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Pastor salary
Average pastor salary
$44,787
Understanding Pastor Salaries
The role of a Pastor is vital in many communities, and their earnings reflect the responsibilities they undertake. Currently, the average salary stands at $44,787, with variations based on several factors:
- Location: Different states and cities offer varying salaries, with certain areas providing higher compensation due to cost of living or demand for religious services.
- Experience: Entry-level pastors may start with lower salaries, while those with years of experience can command higher pay based on their established congregations and leadership roles.
- Denomination: Salaries may also differ by religious denomination, as some organizations have more resources than others.
For example, states like California and New York often report higher average salaries for pastors compared to others. By examining these factors, prospective pastors can make more informed decisions about their future in ministry.
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Where can a Pastor earn more?
Pastor salary estimates from across the web
Average pastor salary by state
The average pastor salary in Hawaii, Delaware, and West Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average pastor salary states are Kansas, Mississippi, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for pastors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $62,472 | $30.03 |
| 2 | Delaware | $63,184 | $30.38 |
| 3 | Maine | $61,594 | $29.61 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $61,763 | $29.69 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $69,052 | $33.20 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $59,402 | $28.56 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $62,306 | $29.95 |
| 8 | Vermont | $55,556 | $26.71 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $53,193 | $25.57 |
| 10 | California | $55,305 | $26.59 |
| 11 | Arizona | $51,781 | $24.89 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $49,137 | $23.62 |
| 13 | Ohio | $49,392 | $23.75 |
| 14 | Maryland | $54,898 | $26.39 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $51,005 | $24.52 |
| 16 | Michigan | $47,676 | $22.92 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $46,432 | $22.32 |
| 19 | Alabama | $44,847 | $21.56 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $46,085 | $22.16 |
| 21 | Texas | $44,031 | $21.17 |
| 22 | Nevada | $44,631 | $21.46 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $42,885 | $20.62 |
| 24 | Florida | $45,869 | $22.05 |
| 25 | Iowa | $42,683 | $20.52 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $47,863 | $23.01 |
| 27 | Virginia | $47,407 | $22.79 |
| 28 | Idaho | $44,204 | $21.25 |
| 29 | Colorado | $44,115 | $21.21 |
| 30 | New York | $46,933 | $22.56 |
| 31 | Indiana | $41,059 | $19.74 |
| 32 | Utah | $41,140 | $19.78 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $42,595 | $20.48 |
| 34 | Minnesota | $42,915 | $20.63 |
| 35 | Washington | $40,809 | $19.62 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $40,988 | $19.71 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $40,764 | $19.60 |
| 38 | Missouri | $40,751 | $19.59 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $40,790 | $19.61 |
| 40 | Oregon | $40,350 | $19.40 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $39,108 | $18.80 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $40,593 | $19.52 |
| 43 | Georgia | $40,650 | $19.54 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $39,518 | $19.00 |
| 45 | Illinois | $40,696 | $19.57 |
| 46 | Kansas | $38,634 | $18.57 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $35,233 | $16.94 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $33,836 | $16.27 |
| 49 | Montana | $30,723 | $14.77 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $31,205 | $15.00 |
| 51 | Alaska | $25,476 | $12.25 |
Highest paying cities for pastors
The highest-paying cities for pastors are Worcester, MA, San Francisco, CA, and Gaithersburg, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester, MA | $59,603 | $28.66 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $55,997 | $26.92 |
| 3 | Gaithersburg, MD | $54,680 | $26.29 |
| 4 | Yuma, AZ | $52,844 | $25.41 |
| 5 | Alexandria, VA | $48,027 | $23.09 |
| 6 | Hackensack, NJ | $47,615 | $22.89 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $47,274 | $22.73 |
| 8 | Greenfield, WI | $47,107 | $22.65 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $46,661 | $22.43 |
| 10 | Tampa, FL | $45,655 | $21.95 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $45,338 | $21.80 |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,060 | $21.66 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $44,669 | $21.48 |
| 14 | Richmond, KY | $43,665 | $20.99 |
| 15 | Edina, MN | $42,884 | $20.62 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $41,028 | $19.73 |
| 17 | Federal Way, WA | $40,970 | $19.70 |
| 18 | Duluth, GA | $40,639 | $19.54 |
| 19 | Olathe, KS | $38,929 | $18.72 |
| 20 | Lincoln, NE | $31,271 | $15.03 |
Pastor salary details
A pastor's salary ranges from $30,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $64,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a pastor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| Average | $44,787 | $3,732 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 | $2,500 | $14 |
Highest paying pastor jobs
The highest paying types of pastors are hospice chaplain, evangelist, and hospital chaplain.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospice Chaplain | $52,027 | $4,336 | $25.01 | 9,571 |
| Chaplain | $46,392 | $3,866 | $22.30 | 2,600 |
| Chaplain Resident | $45,343 | $3,779 | $21.80 | 7,901 |
| Youth Minister | $41,513 | $3,459 | $19.96 | 2,830 |
| Evangelist | $50,297 | $4,191 | $24.18 | 753 |
| Youth Pastor | $39,712 | $3,309 | $19.09 | 3,120 |
Which companies pay pastors the most?
