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Music pastor vs chaplain

The differences between music pastors and chaplains can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a music pastor and a chaplain. Additionally, a music pastor has an average salary of $46,923, which is higher than the $46,392 average annual salary of a chaplain.

The top three skills for a music pastor include GOD, pastoral care and oversight. The most important skills for a chaplain are patients, social work, and clinical pastoral.

Music pastor vs chaplain overview

Music PastorChaplain
Yearly salary$46,923$46,392
Hourly rate$22.56$22.30
Growth rate--
Number of jobs2,6882,600
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Average age5151
Years of experience44

Music pastor vs chaplain salary

Music pastors and chaplains have different pay scales, as shown below.

Music PastorChaplain
Average salary$46,923$46,392
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $88,000Between $25,000 And $83,000
Highest paying City-San Jose, CA
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company-UofL Hospital
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between music pastor and chaplain education

There are a few differences between a music pastor and a chaplain in terms of educational background:

Music PastorChaplain
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 48%
Most common majorMusicTheology
Most common collegeEmory UniversityEmory University

Music pastor vs chaplain demographics

Here are the differences between music pastors' and chaplains' demographics:

Music PastorChaplain
Average age5151
Gender ratioMale, 92.6% Female, 7.4%Male, 68.3% Female, 31.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 6.7% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 6.6% White, 68.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between music pastor and chaplain duties and responsibilities

Music pastor example 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.

Chaplain example responsibilities.

  • Provide full pastoral ministry, visitation and counseling to inmates and incarcerate patients.
  • Participate as members of a psychiatric or rehabilitation team in staff conferences concerning patients and inmates.
  • Perform functions in field and combat environments, combat lifesaver tasks and apply communication skills in crisis/potential suicide intervention.
  • Visit patients/families identify as appropriate for pastoral services and provide direct spiritual counseling, prayer, and ministry as appropriate.
  • Certify in ASIST (suicideprevention )
  • Participate in bi-weekly IDG meetings as part of IDG team.
  • Show more

Music pastor vs chaplain skills

Common music pastor skills
  • GOD, 33%
  • Pastoral Care, 23%
  • Oversight, 22%
  • Overseer, 12%
  • Easter, 10%
Common chaplain skills
  • Patients, 21%
  • Social Work, 11%
  • Clinical Pastoral, 10%
  • Spiritual Care, 8%
  • Pastoral Care, 7%
  • Patient Care, 5%

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