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Assistant pastor salary
Average assistant pastor salary
$45,579
Understanding Assistant Pastor Salaries
The average salary for an Assistant Pastor in the United States is $45,579 annually. This figure represents a baseline that varies based on location, church size, and individual experience. For example, states like California and Texas often offer higher salaries due to the demand for pastoral support in larger congregations.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several factors impact an assistant pastor's salary:
- Location: Salaries differ significantly by state and city, reflecting local living costs.
- Experience: Pastoral roles often reward years of service and additional responsibilities.
- Church Size: Larger churches may provide more resources, leading to higher salaries.
Career Advancement Opportunities
For those pursuing growth in their pastoral careers, opportunities abound. Many assistant pastors eventually transition to senior pastoral roles or specialized positions within church leadership. This path not only enhances salary potential but also allows for greater community impact.
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Where can an Assistant Pastor earn more?
Assistant pastor salary estimates from across the web
Average assistant pastor salary by state
The average assistant pastor salary in Delaware, West Virginia, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average assistant pastor salary states are Arkansas, Mississippi, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for assistant pastors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $63,389 | $30.48 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $53,522 | $25.73 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $62,534 | $30.06 |
| 4 | West Virginia | $62,875 | $30.23 |
| 5 | Maine | $62,611 | $30.10 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $57,374 | $27.58 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $61,535 | $29.58 |
| 8 | New York | $54,759 | $26.33 |
| 9 | Vermont | $56,111 | $26.98 |
| 10 | Indiana | $49,183 | $23.65 |
| 11 | Arizona | $52,265 | $25.13 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $56,995 | $27.40 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $50,344 | $24.20 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $45,774 | $22.01 |
| 15 | California | $54,986 | $26.44 |
| 16 | Ohio | $47,013 | $22.60 |
| 17 | Maryland | $52,625 | $25.30 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $49,091 | $23.60 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $51,169 | $24.60 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $47,465 | $22.82 |
| 21 | Michigan | $47,989 | $23.07 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $46,979 | $22.59 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $44,080 | $21.19 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $57,372 | $27.58 |
| 25 | Iowa | $42,581 | $20.47 |
| 26 | North Dakota | $41,241 | $19.83 |
| 27 | Texas | $44,245 | $21.27 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $46,733 | $22.47 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $49,537 | $23.82 |
| 30 | Virginia | $48,009 | $23.08 |
| 31 | Nevada | $45,870 | $22.05 |
| 32 | Kansas | $41,871 | $20.13 |
| 33 | Georgia | $45,401 | $21.83 |
| 34 | Washington | $42,246 | $20.31 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $40,216 | $19.33 |
| 36 | Oregon | $40,383 | $19.41 |
| 37 | Utah | $40,534 | $19.49 |
| 38 | Alabama | $41,823 | $20.11 |
| 39 | Idaho | $43,211 | $20.77 |
| 40 | Colorado | $43,405 | $20.87 |
| 41 | Missouri | $41,417 | $19.91 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $41,720 | $20.06 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $41,210 | $19.81 |
| 44 | Florida | $39,679 | $19.08 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $36,044 | $17.33 |
| 46 | Alaska | $23,885 | $11.48 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $31,439 | $15.11 |
| 48 | Illinois | $38,852 | $18.68 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $37,216 | $17.89 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $33,940 | $16.32 |
| 51 | Montana | $29,771 | $14.31 |
Highest paying cities for assistant pastors
The highest-paying cities for assistant pastors are Washington, DC, Urban Honolulu, HI, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $62,564 | $30.08 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $57,382 | $27.59 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $55,107 | $26.49 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $54,838 | $26.36 |
| 5 | Charleston, SC | $51,152 | $24.59 |
| 6 | New Brunswick, NJ | $49,534 | $23.81 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $48,768 | $23.45 |
| 8 | Madison, WI | $48,296 | $23.22 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,416 | $22.80 |
| 10 | Savannah, GA | $46,074 | $22.15 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $45,466 | $21.86 |
| 12 | Aurora, CO | $43,423 | $20.88 |
| 13 | Tacoma, WA | $42,479 | $20.42 |
| 14 | Eugene, OR | $41,481 | $19.94 |
| 15 | North Miami Beach, FL | $40,135 | $19.30 |
| 16 | Mount Prospect, IL | $39,060 | $18.78 |
Assistant pastor salary details
An assistant pastor's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an assistant pastor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| Average | $45,579 | $3,798 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying assistant pastor jobs
The highest paying types of assistant pastors are hospice chaplain, evangelist, and hospital chaplain.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaplain | $46,392 | $3,866 | $22.30 | 2,600 |
| Evangelist | $50,297 | $4,191 | $24.18 | 753 |
| Chaplain Resident | $45,343 | $3,779 | $21.80 | 7,901 |
| Hospice Chaplain | $52,027 | $4,336 | $25.01 | 9,571 |
| Youth Minister | $41,513 | $3,459 | $19.96 | 2,830 |
| Pastor | $44,787 | $3,732 | $21.53 | 494 |
Top companies hiring assistant pastors now:
Which companies pay assistant pastors the most?
Assistant pastor salaries at New Life Community Church and Bethany Church are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average assistant pastor salary at companies like All Nations Family and First United Church of Christ are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Life Community Church | $67,650 | $32.52 |
| 2 | Bethany Church | $67,310 | $32.36 |
| 3 | All Nations Family | $40,960 | $19.69 |
| 4 | First United Church of Christ | $40,685 | $19.56 |
| 5 | San Diego Workforce Partnership | $38,214 | $18.37 |
| 6 | Salt & Light | $37,464 | $18.01 |
| 7 | The Episcopal Church | $35,428 | $17.03 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Assistant pastor salary trends
The average assistant pastor salary has risen by $6,845 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average assistant pastor earned $38,734 annually, but today, they earn $45,579 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for assistant pastors over the last decade.
Compare assistant pastor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average assistant pastor salary over time
Compare assistant pastor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Assistant pastor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $45,600 | $21.91 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $44,200 | $21.26 | +2.8% |
| 2023 | $43,000 | $20.67 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $41,300 | $19.87 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $40,100 | $19.30 | +3.3% |
Recently added assistant pastor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Assistant Pastor | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/05/2025 | $60,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Assistant Pastor of Family Ministries | Easley, SC | 05/28/2025 | $60,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Assistant Pastor of Discipleship | Fort Collins, CO | 05/10/2025 | $60,000 |
| Lancastersearch | Wilmington Community Evangelical Church Assistant English Pastor/Minister | Hockessin, DE | 05/02/2025 | $70,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Assistant Pastor | Easley, SC | 04/17/2025 | $60,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Assistant Pastor | Oklahoma City, OK | 04/11/2025 | $60,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Assistant Pastor | Chandler, AZ | 03/22/2025 | $60,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Assistant Pastor | York, PA | 03/18/2025 | $60,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Assistant Pastor | Charlottesville, VA | 03/18/2025 | $60,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Assistant Pastor/Director of Student Ministries | Pensacola, FL | 03/18/2025 | $30,000 |
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