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What is a music pastor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Quoted expert
Rev. Elliott Anderson

What general advice would you give to a music pastor?

Rev. Elliott AndersonRev. Elliott Anderson LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Psychology, Judson University

Even though you have the degree and some internship/practicum/field experience now, give yourself grace and time to develop the aptitude and perceptivity necessary for effective and impactful pastoral blessing and ministry movements. We are ambassadors, vessels, and ministers of the Gospel of Christ so being present and engaged with the people we serve is paramount for being the hands, ears, eyes, and feet of Jesus. Rarely is it specific strategies to execute or certain objectives that must be fulfilled - though both of those visionary aspects of leadership are needed - what is most vital is heart to heart and soul to soul interaction, allowing yourself to be vulnerable and receptive to any and all people in any and all circumstances and situations. Being a learner is every bit as important as being the teacher or minister.
ScoreMusic PastorUS Average
Salary
3.7

Avg. Salary $46,923

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
2.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 6.67%

Black or African American 11.88%

Hispanic or Latino 9.08%

Unknown 4.00%

White 67.92%

Gender

female 7.38%

male 92.62%

Age - 52
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 52
Stress level
8.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Music pastor career paths

Key steps to become a music pastor

  1. Explore music pastor education requirements

    Most common music pastor degrees

    Bachelor's

    63.9 %

    Master's

    22.9 %

    High School Diploma

    7.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific music pastor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    GOD33.22%
    Pastoral Care22.64%
    Oversight21.77%
    Overseer11.88%
    Easter10.50%
  3. Complete relevant music pastor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New music pastors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a music pastor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real music pastor resumes.
  4. Research music pastor duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and provide oversight for the administration of all ministry areas within the organization.
    • Maintain regular office hours with primary responsibility being given to leadership within the congregation.
    • Provide formal and informal leadership training and forums for frequent communication, encouragement and evaluation.
  5. Get music pastor experience

    Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a music pastor. The most common roles before becoming a music pastor include pastor, director of music team lead and music teacher.
  6. Prepare your music pastor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your music pastor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a music pastor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable music pastor resume templates

    Build a professional music pastor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your music pastor resume.
    Music Pastor Resume
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    Music Pastor Resume
    Music Pastor Resume
  7. Apply for music pastor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a music pastor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first music pastor job

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Average music pastor salary

The average music pastor salary in the United States is $46,923 per year or $23 per hour. Music pastor salaries range between $24,000 and $88,000 per year.

Average music pastor salary
$46,923 Yearly
$22.56 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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