsultca@uua.org. Find more information on compensation consultants.