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Associate pastor salary
Average associate pastor salary
$46,081
Understanding Associate Pastor Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for an associate pastor stands at $46,081 annually. This figure reflects varying pay scales across different regions and church types. For instance, associate pastors in larger urban areas often earn more due to the higher cost of living and demand for experienced leaders.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several factors influence an associate pastor's earnings:
- Experience: More experienced pastors typically command higher salaries.
- Location: Salaries vary significantly by state; for example, areas with larger congregations or higher living costs offer more competitive wages.
- Church Size: Larger churches often have larger budgets, allowing for greater compensation.
For those considering a career as an associate pastor, understanding these factors can help in negotiating salaries and choosing the right position. By exploring job opportunities on platforms like Zippia, candidates can find positions that match their skills and salary expectations.
Let Zippia find your next associate pastor job
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Where can an Associate Pastor earn more?
Associate pastor salary estimates from across the web
Average associate pastor salary by state
The average associate pastor salary in West Virginia, Delaware, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average associate pastor salary states are Arkansas, Mississippi, and South Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for associate pastors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $63,750 | $30.65 |
| 2 | Maine | $63,035 | $30.31 |
| 3 | Delaware | $63,688 | $30.62 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $61,855 | $29.74 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $63,048 | $30.31 |
| 6 | California | $57,978 | $27.87 |
| 7 | Vermont | $56,423 | $27.13 |
| 8 | Indiana | $50,021 | $24.05 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $57,578 | $27.68 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $57,241 | $27.52 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $51,119 | $24.58 |
| 12 | Arizona | $52,837 | $25.40 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $53,692 | $25.81 |
| 14 | Virginia | $53,450 | $25.70 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $49,998 | $24.04 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $49,355 | $23.73 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $52,789 | $25.38 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $58,575 | $28.16 |
| 19 | Maryland | $52,942 | $25.45 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $47,998 | $23.08 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $46,515 | $22.36 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $44,966 | $21.62 |
| 23 | Texas | $45,091 | $21.68 |
| 24 | Nevada | $46,158 | $22.19 |
| 25 | Iowa | $43,614 | $20.97 |
| 26 | Georgia | $44,515 | $21.40 |
| 27 | Michigan | $44,081 | $21.19 |
| 28 | New York | $46,822 | $22.51 |
| 29 | Colorado | $44,240 | $21.27 |
| 30 | Alabama | $42,455 | $20.41 |
| 31 | Washington | $42,994 | $20.67 |
| 32 | Idaho | $43,546 | $20.94 |
| 33 | Utah | $41,052 | $19.74 |
| 34 | Missouri | $42,243 | $20.31 |
| 35 | Ohio | $41,770 | $20.08 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $41,995 | $20.19 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $41,182 | $19.80 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $42,219 | $20.30 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $41,673 | $20.04 |
| 40 | Oregon | $40,606 | $19.52 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $40,913 | $19.67 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $41,199 | $19.81 |
| 43 | Illinois | $41,282 | $19.85 |
| 44 | Kansas | $40,133 | $19.29 |
| 45 | Florida | $40,163 | $19.31 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $37,930 | $18.24 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $36,595 | $17.59 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $34,694 | $16.68 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $32,138 | $15.45 |
| 50 | Montana | $30,048 | $14.45 |
| 51 | Alaska | $24,021 | $11.55 |
Highest paying cities for associate pastors
The highest-paying cities for associate pastors are Fremont, CA, Annandale, VA, and Bridgeton, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fremont, CA | $58,989 | $28.36 |
| 2 | Annandale, VA | $54,065 | $25.99 |
| 3 | Bridgeton, NJ | $53,467 | $25.71 |
| 4 | Rockville, MD | $52,804 | $25.39 |
| 5 | Franklin, TN | $51,190 | $24.61 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $50,814 | $24.43 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $50,024 | $24.05 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $47,144 | $22.67 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $46,298 | $22.26 |
| 10 | Lawrenceville, GA | $44,561 | $21.42 |
| 11 | Arvada, CO | $44,121 | $21.21 |
| 12 | Huntsville, AL | $42,361 | $20.37 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $41,644 | $20.02 |
| 14 | Dayton, OH | $40,669 | $19.55 |
| 15 | Anderson, SC | $40,529 | $19.49 |
Associate pastor salary details
An associate pastor's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $71,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an associate pastor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $46,081 | $3,840 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
Highest paying associate pastor jobs
The highest paying types of associate 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 |
| Chaplain Resident | $45,343 | $3,779 | $21.80 | 7,901 |
| Evangelist | $50,297 | $4,191 | $24.18 | 753 |
| Youth Minister | $41,513 | $3,459 | $19.96 | 2,830 |
| Hospice Chaplain | $52,027 | $4,336 | $25.01 | 9,571 |
| Pastor | $44,787 | $3,732 | $21.53 | 494 |
Top companies hiring associate pastors now:
Which companies pay associate pastors the most?
