Best states for a pastoral counselor

Q: What is the best state for pastoral counselors?

The best state to be a pastoral counselor is District of Columbia based on pastoral counselor salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for pastoral counselors?

The highest paying state for pastoral counselors is South Dakota based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for pastoral counselors?

The worst state for pastoral counselors is South Dakota, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.

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Not all states present equal opportunity for employees, and when it comes to pastoral counselor jobs, it's no different. We know how hard job search can be, and in order to make your life a little easier, we have the information you need in order to determine where you might want to start your job search. Our research found that District of Columbia is the best state for pastoral counselors, while California and Massachusetts are ranked highest in terms of median salary. District of Columbia has a median salary of $57,644 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for pastoral counselors.

We figured that the best places for pastoral counselor 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.We found that District of Columbia is the best state for pastoral counselor jobs, whereas South Dakota is the worst.

10 best states for pastoral counselors in 2026

1. District of Columbia
Total pastoral counselor jobs: 89
Average annual salary: $57,644
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Location Quotient:
1.51
Pastoral counselor jobs in District of Columbia
2. Connecticut
Total pastoral counselor jobs: 221
Average annual salary: $50,614
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000
Location Quotient:
1.9
Pastoral counselor jobs in Connecticut
3. Washington
Total pastoral counselor jobs: 296
Average annual salary: $51,544
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Pastoral counselor jobs in Washington
4. Massachusetts
Total pastoral counselor jobs: 326
Average annual salary: $55,199
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $72,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Pastoral counselor jobs in Massachusetts
5. New Jersey
Total pastoral counselor jobs: 323
Average annual salary: $51,863
Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Location Quotient:
1.16
Pastoral counselor jobs in New Jersey
6. California
Total pastoral counselor jobs: 1,148
Average annual salary: $55,560
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000
Location Quotient:
1.12
Pastoral counselor jobs in California
7. Pennsylvania
Total pastoral counselor jobs: 577
Average annual salary: $45,942
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
1.41
Pastoral counselor jobs in Pennsylvania
8. Illinois
Total pastoral counselor jobs: 472
Average annual salary: $47,184
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000
Location Quotient:
1.13
Pastoral counselor jobs in Illinois
9. Delaware
Total pastoral counselor jobs: 59
Average annual salary: $45,943
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Location Quotient:
1.34
Pastoral counselor jobs in Delaware
10. Maryland
Total pastoral counselor jobs: 255
Average annual salary: $48,826
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
1.15
Pastoral counselor jobs in Maryland

Pastoral counselor jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a pastoral counselor

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a pastoral counselor

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	District of Columbia	$57,644	$42,000	693,972	89
2	Connecticut	$50,614	$37,000	3,588,184	221
3	Washington	$51,544	$39,000	7,405,743	296
4	Massachusetts	$55,199	$41,000	6,859,819	326
5	New Jersey	$51,863	$38,000	9,005,644	323
6	California	$55,560	$39,000	39,536,653	1,148
7	Pennsylvania	$45,942	$33,000	12,805,537	577
8	Illinois	$47,184	$36,000	12,802,023	472
9	Delaware	$45,943	$33,000	961,939	59
10	Maryland	$48,826	$35,000	6,052,177	255
11	Rhode Island	$47,423	$35,000	1,059,639	32
12	Ohio	$46,739	$35,000	11,658,609	220
13	Michigan	$45,460	$34,000	9,962,311	207
14	Virginia	$47,587	$34,000	8,470,020	274
15	Nevada	$45,867	$32,000	2,998,039	64
16	New York	$45,148	$33,000	19,849,399	633
17	Vermont	$44,478	$34,000	623,657	25
18	Oregon	$45,417	$34,000	4,142,776	140
19	Kansas	$45,632	$34,000	2,913,123	64
20	Iowa	$42,801	$32,000	3,145,711	126
21	Wyoming	$40,281	$30,000	579,315	29
22	New Mexico	$42,542	$32,000	2,088,070	62
23	Colorado	$43,145	$33,000	5,607,154	233
24	North Dakota	$40,406	$32,000	755,393	35
25	Alaska	$41,545	$37,000	739,795	37
26	Minnesota	$42,121	$33,000	5,576,606	205
27	South Carolina	$40,611	$30,000	5,024,369	155
28	Texas	$41,998	$31,000	28,304,596	518
29	Hawaii	$41,263	$34,000	1,427,538	36
30	New Hampshire	$41,180	$31,000	1,342,795	57
31	Arizona	$37,264	$27,000	7,016,270	310
32	Indiana	$40,118	$30,000	6,666,818	174
33	Montana	$38,106	$29,000	1,050,493	57
34	Louisiana	$37,240	$27,000	4,684,333	128
35	Arkansas	$38,670	$29,000	3,004,279	70
36	Nebraska	$40,575	$31,000	1,920,076	45
37	Wisconsin	$39,263	$30,000	5,795,483	141
38	Utah	$40,245	$30,000	3,101,833	59
39	West Virginia	$38,420	$28,000	1,815,857	34
40	Tennessee	$36,669	$27,000	6,715,984	182
41	Georgia	$34,148	$25,000	10,429,379	376
42	Florida	$32,545	$24,000	20,984,400	742
43	Maine	$35,390	$27,000	1,335,907	42
44	Idaho	$32,540	$24,000	1,716,943	58
45	Mississippi	$36,348	$27,000	2,984,100	36
46	North Carolina	$35,089	$25,000	10,273,419	230
47	Kentucky	$33,639	$25,000	4,454,189	90
48	Alabama	$32,739	$24,000	4,874,747	103
49	Oklahoma	$32,800	$24,000	3,930,864	70
50	Missouri	$33,660	$25,000	6,113,532	120
51	South Dakota	$30,766	$23,000	869,666	27

