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How to hire a hospice chaplain

Hospice chaplain hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring hospice chaplains in the United States:

  • There are a total of 7,419 hospice chaplains in the US, and there are currently 9,571 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a hospice chaplain is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per hospice chaplain on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Denver, CO, has the highest demand for hospice chaplains, with 5 job openings.

How to hire a hospice chaplain, step by step

To hire a hospice chaplain, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a hospice chaplain:

Here's a step-by-step hospice chaplain hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a hospice chaplain job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new hospice chaplain
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a hospice chaplain, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A hospice chaplain's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, hospice chaplains from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of hospice chaplains.

    Type of Hospice ChaplainDescriptionHourly rate
    Hospice ChaplainA Hospice Chaplain provides care and comfort to patients nearing the end of life because of terminal illnesses. They collaborate with the community and the care team to ensure that care is in accord with the patient's faith.$16-36
    EvangelistThe primary job of an evangelist is to spread the gospel message, also known as the evangel. As an evangelist, you will travel from one place to another to preach the word of God... Show more$12-46
    PastorPastors are considered the leader of a church whose primary role is to give sermons to church members. They also have other duties, including conducting worship services, planning weekly sermons, and interpreting scriptures for the congregation... Show more$14-30
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • Home Health
    • Clinical Pastoral
    • Patient Care
    • Pastoral Care
    • Spiritual Care
    • Community Clergy
    • Emotional Support
    • Hospice Program
    • Compassion
    • CPE
    • Crisis Intervention
    • Hospice Care
    • IDT
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Provide direct spiritual and emotional support to patients and families depending on their individual spiritual beliefs.
    • Serve on CPE accreditation committee.
    • Work with clinical staff as part of the IDT team.
    • Provide direct supervision and training to CPE students in both a hospital setting and home care setting.
    • Maintain compliance in all documentation per Medicare guidelines.
    • Minister to the correctional facility staff through prayer and encouragement.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your hospice chaplain job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A hospice chaplain can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, hospice chaplains' average salary in florida is 47% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level hospice chaplains 54% less than senior-level hospice chaplains.
    • Certifications. A hospice chaplain with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a hospice chaplain's salary.

    Average hospice chaplain salary

    $52,027yearly

    $25.01 hourly rate

    Entry-level hospice chaplain salary
    $35,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 24, 2025
  4. Writing a hospice chaplain job description

    A good hospice chaplain job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a hospice chaplain job description:

    Hospice chaplain job description example

    Conduct a spiritual assessment as part of the comprehensive assessment within 5 days of admission to the hospice program.

    Assist in development and implementation of the interdisciplinary patient care plan as it pertains to spiritual care.

    Provide spiritual support in accordance with on-going wishes and needs of the patient/family in accordance with their religious preferences or definition of spirituality.

    Work in close collaboration with local clergy when desired by the patient.

    Maintain and submit written clinical records as deemed by the Agency, including the initial evaluation, the care plan and daily notes.

    Evaluate the patients and family's response to, and effectiveness of, the spiritual counseling.

    Confirm, on a weekly basis, the scheduling of visits with the patients’ Case Managers to facilitate coordination of other staff visits.

    Participate in IDG and QAPI meetings and activities.

    Conduct religious services of prayer, worship and rituals for patients/families, as appropriate.

    Working with other professionals in resolving spiritual/ethical issues.

    Provide spiritual and bereavement support to staff as needed.

    Provide consultation and education to the IDG on spiritual care.

    Provide funeral or memorial services for patient’s as requested.

    Assume responsibility for self-development by continually striving to improve his/her Spiritual practice through formal education, attendance at workshops and conferences, active participation in professional and related organizational meetings, and/or individual research and reading.


    JOB CONDITIONS

    The ability to access patients’ homes which may not be routinely wheelchair accessible is required.

    Physical activities will include, walking, sitting, stooping, and standing.


    EQUIPMENT OPERATION

    Utilization of computer, multi-line telephone, copy machine and other office equipment.


    COMPANY INFORMATION

    Has access to patient medical records.


    QUALIFICATIONS

    1. Ordained, commissioned or credentialed according to the practices of an organized religious group.

    OR

    Has a degree in theology or from a seminary.

    2. Comfortable in an interfaith setting.

    3. Hospice experience preferred.

    4. Able to accept different lifestyles, cultures, beliefs and values.

    5. Must be a licensed driver with an insured automobile in good working order.

    6. The ability to communicate well, both verbally and in writing.




    We look forward to hearing from you!


    "James River is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status."


  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find hospice chaplains for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your hospice chaplain job on Zippia to find and recruit hospice chaplain candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting hospice chaplains requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new hospice chaplain

    Once you've selected the best hospice chaplain candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new hospice chaplain. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a hospice chaplain?

Before you start to hire hospice chaplains, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire hospice chaplains pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $52,027 per year for a hospice chaplain, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for hospice chaplains in the US typically range between $16 and $36 an hour.

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