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Bishop vs senior pastor

The differences between bishops and senior pastors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a bishop and a senior pastor. Additionally, a senior pastor has an average salary of $45,556, which is higher than the $34,665 average annual salary of a bishop.

The top three skills for a bishop include alumni, community services and . The most important skills for a senior pastor are community outreach, pastoral care, and overseer.

Bishop vs senior pastor overview

BishopSenior Pastor
Yearly salary$34,665$45,556
Hourly rate$16.67$21.90
Growth rate--
Number of jobs257466
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age5151
Years of experience44

Bishop vs senior pastor salary

Bishops and senior pastors have different pay scales, as shown below.

BishopSenior Pastor
Average salary$34,665$45,556
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $48,000Between $29,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City-San Diego, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-Bethel Church
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between bishop and senior pastor education

There are a few differences between a bishop and a senior pastor in terms of educational background:

BishopSenior Pastor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common majorTheologyTheology
Most common collegeEmory UniversityEmory University

Bishop vs senior pastor demographics

Here are the differences between bishops' and senior pastors' demographics:

BishopSenior Pastor
Average age5151
Gender ratioMale, 58.6% Female, 41.4%Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 67.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 6.6% White, 68.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between bishop and senior pastor duties and responsibilities

Bishop example responsibilities.

  • Develop, provide oversight and lead all ministries for middle school and high school students and their parents.
  • Sort and organize bulk monthly mailings and alumni quarterly mailings.
  • Lead the church in developing a process driven discipleship strategy in growing maturing disciples and disciple-makers enhance.
  • Develop deacons in fulfilling their respective leadership obligations.

Senior pastor example responsibilities.

  • Manage and provide oversight for the administration of all ministry areas within the organization.
  • Emphasize Christ-centered teaching, fervent prayer, multilevel family Christian education programs, evangelism and mission outreaches.
  • Encourage servant evangelism and outreach through numerous community service projects i.e.
  • Major responsibilities include purchasing or developing curriculum, group leadership, volunteer recruitment and training.
  • Major responsibilities include purchasing or developing curriculum, group leadership, volunteer recruitment and training.

Bishop vs senior pastor skills

Common bishop skills
  • Alumni, 50%
  • Community Services, 50%
Common senior pastor skills
  • Community Outreach, 22%
  • Pastoral Care, 11%
  • Overseer, 8%
  • Bible Study, 6%
  • GOD, 5%
  • Funeral Services, 4%

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