Hospital chaplain demographics and statistics in the US
Hospital chaplain demographics research summary. Zippia estimates hospital chaplain demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our hospital chaplain estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about hospital chaplains after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 7,140 hospital chaplains currently employed in the United States.
- 31.6% of all hospital chaplains are women, while 68.4% are men.
- The average hospital chaplain age is 51 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of hospital chaplains is White (67.5%), followed by Black or African American (12.1%), Hispanic or Latino (9.2%) and Asian (6.7%).
- In 2022, women earned 94% of what men earned.
- 16% of all hospital chaplains are LGBT.
- Hospital chaplains are 86% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
On this page
Hospital chaplain demographics by:
Hospital chaplain gender statistics
31.6% of hospital chaplains are women and 68.4% of hospital chaplains are men.
- Male, 68.4%
- Female, 31.6%
Hospital chaplain gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 68.4% |
| Female | 31.6% |
Hospital chaplain gender pay gap
Women earn 94¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$46,854
Female income
$43,982
Hospital chaplain gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in hospital chaplain positions over time. Currently, 31.6% of hospital chaplains are female.
Hospital chaplain gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.84% | 27.16% |
| 2011 | 71.98% | 28.02% |
| 2012 | 70.59% | 29.41% |
| 2013 | 71.63% | 28.37% |
| 2014 | 71.65% | 28.35% |
| 2015 | 69.83% | 30.17% |
| 2016 | 70.51% | 29.49% |
| 2017 | 68.94% | 31.06% |
| 2018 | 71.45% | 28.55% |
| 2019 | 70.92% | 29.08% |
| 2020 | 70.62% | 29.38% |
| 2021 | 68.36% | 31.64% |
Hospital chaplain related jobs gender ratio
We compared hospital chaplains with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, catholic priest and imam have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Director Of Preschool | 5% | 95% |
| Deaconess | 8% | 92% |
| Christian Science Nurse | 15% | 85% |
| Hospital Chaplain | 68% | 32% |
| Music Pastor | 93% | 7% |
| Imam | 94% | 6% |
| Catholic Priest | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Hospital chaplain demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among hospital chaplains is White, which makes up 67.5% of all hospital chaplains. Comparatively, 12.1% of hospital chaplains are Black or African American and 9.2% of hospital chaplains are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 67.5%
- Black or African American, 12.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 9.2%
- Asian, 6.7%
- Unknown, 4.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Hospital chaplain race
| Hospital chaplain race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 67.5% |
| Black or African American | 12.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.2% |
| Asian | 6.7% |
| Unknown | 4.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Hospital chaplain race and ethnicity over time
See how hospital chaplain racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Hospital chaplain race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75.59% | 10.58% | 5.38% | 6.91% |
| 2011 | 72.67% | 10.85% | 6.61% | 7.84% |
| 2012 | 73.93% | 10.86% | 5.92% | 7.21% |
| 2013 | 73.57% | 11.27% | 6.00% | 7.49% |
| 2014 | 72.51% | 10.65% | 6.26% | 8.28% |
| 2015 | 73.11% | 11.22% | 5.93% | 7.79% |
| 2016 | 71.72% | 11.28% | 7.09% | 8.16% |
| 2017 | 71.44% | 10.34% | 6.90% | 8.96% |
| 2018 | 73.22% | 10.06% | 6.27% | 8.34% |
| 2019 | 72.22% | 10.93% | 6.23% | 8.63% |
| 2020 | 69.65% | 10.82% | 7.52% | 8.18% |
| 2021 | 67.54% | 12.06% | 6.75% | 9.20% |
Hospital chaplain wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown hospital chaplains have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian hospital chaplains have the lowest average salary at $42,104.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $50,718 |
| White | $48,702 |
| Black or African American | $49,370 |
| Asian | $42,104 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $43,977 |
Average hospital chaplain age
See how the average age of hospital chaplains varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Hospital chaplain age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 56 | 59.5 |
| Unknown | 45.5 | 57.5 |
| Asian | 54 | 50 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 45 | 49 |
| White | 52 | 53 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 64.5 |
Hospital chaplain age breakdown
The average age of hospital chaplains is 40+ years years old, representing 77% of the hospital chaplain population.
