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Job outlook for junior high pastors in the United States
Are junior high pastor jobs in demand?
Junior high pastor job and salary trends over time
Junior high pastor jobs over time
Junior high pastor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 445 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 421 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 462 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 460 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 454 | 0.00% |
Average junior high pastor salary over time
Junior high pastor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $55,994 | $26.92 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $54,443 | $26.17 | +7.5% |
| 2023 | $50,657 | $24.35 | +4.7% |
| 2022 | $48,385 | $23.26 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | $47,926 | $23.04 | --0.4% |
Junior high pastor jobs by state
Most common states for junior high pastors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 100 | 14% |
| 2 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 404 | 7% |
| 3 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 425 | 5% |
| 4 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 145 | 5% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 160 | 3% |
| 6 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 131 | 3% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 38 | 3% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 31 | 3% |
| 9 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 27 | 3% |
| 10 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 20 | 3% |
| 11 | California | 39,536,653 | 635 | 2% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 166 | 2% |
| 13 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 156 | 2% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 150 | 2% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 77 | 2% |
| 16 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 53 | 2% |
| 17 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 38 | 2% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 24 | 2% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 22 | 2% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 15 | 2% |
Most common cities for junior high pastors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $77,771 |
Junior High Pastor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of junior high pastor experts
Judson University
Pacific Christian College of Ministry and Biblical Studies
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Southern Methodist University
What Junior High Pastor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rev. Elliott Anderson: The best way to maximize your salary in pastoral ministries is to not focus on it. Find a job in ministry you love and allow the financial returns to follow a strong work ethic, a recognition and acceptance of your current role, and a consideration of further ones that have more earning potential, but only as they fit the man or woman you are and want to be. One of the biggest mistakes in ministry is leaving a job we love and are effective in to simply earn more money in a different role that we don't like, that doesn't fit our spiritual gifts or experience, and where we quickly lose our joy in the faith and our joy in our pastoral roles.
What will help Junior High Pastors increase their earning potential?
Rev. Elliott Anderson: Listening. We must return to men and women of faith who are exceptional listeners with steady eye contact, nonverbal acceptance, open posture, warm and welcoming smiles and sincere holistic empathy. And after we set the baseline of foundational engagement, we must be active listeners which includes validation and affirmation of the person regardless of our views of their strengths, weaknesses, successes, failures, gifts, and sin. Too many Pastors, like to hear our own understanding of wisdom which often blocks the one we are ministering to from gaining the wisdom for themselves. Listening is a skill we can develop and even master, but very few people, even within the listening professions, like Pastors and Ministers, learn to do it well or intentionally focus on becoming an outstanding listener.
Dr. Robbie Phillips
Professor of Biblical Studies, Chair, Undergraduate Ministry ProgramPacific Christian College of Ministry and Biblical Studies
What skills stand out on Junior High Pastor resumes?
Dr. Robbie Phillips: -Communication and leadership:
-Communication - both interpersonal and public speaking
-Leadership - administrative and organizational, but also leading people
Christian character and worldview is a quality that one might say "goes without saying."
What soft skills should all Junior High Pastors possess?
Dr. Robbie Phillips: This would be dominated by relational skills, interpersonal communication skills, general people skills, and conflict resolution.
What skills will help Junior High Pastors earn the most?
Dr. Robbie Phillips: Communication skills and leadership. (especially within the context of proven organizational leadership success).
Leah Thomas Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care and Contextual EducationAnabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Church and Ministry
What skills stand out on Junior High Pastor resumes?
Leah Thomas Ph.D.: The question of what "stands out" differs by the values of the particular denomination and those of the local church within that denomination. For example, a Mennonite Church would likely be looking for someone with skills in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, but this could also differ depending on the needs of the local church community. A congregation in the United Methodist Church might privilege different skills, such as visionary leadership.
What soft skills should all Junior High Pastors possess?
Leah Thomas Ph.D.: In my students, I encourage the development of soft skills such as deep listening, empathy, authenticity, flexibility, integrity, trustworthiness, and a collaborative leadership style. These skills exist alongside commitments to ongoing spiritual formation, self and theological reflection and reflexivity, ongoing education and supervision, and care of the self's physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual parts.
What skills stand out on Junior High Pastor resumes?
Dr. Jill DeTemple Ph.D.: Our graduates tell us employers often note the rarity of religious studies degrees, and then go on to remark with excitement about things like intercultural competence and communication skills that the degree supports. For more on that see: Smu
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Junior High Pastors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jill DeTemple Ph.D.: We're not a field (read here as industry), so this question doesn't exactly pertain. Our graduates end up all over the country and in international work, from Los Angeles to the Rio Grande Valley, to New York, to Chicago, to Ulan Bator.