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Best states for a middle school minister
Quoted expert
Greg Cochran Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a middle school minister and really want to work at Santa Cruz High School? Turns out, your chances to become a middle school minister are better in some states than others.We wanted to look at the best states for middle school ministers -- where there are plenty of middle school minister jobs to go around and middle school ministers get paid what they deserve during every phase of their career.
In order to get you the best states for middle school ministers, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that Connecticut is the best state for middle school minister jobs, whereas South Dakota is the worst.
10 best states for middle school ministers in 2026
1. Connecticut
Total middle school minister jobs: 254 Average annual salary: $61,414 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000 Location Quotient: 2.57
2. New York
Total middle school minister jobs: 461 Average annual salary: $65,373 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.2
3. Washington
Total middle school minister jobs: 188 Average annual salary: $70,151 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
4. District of Columbia
Total middle school minister jobs: 51 Average annual salary: $64,670 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $100,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
5. New Jersey
Total middle school minister jobs: 338 Average annual salary: $54,780 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $84,000 Location Quotient: 1.43
6. Rhode Island
Total middle school minister jobs: 45 Average annual salary: $52,060 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
7. Maryland
Total middle school minister jobs: 221 Average annual salary: $58,756 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
8. Maine
Total middle school minister jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $52,237 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $69,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
9. California
Total middle school minister jobs: 764 Average annual salary: $59,882 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $93,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
10. Oregon
Total middle school minister jobs: 223 Average annual salary: $50,006 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.8
Middle school minister jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a middle school minister
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a middle school minister
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $61,414 | $40,000 | 3,588,184 | 254 |
| 2 | New York | $65,373 | $42,000 | 19,849,399 | 461 |
| 3 | Washington | $70,151 | $45,000 | 7,405,743 | 188 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $64,670 | $41,000 | 693,972 | 51 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $54,780 | $35,000 | 9,005,644 | 338 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $52,060 | $34,000 | 1,059,639 | 45 |
| 7 | Maryland | $58,756 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 221 |
| 8 | Maine | $52,237 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 35 |
| 9 | California | $59,882 | $38,000 | 39,536,653 | 764 |
| 10 | Oregon | $50,006 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 223 |
| 11 | Oklahoma | $47,670 | $33,000 | 3,930,864 | 124 |
| 12 | Nevada | $48,854 | $31,000 | 2,998,039 | 79 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $49,420 | $31,000 | 12,805,537 | 353 |
| 14 | Alaska | $49,046 | $39,000 | 739,795 | 42 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $52,777 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 180 |
| 16 | Illinois | $44,533 | $30,000 | 12,802,023 | 820 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $61,457 | $51,000 | 1,427,538 | 9 |
| 18 | Virginia | $52,082 | $33,000 | 8,470,020 | 163 |
| 19 | Vermont | $46,638 | $34,000 | 623,657 | 26 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $47,124 | $32,000 | 4,454,189 | 58 |
| 21 | Georgia | $48,578 | $34,000 | 10,429,379 | 142 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $45,049 | $32,000 | 3,004,279 | 52 |
| 23 | Delaware | $45,830 | $29,000 | 961,939 | 48 |
| 24 | Texas | $45,996 | $32,000 | 28,304,596 | 450 |
| 25 | Michigan | $41,925 | $27,000 | 9,962,311 | 340 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $45,938 | $33,000 | 755,393 | 12 |
| 27 | Kansas | $42,772 | $30,000 | 2,913,123 | 112 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $40,148 | $28,000 | 579,315 | 29 |
| 29 | Utah | $45,619 | $31,000 | 3,101,833 | 32 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $43,381 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 105 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $41,504 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 100 |
| 32 | Missouri | $39,754 | $28,000 | 6,113,532 | 261 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $41,657 | $29,000 | 5,024,369 | 102 |
| 34 | Ohio | $41,342 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 221 |
| 35 | Arizona | $39,430 | $26,000 | 7,016,270 | 307 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $42,218 | $27,000 | 1,815,857 | 17 |
| 37 | Florida | $43,735 | $32,000 | 20,984,400 | 268 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $39,967 | $28,000 | 5,576,606 | 265 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $39,609 | $27,000 | 2,088,070 | 78 |
| 40 | Alabama | $42,287 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 50 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $40,923 | $28,000 | 6,715,984 | 104 |
| 42 | Montana | $36,611 | $25,000 | 1,050,493 | 66 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $39,938 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 180 |
| 44 | Colorado | $37,908 | $26,000 | 5,607,154 | 247 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $35,051 | $24,000 | 1,342,795 | 101 |
| 46 | Idaho | $37,600 | $25,000 | 1,716,943 | 58 |
| 47 | Iowa | $38,543 | $26,000 | 3,145,711 | 89 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $37,697 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 43 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $36,588 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 46 |
| 50 | Indiana | $35,117 | $24,000 | 6,666,818 | 148 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $30,471 | $21,000 | 869,666 | 15 |
Highest paying states for middle school ministers
| Rank | State | Avg. Middle School Minister Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $61,414 |
| 2 | New York | $65,373 |
| 3 | Washington | $70,151 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $64,670 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $54,780 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $52,060 |
| 7 | Maryland | $58,756 |
| 8 | Maine | $52,237 |
| 9 | California | $59,882 |
| 10 | Oregon | $50,006 |
| 11 | Oklahoma | $47,670 |
| 12 | Nevada | $48,854 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $49,420 |
| 14 | Alaska | $49,046 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $52,777 |
| 16 | Illinois | $44,533 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $61,457 |
| 18 | Virginia | $52,082 |
| 19 | Vermont | $46,638 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $47,124 |
| 21 | Georgia | $48,578 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $45,049 |
| 23 | Delaware | $45,830 |
| 24 | Texas | $45,996 |
| 25 | Michigan | $41,925 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $45,938 |
| 27 | Kansas | $42,772 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $40,148 |
| 29 | Utah | $45,619 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $43,381 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $41,504 |
| 32 | Missouri | $39,754 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $41,657 |
| 34 | Ohio | $41,342 |
| 35 | Arizona | $39,430 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $42,218 |
| 37 | Florida | $43,735 |
| 38 | Minnesota | $39,967 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $39,609 |
| 40 | Alabama | $42,287 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $40,923 |
| 42 | Montana | $36,611 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $39,938 |
| 44 | Colorado | $37,908 |
| 45 | New Hampshire | $35,051 |
| 46 | Idaho | $37,600 |
| 47 | Iowa | $38,543 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $37,697 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $36,588 |
| 50 | Indiana | $35,117 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $30,471 |
Expert opinions on the best states for middle school ministers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for middle school ministers to find work opportunities?
Greg Cochran Ph.D.
Professor, California Baptist University
The church-based ministry will abound-and may even increase-throughout the United States. While the less flexible ministries, and those with financial challenges, may not endure through this economic climate, many other churches will adapt and overcome. Graduates with clear convictions, lovingly related to other people, will continue to have work to do. Opportunities will abound because neither human nature nor the nature of human longings has changed. The churches will still possess a resonating message of love, justice, and truth for all kinds of people.
In southern California, for example, a church just this month-while restrictions remain in place--still baptized 1,000 new congregants. Church ministry has endured for 2,000 years. Nimble churches will still be looking for leaders in the next ten years. Probably the patterns will remain the same across the country: churches that adapt will thrive, others will face closing. And new churches will be planted.
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Updated January 8, 2025