Pastor salaries at Bethel Church and Victory Church are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average pastor salary at companies like First Baptist Church of Glenarden and The Journey Church are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethel Church | $67,378 | $32.39 |
| 2 | Victory Church | $65,681 | $31.58 |
| 3 | First Baptist Church of Glenarden | $63,592 | $30.57 |
| 4 | The Journey Church | $63,017 | $30.30 |
| 5 | Lifepoint Church Ohio | $51,364 | $24.69 |
| 6 | East Penn Manufacturing | $51,236 | $24.63 |
| 7 | Westminster Presbyterian Church | $50,033 | $24.05 |
| 8 | United Methodist Church | $49,182 | $23.65 |
| 9 | FCC Bristol, RI | $49,118 | $23.61 |
| 10 | The MIL Corporation | $48,121 | $23.14 |
| 11 | Kenneth Copeland Ministries | $44,632 | $21.46 |
| 12 | Red Gold | $43,362 | $20.85 |
| 13 | Calvary Lutheran Church | $43,146 | $20.74 |
| 14 | Immanuel | $42,251 | $20.31 |
| 15 | First Evangelical Lutheran Church | $41,157 | $19.79 |
| 16 | EVERGREEN PRESBYTERIAN | $41,157 | $19.79 |
| 17 | Pilgrim Baptist Church | $41,157 | $19.79 |
| 18 | Community Church | $41,157 | $19.79 |
| 19 | First United Church of Christ | $41,157 | $19.79 |
| 20 | Congregational Church Retirement Community | $41,157 | $19.79 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Pastor salary trends
The average pastor salary has risen by $6,726 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average pastor earned $38,061 annually, but today, they earn $44,787 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for pastors over the last decade.
Compare pastor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average pastor salary over time
Compare pastor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Pastor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,800 | $21.53 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $43,500 | $20.89 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $42,200 | $20.31 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $40,600 | $19.53 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $39,400 | $18.96 | +3.3% |
Recently added pastor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Pastor | Mandeville, LA | 06/23/2025 | $90,000 |
| Christian Career | Family Pastor-Restoration Place | Tallahassee, FL | 06/22/2025 | $45,000 |
| Lancastersearch | Pastor-Sherman Church | Sherman, CT | 06/19/2025 | $37,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Pastor | Holland, MI | 06/19/2025 | $60,000 |
| Lancastersearch | Pastor-Mcbain Baptist Church | McBain, MI | 06/16/2025 | $50,000 |
| Timberlake Church | Student Pastor | Redmond, WA | 06/11/2025 | $52,000 |
| Froot Group | Student Pastor | Plainfield, IL | 06/11/2025 | $50,000 |
| Froot Group | Worship Pastor | Plain City, OH | 06/10/2025 | $48,000 |
| Froot Group | Worship Pastor | Pleasant Hill, IA | 06/10/2025 | $50,000 |
| Froot Group | Worship Pastor | Spokane, WA | 06/10/2025 | $61,000 |
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