Highest paying states for pastoral counselors

Rank	State	Avg. Pastoral Counselor Salary
1	District of Columbia	$57,644
2	Connecticut	$50,614
3	Washington	$51,544
4	Massachusetts	$55,199
5	New Jersey	$51,863
6	California	$55,560
7	Pennsylvania	$45,942
8	Illinois	$47,184
9	Delaware	$45,943
10	Maryland	$48,826
11	Rhode Island	$47,423
12	Ohio	$46,739
13	Michigan	$45,460
14	Virginia	$47,587
15	Nevada	$45,867
16	New York	$45,148
17	Vermont	$44,478
18	Oregon	$45,417
19	Kansas	$45,632
20	Iowa	$42,801
21	Wyoming	$40,281
22	New Mexico	$42,542
23	Colorado	$43,145
24	North Dakota	$40,406
25	Alaska	$41,545
26	Minnesota	$42,121
27	South Carolina	$40,611
28	Texas	$41,998
29	Hawaii	$41,263
30	New Hampshire	$41,180
31	Arizona	$37,264
32	Indiana	$40,118
33	Montana	$38,106
34	Louisiana	$37,240
35	Arkansas	$38,670
36	Nebraska	$40,575
37	Wisconsin	$39,263
38	Utah	$40,245
39	West Virginia	$38,420
40	Tennessee	$36,669
41	Georgia	$34,148
42	Florida	$32,545
43	Maine	$35,390
44	Idaho	$32,540
45	Mississippi	$36,348
46	North Carolina	$35,089
47	Kentucky	$33,639
48	Alabama	$32,739
49	Oklahoma	$32,800
50	Missouri	$33,660
51	South Dakota	$30,766

Expert opinions on the best states for pastoral counselors

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for pastoral counselors to find work opportunities?
Dr. Thomas Dearden Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Sociology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Graduates will have the opportunity to shape the future and help solve problems. Numerous organizations are attempting to solve social issues and environmental challenges. The world needs, and subsequently, employment is available for passionate graduates ready to invest their energy into solving problems.

Pastoral counselor best states FAQs

What is the best state for pastoral counselors?

What is the highest paying state for pastoral counselors?

What is the worst state for pastoral counselors?

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Search for pastoral counselor jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs

Total pastoral counselor jobs:	89
Average annual salary:	$57,644
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$42,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$78,000
Location Quotient:	1.51

Best states for a pastoral counselor

10 best states for pastoral counselors in 2026

1. District of Columbia

2. Connecticut

3. Washington

4. Massachusetts

5. New Jersey

6. California

7. Pennsylvania

8. Illinois

9. Delaware

10. Maryland