Hospital chaplain age breakdown
| Hospital Chaplain Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 77% |
| 30-40 years | 17% |
| 20-30 years | 5% |
Hospital chaplain educational attainment
The most common degree for hospital chaplains is bachelor's degree, with 47% of hospital chaplains earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 39% and master's degree degree at 5%.
- Bachelor's, 47%
- Master's, 39%
- Doctorate, 5%
- Associate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Hospital chaplains by degree level
| Hospital chaplain degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 47% |
| Master's | 39% |
| Doctorate | 5% |
| Associate | 3% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Hospital chaplain jobs you might like
Hospital chaplain wage gap by degree level
According to the data, hospital chaplains with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $53,717 annually. With a Master's degree, hospital chaplains earn a median annual income of $52,337 compared to $46,354 for hospital chaplains with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $52,337 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $46,354 |
| Doctorate Degree | $53,717 |
Hospital chaplain employment statistics
Most hospital chaplains work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where hospital chaplains work
Below, you can see the size of companies where hospital chaplains work.
Hospital chaplain jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 5% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 18% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 13% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 41% |
| > 10,000 employees | 16% |
Hospital chaplain jobs by company type
Employees with the hospital chaplain job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most hospital chaplains prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Hospital chaplain jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 8% |
| Public | 1% |
| Private | 86% |
| Government | 5% |
Hospital chaplain jobs by industry
The most common industries for hospital chaplains are health care, education and non profits.
Hospital chaplain industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 77% |
| Education | 5% |
| Non Profits | 4% |
| Government | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Manufacturing | 1% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Professional | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Hospital chaplain turnover and employment statistics
Hospital chaplain unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for hospital chaplains between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Hospital chaplain unemployment rate by year
| Year | Hospital chaplain unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.37% |
| 2011 | 1.17% |
| 2012 | 1.38% |
| 2013 | 1.26% |
| 2014 | 0.97% |
| 2015 | 0.94% |
| 2016 | 0.92% |
| 2017 | 0.69% |
| 2018 | 0.72% |
| 2019 | 0.96% |
| 2020 | 0.99% |
| 2021 | 1.03% |
Average hospital chaplain tenure
The average hospital chaplain stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 475 hospital chaplains resumes in Zippia's database.
Hospital chaplain tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 16% |
| 1-2 years | 37% |
| 3-4 years | 16% |
| 5-7 years | 15% |
| 8-10 years | 4% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Hospital chaplain LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of hospital chaplains that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Peer Advisor | 8.30% | 45,590 |
| Mission Worker | 10.45% | 20,562 |
| Residential Assistant | 13.09% | 91,326 |
| Teacher Counselor | 13.47% | 83,305 |
| Hospital Chaplain | 15.69% | - |
| Religious Education Director | 16.29% | 15,059 |
| Medical Social Worker | 19.71% | 87,792 |
Similar hospital chaplain jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Peer Advisor | 8.30% | 45,590 |
| Mission Worker | 10.45% | 20,562 |
| Residential Assistant | 13.09% | 91,326 |
| Teacher Counselor | 13.47% | 83,305 |
| Religious Education Director | 16.29% | 15,059 |
| Medical Social Worker | 19.71% | 87,792 |
Foreign languages spoken by hospital chaplains
The most common foreign language among hospital chaplains is Spanish at 66.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 11.1% and Russian is the third-most popular at 5.6%.
- Spanish, 66.7%
- French, 11.1%
- Russian, 5.6%
- Korean, 5.6%
- Navajo, 5.6%
- Other, 5.4%
Hospital chaplain languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 66.7% |
| French | 11.1% |
| Russian | 5.6% |
| Korean | 5.6% |
| Navajo | 5.6% |
| Other | 5.4% |
