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Job outlook for directors of religious activities in the United States
Director of religious activities job and salary trends over time
Director of religious activities jobs over time
Director of religious activities job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 30 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 33 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 33 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 33 | 0.00% |
Average director of religious activities salary over time
Director of religious activities salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $61,176 | $29.41 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $59,480 | $28.60 | +7.5% |
| 2023 | $55,344 | $26.61 | +4.7% |
| 2022 | $52,862 | $25.41 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | $52,361 | $25.17 | --0.4% |
Director of religious activities jobs by state
Most common states for directors of religious activities
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 518 | 16% |
| 2 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 494 | 16% |
| 3 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 446 | 11% |
| 4 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 505 | 10% |
| 5 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 491 | 10% |
| 6 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 302 | 10% |
| 7 | New York | 19,849,399 | 106 | 1% |
| 8 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 15 | 1% |
| 9 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 14 | 1% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 8 | 1% |
| 11 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 7 | 1% |
| 12 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 3 | 1% |
| 13 | California | 39,536,653 | 59 | 0% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 20 | 0% |
| 15 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 18 | 0% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 6 | 0% |
| 17 | Alaska | 739,795 | 3 | 0% |
| 18 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 3 | 0% |
| 19 | Vermont | 623,657 | 3 | 0% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 2 | 0% |
Director Of Religious Activities job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of director of religious activities experts
Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology
Deacon Dr. Steve Kramer D.Min.
Director of Homiletics (Preaching), Director of Recruitment, and Associate Professor of Pastoral StudiesSacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology
Theological And Ministerial Studies
What general advice would you give to a Director Of Religious Activities?
Deacon Dr. Steve Kramer D.Min.: Once a student has completed their M.Div. (Masters of Divinity) or MA (Masters in Theology) they would return to the diocese who sponsored them for their studies to begin their vocation as priests for the Roman Catholic Church. However, we also have lay students earning their degree in theology who may be going on to teach in the Catholic school system or to begin employment with a diocese/archdiocese in various capacities (Administration, Director of Religious Education, or Pastoral Associate).
What Director Of Religious Activities skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Deacon Dr. Steve Kramer D.Min.: Business and accounting skills, human resources, and organizational skills are extremely important for both lay employees and priests/pastors. Additionally, for priests/pastors – public speaking/communication skills are a mainstay of the vocation. Preaching, teaching, leading retreats, staff meetings, and other community events all require excellent communication skills.
What will help Directors Of Religious Activities increase their earning potential?
Deacon Dr. Steve Kramer D.Min.: Priest salaries and compensation are generally set by each individual diocese, so there is little to no negotiation in that regard. However, for lay employees (Religious Education Directors, administrators, business managers, etc.) there are a wide variety of ways to increase one’s salary potential. Ultimately, if you are able to assist a pastor in multiple ways, your salary can be negotiated more than if you only have one specific skill set. The best thing to do is to jump in, learn as much as you can, and make yourself available to your boss (just like any job). The more enthusiastic and helpful you are, the more you learn, and the more responsibilities you take on, there is an excellent chance of increasing your salary potential.
What general advice would you give to a Director Of Religious Activities?
Hosffman Ospino PhD: Religious educators like being in a field that allows them to connect with the most intimate questions people ask every day, and do so from a faith-based perspective. As in the case of most educators, religious educators are not always fully appreciated and well-compensated.
What Director Of Religious Activities skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Hosffman Ospino PhD: Most people in the United States and elsewhere give religion a prominent space in their lives. There are tens of thousands of communities and faith-based institutions and organizations that need well-prepared religious educators.
What will help Directors Of Religious Activities increase their earning potential?
Hosffman Ospino PhD: Religious educators usually work in faith-based contexts forming people in values out of particular religious traditions or teaching students about the religions that give meaning to most people in the world.