Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for missionaries in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- There are over 9,044 missionaries currently employed in the United States.
- 34.6% of all missionaries are women, while 65.4% are men.
- The average age of an employed missionary is 49 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of missionaries is White (64.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (13.0%), Asian (9.5%) and Black or African American (8.4%).
- In 2021, women earned 82% of what men earned.
- 28% of all missionaries are LGBT.
- Missionaries are 67% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
Missionary Statistics By Gender
34.6% of missionaries are women and 65.4% of missionaries are men.
- Male, 65.4%
- Female, 34.6%
Missionaries By Gender
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 65.4% |
| Female | 34.6% |
Gender Pay Gap For Missionary
Women Earn 82¢ For Every $1 Earned By Men
Missionary Gender Over Time
This data shows how men and women predominate in the missionary position over time.
Missionary Gender By Year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.14% | 30.86% |
| 2011 | 71.19% | 28.81% |
| 2012 | 67.32% | 32.68% |
| 2013 | 72.61% | 27.39% |
| 2014 | 65.87% | 34.13% |
| 2015 | 68.52% | 31.48% |
| 2016 | 68.99% | 31.01% |
| 2017 | 67.45% | 32.55% |
| 2018 | 65.90% | 34.10% |
| 2019 | 58.54% | 41.46% |
| 2020 | 67.35% | 32.65% |
| 2021 | 65.43% | 34.57% |
Missionary Male to Female Ratio
We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, catholic priest and imam have the biggest difference in gender.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Director Of Preschool | 5% | 95% |
| Deaconess | 8% | 92% |
| Christian Science Nurse | 15% | 85% |
| Missionary | 65% | 35% |
| Music Pastor | 93% | 7% |
| Imam | 94% | 6% |
| Catholic Priest | 97% | 3% |
Missionary Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among missionaries is White, which makes up 64.7% of all missionaries. Comparatively, there are 13.0% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 9.5% of the Asian ethnicity.
- White, 64.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 13.0%
- Asian, 9.5%
- Black or African American, 8.4%
- Unknown, 3.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Missionary Race
| Missionary Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 64.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 13.0% |
| Asian | 9.5% |
| Black or African American | 8.4% |
| Unknown | 3.9% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Missionary Race And Ethnicity Over Time
Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among missionaries.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Missionary Race By Year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.67% | 9.17% | 5.81% | 9.82% |
| 2011 | 75.61% | 7.59% | 5.06% | 10.13% |
| 2012 | 71.31% | 8.32% | 5.72% | 12.58% |
| 2013 | 69.92% | 8.08% | 8.85% | 11.73% |
| 2014 | 68.77% | 8.33% | 7.06% | 12.96% |
| 2015 | 70.00% | 8.76% | 7.77% | 12.04% |
| 2016 | 68.88% | 8.90% | 7.38% | 12.44% |
| 2017 | 70.18% | 7.65% | 8.09% | 11.22% |
| 2018 | 70.27% | 9.40% | 6.18% | 11.25% |
| 2019 | 69.11% | 10.23% | 7.24% | 10.53% |
| 2020 | 66.09% | 10.22% | 7.89% | 12.00% |
| 2021 | 64.68% | 8.42% | 9.55% | 12.98% |
Missionary Wage Gap By Race
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $66,278 |
| White | $56,671 |
| Black or African American | $60,568 |
| Asian | $61,932 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $56,230 |
Average Age of a Missionary
We determined the average age of missionaries based on ethnicity and gender.
Missionary Age By Race
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 46 | |
| White | 45 | 54 |
| Black or African American | 36 | 52 |
| Asian | 54.5 | 50 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 39 | 44 |
Missionary Age Breakdown
This chart breaks down the ages of missionary employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of missionaries is 40+ years old, which represents 71% of the population.
Missionary Age
| Missionary Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 71% |
| 30-40 years | 16% |
| 20-30 years | 12% |
Types of Missionary Degree Levels
The most common degree for missionaries is bachelor's degree 52% of missionaries earn that degree. A close second is high school diploma with 21% and rounding it off is associate degree with 13%.
- Bachelors, 52%
- High School Diploma, 21%
- Associate, 13%
- Masters, 8%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Missionaries By Education
| Missionary Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelors | 52% |
| High School Diploma | 21% |
| Associate | 13% |
| Masters | 8% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Missionary Jobs You Might Like
Missionary Wage Gap By Education
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $54,403 |
| Master's Degree | $75,762 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $61,569 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $64,419 |
Missionary Employment Statistics
This section highlights information about where missionaries work. We found most missionaries work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most missionaries is the non profits industry.
Company Size
We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire missionaries.
Missionary Jobs By Employer Size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 14% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 30% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 29% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 9% |
| > 10,000 employees | 6% |
The Types Of Companies Missionary Work In
Employees with the missionary job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most missionaries prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Missionary Jobs By Sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 14% |
| Public | 8% |
| Private | 67% |
| Government | 11% |
Top Industries Hiring Missionaries
Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ missionaries. Those industries include non profits, education and retail.
Missionary Industry Statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Non Profits | 46% |
| Education | 7% |
| Retail | 6% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Health Care | 5% |
| Government | 4% |
| Start-up | 4% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Manufacturing | 3% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Media | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Finance | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Missionary Turnover And Employment Statistics
Missionary Unemployment Rate Over Time
The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of missionaries changed.
- Unemployment rate
Missionary Unemployment Rate By Year
| Year | Missionary Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5.04% |
| 2011 | 2.46% |
| 2012 | 3.97% |
| 2013 | 2.26% |
| 2014 | 2.61% |
| 2015 | 3.56% |
| 2016 | 1.77% |
| 2017 | 2.99% |
| 2018 | 2.46% |
| 2019 | 2.13% |
| 2020 | 3.98% |
| 2021 | 4.73% |
The Average Number of Years That Missionary Stay in a Job
By looking over 11,998 missionaries resumes, we figured out that the average missionary enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 62%.
Missionary Tenure
| Number or Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 15% |
| 1-2 years | 62% |
| 3-4 years | 7% |
| 5-7 years | 6% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Missionarys with Other Job Titles
After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to missionaries.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| School Coordinator | 8.30% | 54,132 |
| Community Service Volunteer | 13.09% | 19,389 |
| Teacher Counselor | 13.47% | 83,305 |
| Senior High Pastor | 16.29% | 1,813 |
| Licensed Social Worker | 19.71% | 66,130 |
| Paster Supervisor | 20.25% | 906 |
| Missionary | 27.67% | - |
Missionary LGBT Demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| School Coordinator | 8.30% | 54,132 |
| Community Service Volunteer | 13.09% | 19,389 |
| Teacher Counselor | 13.47% | 83,305 |
| Senior High Pastor | 16.29% | 1,813 |
| Licensed Social Worker | 19.71% | 66,130 |
| Paster Supervisor | 20.25% | 906 |
Foreign Languages Spoken By Missionarys
The most common foreign language among missionaries is Spanish at 63.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Portuguese at 7.4% and French is the third-most popular at 4.9%.
- Spanish, 63.0%
- Portuguese, 7.4%
- French, 4.9%
- Chinese, 3.7%
- Russian, 3.6%
- Other, 17.4%
Missionary Languages Spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 63.0% |
| Portuguese | 7.4% |
| French | 4.9% |
| Chinese | 3.7% |
| Russian | 3.6% |
| Other | 17.4% |
