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Best states for a minister
Quoted expert
Peter Kapsner Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you wondering which place in the United States is the best state for ministers? Knowing how challenging it is to figure out where to start your career or where to move to advance your career, we decided to bring you a list of best states for minister jobs.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of ministers in America is $58,000.
We figured that the best places for minister jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a minister, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for ministers in 2026
1. Delaware
Total minister jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $59,843 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 0
2. Rhode Island
Total minister jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,293 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $85,000 Location Quotient: 0
3. West Virginia
Total minister jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $54,157 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0
4. Maine
Total minister jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $55,761 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 0
5. Connecticut
Total minister jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $54,171 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $79,000 Location Quotient: 0
6. District of Columbia
Total minister jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,129 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location Quotient: 0
7. Massachusetts
Total minister jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $53,683 Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000 Location Quotient: 0
8. Vermont
Total minister jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $50,519 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 0
9. New York
Total minister jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $50,868 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $75,000 Location Quotient: 2.97
10. New Hampshire
Total minister jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $49,349 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 0
Minister jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a minister
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a minister
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $59,843 | $40,000 | 961,939 | 0 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $58,293 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $54,157 | $36,000 | 1,815,857 | 0 |
| 4 | Maine | $55,761 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 0 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $54,171 | $36,000 | 3,588,184 | 0 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $58,129 | $39,000 | 693,972 | 0 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $53,683 | $36,000 | 6,859,819 | 0 |
| 8 | Vermont | $50,519 | $35,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 9 | New York | $50,868 | $34,000 | 19,849,399 | 4 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $49,349 | $34,000 | 1,342,795 | 0 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $47,043 | $35,000 | 579,315 | 0 |
| 12 | Arizona | $48,579 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 0 |
| 13 | Virginia | $47,954 | $32,000 | 8,470,020 | 2 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $43,658 | $31,000 | 6,715,984 | 2 |
| 15 | Idaho | $45,684 | $34,000 | 1,716,943 | 0 |
| 16 | Washington | $46,321 | $34,000 | 7,405,743 | 0 |
| 17 | Maryland | $49,087 | $32,000 | 6,052,177 | 0 |
| 18 | Nevada | $43,705 | $31,000 | 2,998,039 | 0 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $42,929 | $31,000 | 5,024,369 | 1 |
| 20 | California | $49,056 | $34,000 | 39,536,653 | 3 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $43,935 | $29,000 | 12,805,537 | 1 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $47,249 | $31,000 | 9,005,644 | 0 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $50,186 | $40,000 | 1,427,538 | 0 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $42,565 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 1 |
| 25 | Michigan | $41,704 | $28,000 | 9,962,311 | 0 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $41,995 | $30,000 | 5,795,483 | 0 |
| 27 | Indiana | $41,488 | $29,000 | 6,666,818 | 0 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $40,924 | $31,000 | 755,393 | 0 |
| 29 | Oregon | $43,204 | $30,000 | 4,142,776 | 0 |
| 30 | Utah | $41,370 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 0 |
| 31 | Colorado | $42,943 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 0 |
| 32 | Florida | $41,883 | $30,000 | 20,984,400 | 0 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $39,489 | $27,000 | 10,273,419 | 2 |
| 34 | Iowa | $38,758 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 0 |
| 35 | Kansas | $38,834 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 0 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $38,668 | $28,000 | 2,088,070 | 0 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $37,339 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 2 |
| 38 | Texas | $38,814 | $27,000 | 28,304,596 | 3 |
| 39 | Georgia | $38,594 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 0 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $37,417 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 0 |
| 41 | Ohio | $35,531 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 2 |
| 42 | Missouri | $37,636 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 0 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $33,172 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 2 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $33,622 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 1 |
| 45 | Alabama | $36,387 | $26,000 | 4,874,747 | 0 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $37,005 | $26,000 | 4,684,333 | 0 |
| 47 | Illinois | $34,455 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 4 |
| 48 | Montana | $31,821 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 0 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $31,958 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 0 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $30,071 | $22,000 | 1,920,076 | 0 |
| 51 | Alaska | $28,061 | $22,000 | 739,795 | 0 |
Highest paying states for ministers
| Rank | State | Avg. Minister Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $59,843 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $58,293 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $54,157 |
| 4 | Maine | $55,761 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $54,171 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $58,129 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $53,683 |
| 8 | Vermont | $50,519 |
| 9 | New York | $50,868 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $49,349 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $47,043 |
| 12 | Arizona | $48,579 |
| 13 | Virginia | $47,954 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $43,658 |
| 15 | Idaho | $45,684 |
| 16 | Washington | $46,321 |
| 17 | Maryland | $49,087 |
| 18 | Nevada | $43,705 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $42,929 |
| 20 | California | $49,056 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $43,935 |
| 22 | New Jersey | $47,249 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $50,186 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $42,565 |
| 25 | Michigan | $41,704 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $41,995 |
| 27 | Indiana | $41,488 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $40,924 |
| 29 | Oregon | $43,204 |
| 30 | Utah | $41,370 |
| 31 | Colorado | $42,943 |
| 32 | Florida | $41,883 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $39,489 |
| 34 | Iowa | $38,758 |
| 35 | Kansas | $38,834 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $38,668 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $37,339 |
| 38 | Texas | $38,814 |
| 39 | Georgia | $38,594 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $37,417 |
| 41 | Ohio | $35,531 |
| 42 | Missouri | $37,636 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $33,172 |
| 44 | Arkansas | $33,622 |
| 45 | Alabama | $36,387 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $37,005 |
| 47 | Illinois | $34,455 |
| 48 | Montana | $31,821 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $31,958 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $30,071 |
| 51 | Alaska | $28,061 |
Expert opinions on the best states for ministers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for ministers to find work opportunities?
Peter Kapsner Ph.D.
Teaching Partner, Bethel University & Seminary
Social organizations and non-profits still appear to be thriving in the USA, but their focus is also increasingly less spiritual. Churches have fewer and fewer opportunities. Missiologists undoubtedly will have opportunities to bring "good news" for social and physical needs, as they should, but the needs of the spirit in terms of the historical focus on sin, future, love, life, death, spiritual freedom, and eternity are less relevant to many today.
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Updated January 8, 2025