Associate pastor salaries at Calvary Church and Bethel Church are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average associate pastor salary at companies like First Presbyterian Church and Word Of God Fellowship are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calvary Church | $69,178 | $33.26 |
| 2 | Bethel Church | $68,821 | $33.09 |
| 3 | First Presbyterian Church | $64,862 | $31.18 |
| 4 | Word Of God Fellowship | $40,881 | $19.65 |
| 5 | Christ's Church | $40,881 | $19.65 |
| 6 | First United Church of Christ | $40,881 | $19.65 |
| 7 | Central Christian Church of Arizona | $37,964 | $18.25 |
| 8 | Central Church | $37,674 | $18.11 |
| 9 | Educational Media Foundation | $36,921 | $17.75 |
| 10 | Hebron Church | $36,889 | $17.74 |
| 11 | Diocese of Camden | $36,668 | $17.63 |
| 12 | NewSpring Church | $36,177 | $17.39 |
| 13 | Thomas Road Baptist Church | $35,426 | $17.03 |
| 14 | Concordia University Chicago | $35,128 | $16.89 |
| 15 | Archdiocese of Chicago | $34,779 | $16.72 |
| 16 | Immanuel Lutheran Church | $34,183 | $16.43 |
| 17 | Southeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists | $32,625 | $15.69 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Associate pastor salary trends
The average associate pastor salary has risen by $6,920 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average associate pastor earned $39,161 annually, but today, they earn $46,081 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for associate pastors over the last decade.
Compare associate pastor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average associate pastor salary over time
Compare associate pastor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Associate pastor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $46,100 | $22.15 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $44,700 | $21.50 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $43,500 | $20.90 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $41,800 | $20.09 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $40,600 | $19.51 | +3.3% |
Recently added associate pastor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom One | Associate Pastor | Santa Ana, CA | 06/25/2025 | $68,000 |
| Christian Career | Associate Pastor of Youth & Children-Dayton First Baptist Church | Dayton, OR | 06/19/2025 | $35,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Associate Pastor | Beverly, MA | 06/07/2025 | $60,000 |
| Christian Career | Associate Pastor-FOX River Lutheran Church | Sheridan, IL | 06/01/2025 | $80,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Associate Pastor of Operations and Youth Ministry | Oklahoma City, OK | 05/31/2025 | $60,000 |
| Kingdom One | Associate Pastor | Long Beach, CA | 05/23/2025 | $68,000 |
| Lancastersearch | Associate Pastor | Kirkwood, PA | 05/20/2025 | $60,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Associate Pastor | Sunnyside, WA | 05/20/2025 | $60,000 |
| Humareso | Associate Pastor | Mount Laurel, NJ | 05/13/2025 | $55,000 |
| Christian Career | Associate Pastor of Youth & Children-Dayton First Baptist Church | Dayton, OR | 05/10/2025 | $35,000 |
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