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Job outlook for district leaders in the United States
Are district leader jobs in demand?
District leader job and salary trends over time
District leader jobs over time
District leader job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,890 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,486 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,520 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,450 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,401 | 0.00% |
Average district leader salary over time
District leader salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $79,496 | $38.22 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $77,295 | $37.16 | --0.1% |
| 2023 | $77,410 | $37.22 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $77,011 | $37.02 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $76,167 | $36.62 | +1.6% |
District leader jobs by state
Most common states for district leaders
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 244 | 35% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,432 | 21% |
| 3 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 162 | 21% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 158 | 18% |
| 5 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 655 | 16% |
| 6 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 505 | 16% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 310 | 16% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 171 | 16% |
| 9 | Alaska | 739,795 | 118 | 16% |
| 10 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 317 | 15% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 158 | 15% |
| 12 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,003 | 14% |
| 13 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 215 | 4% |
| 14 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 56 | 4% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 38 | 4% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 23 | 4% |
| 17 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 263 | 3% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 231 | 3% |
| 19 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 132 | 3% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 111 | 3% |
Most common cities for district leaders
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Woonsocket | 1 | 2% | $93,216 |
| 2 | Fort Wayne | 2 | 1% | $76,183 |
| 3 | Bolingbrook | 1 | 1% | $71,483 |
| 4 | Dothan | 1 | 1% | $80,593 |
| 5 | Vancouver | 1 | 1% | $80,958 |
| 6 | New York | 4 | 0% | $87,529 |
| 7 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $73,816 |
| 8 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $69,987 |
| 9 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $82,274 |
District Leader job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of district leader experts
University of Alaska Fairbanks
University of Maryland
Faulkner University
Goldey-Beacom College
Centenary College of Louisiana
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Bethel University
What District Leader skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jaunelle Celaire: Never stop learning! This may consist of going back to school, earning new certifications in your field of study, attending conferences and seminars, and making sure that your time management is always at its finest level of excellence.
Roland Rust Ph.D.
Distinguished University Professor, David Bruce Smith Chair in Marketing, Executive Director, Center for Excellence in Service, Ph.D., Business Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill MarketingUniversity of Maryland
Robert H. Smith School of Business
What skills stand out on District Leader resumes?
Roland Rust Ph.D.: One might think that a stellar sales record would be most important, but that would be most relevant only if the individual has prior sales manager experience. If promoting a salesperson to sales manager, the thing that may be missing is administrative and managerial skills. In addition, we are in a technological revolution, driven by AI, which means that prior knowledge and experience with AI-related analysis would also definitely stand out (although probably hard to find).
Steve Wages Ph.D.
Director, Cloverdale Center for Youth and FamilyFaulkner University
Cloverdale Center for Youth & Family
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the District Leader job market given the pandemic?
Steve Wages Ph.D.: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the pre-pandemic projections for employment of mental health counselors, including pastoral counselors, for 2019-2020 were very strong with growth being much faster than the average for all occupations. A recent report by the Barna Research Group compared pre-pandemic levels of relational, mental, and emotional health to the results of surveys of relational health, stress, and anxiety associated with the coronavirus, political, and racial tensions.
As expected, relational, emotional, and mental health struggles have been greatly amplified which will only serve to increase the need or demand for the services provided by pastoral counselors. However, it has also been reported that urban churches are experiencing a 15-25% decline in giving with rural churches reporting even greater declines. Consequently, budgets are being streamlined for sustainability which will likely have a negative impact on the hiring of pastoral counselors, at least full-time, in this employment sector. Because the need for pastoral counseling is so great, graduates should think strategically about how they market their services.
For example, my church community cannot afford a full-time pastoral counselor, but is looking to contract with a group in private practice who are serving the needs of multiple congregations. Graduates may need to look at joining such a group of pastoral counselors who provide counseling services on a contract basis. Further, I believe the economic stimulus may create additional jobs in other employment sectors for pastoral counselors.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on District Leaders?
Dr. Nicole Evans: The full impact of the coronavirus pandemic is not yet known. Some industries have been hit harder than others. For example, demand for courier and logistic services has increased during the pandemic. On the other hand, sales in the hospitality industry have declined. On a positive note, young graduates are very adaptable and are just beginning their careers. They are very flexible and have numerous career options, so the impact will probably not be enduring and long term for them.
Dr. Barbara Davis
William J. Atkins DeanCentenary College of Louisiana
Frost School of Business
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on District Leaders?
Dr. Barbara Davis: Graduates will be forever changed by the coronavirus pandemic. This major event during their academic careers is so far reaching and will impact the rest of their lives. This event will forever be remembered and utilized in all future decisions they make.
What experience really stands out on District Leader resumes?
Dr. Barbara Davis: Graduates participating in internships related to their areas of interest. Internships spanning more than one semester at the same firm stand out as well.
What skills stand out on District Leader resumes?
Dr. Timothy Edwards: Writing and research skills. Analytical and critical thinking skills. Technical skills such as web design, graphic design, audio and video production skills. Employers are interested in potential employees knowledge, intelligence and skills.
Jessica Tangen Daniels Ph.D.
Associate Provost - Innovation and Partnerships, Program Director/Professor, Ed.D. Leadership in Higher EducationBethel University
Education Leadership
What skills will help District Leaders earn the most?
Jessica Tangen Daniels Ph.D.: For educational leaders, I'm not convinced discrete skills equate to salary. Working hard and working well with others, with a disposition of humility and curiosity, is really powerful. Perhaps the combination of soft and hard skills gained through diverse experiences, positions, and institutional contexts results in the highest earning potential.