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Children's ministries director salary
Average children's ministries director salary
$43,114
Understanding Children's Ministries Director Salary
The average salary for a Children's Ministries Director in the United States is $43,114 per year or $21 per hour. Salaries can differ significantly based on geographic location, years of experience, and the size of the church or organization. For instance, larger churches in urban areas often offer higher salaries due to increased responsibilities and community engagement.
State and City Insights: States like California and Texas typically offer some of the highest salaries for this role. In cities such as Los Angeles and Houston, the demand for skilled Children's Ministries Directors can drive salaries above the national average. Additionally, reviewing local salary data can reveal the best opportunities for potential candidates.
Career Progression: Experience matters in this field; those with several years in ministry or leadership roles may command higher salaries. As you advance, consider pursuing additional certifications or training to enhance your qualifications. This not only helps in salary negotiations but also enriches your skill set for effective ministry leadership.
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Where can a Children's Ministries Director earn more?
Average children's ministries director salary by state
The highest-paying states for children's ministries directors are California, Hawaii, and Connecticut. The lowest average children's ministries director salary states are South Dakota, Montana, and Minnesota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for children's ministries directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $59,502 | $28.61 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $45,333 | $21.79 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $50,650 | $24.35 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $50,210 | $24.14 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $48,306 | $23.22 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $43,229 | $20.78 |
| 7 | Vermont | $44,602 | $21.44 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $46,841 | $22.52 |
| 9 | Delaware | $49,821 | $23.95 |
| 10 | Ohio | $44,454 | $21.37 |
| 11 | Nevada | $47,717 | $22.94 |
| 12 | Maine | $45,913 | $22.07 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $41,457 | $19.93 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | $43,717 | $21.02 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $47,498 | $22.84 |
| 16 | Alaska | $50,606 | $24.33 |
| 17 | Texas | $42,442 | $20.40 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $58,442 | $28.10 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $42,467 | $20.42 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $44,120 | $21.21 |
| 21 | Indiana | $42,577 | $20.47 |
| 22 | New York | $41,767 | $20.08 |
| 23 | Missouri | $41,826 | $20.11 |
| 24 | Michigan | $42,463 | $20.41 |
| 25 | Colorado | $41,145 | $19.78 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $39,855 | $19.16 |
| 27 | Utah | $42,392 | $20.38 |
| 28 | Louisiana | $36,637 | $17.61 |
| 29 | Arizona | $40,339 | $19.39 |
| 30 | Idaho | $42,808 | $20.58 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $40,133 | $19.29 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $38,679 | $18.60 |
| 33 | Maryland | $43,014 | $20.68 |
| 34 | Oregon | $39,106 | $18.80 |
| 35 | South Carolina | $35,712 | $17.17 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $41,298 | $19.85 |
| 37 | Georgia | $37,023 | $17.80 |
| 38 | Washington | $39,245 | $18.87 |
| 39 | Florida | $38,398 | $18.46 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $39,069 | $18.78 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $31,425 | $15.11 |
| 42 | Alabama | $32,693 | $15.72 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $36,728 | $17.66 |
| 44 | Virginia | $36,848 | $17.72 |
| 45 | North Carolina | $33,973 | $16.33 |
| 46 | Illinois | $31,764 | $15.27 |
| 47 | Montana | $30,496 | $14.66 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $29,954 | $14.40 |
| 49 | Iowa | $28,552 | $13.73 |
| 50 | Kansas | $29,119 | $14.00 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $28,938 | $13.91 |
Highest paying cities for children's ministries directors
The highest-paying cities for children's ministries directors are Simi Valley, CA, Washington, DC, and Teaneck, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simi Valley, CA | $58,460 | $28.11 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $48,314 | $23.23 |
| 3 | Teaneck, NJ | $46,859 | $22.53 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $43,618 | $20.97 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $43,449 | $20.89 |
| 6 | Indianapolis, IN | $42,686 | $20.52 |
| 7 | Ann Arbor, MI | $42,121 | $20.25 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $41,071 | $19.75 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $39,697 | $19.09 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $39,215 | $18.85 |
| 11 | Clearwater, FL | $38,700 | $18.61 |
| 12 | Portland, OR | $38,493 | $18.51 |
| 13 | McLean, VA | $37,604 | $18.08 |
| 14 | Lebanon, TN | $36,757 | $17.67 |
| 15 | Greensboro, NC | $34,076 | $16.38 |
| 16 | Huntsville, AL | $32,471 | $15.61 |
| 17 | Wilmette, IL | $31,747 | $15.26 |
| 18 | Saint Paul, MN | $29,943 | $14.40 |
Children's ministries director salary details
A children's ministries director's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $72,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a children's ministries director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $43,114 | $3,593 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
Highest paying children's ministries director jobs
The highest paying types of children's ministries directors are director, general director, and director training & education.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director Training & Education | $70,224 | $5,852 | $33.76 | 36,551 |
| Director | $113,489 | $9,457 | $54.56 | 230,711 |
| Youth Director | $44,333 | $3,694 | $21.31 | 7,501 |
| General Director | $109,550 | $9,129 | $52.67 | 74,664 |
| Choir Director | $51,590 | $4,299 | $24.80 | 4,799 |
| Youth Ministry Director | $43,203 | $3,600 | $20.77 | 7,224 |
Top companies hiring children's ministries directors now:
Which companies pay children's ministries directors the most?
Children's ministries director salaries at Portland Rescue Mission and First United Church of Christ are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average children's ministries director salary at companies like Archdiocese of Chicago and Grace Fellowship are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland Rescue Mission | $47,949 | $23.05 |
| 2 | First United Church of Christ | $37,458 | $18.01 |
| 3 | Archdiocese of Chicago | $36,876 | $17.73 |
| 4 | Grace Fellowship | $35,602 | $17.12 |
| 5 | Prestonwood Baptist Church | $30,308 | $14.57 |
| 6 | Westminster Theological Seminary | $29,605 | $14.23 |
| 7 | Reformed Theological Seminary | $29,217 | $14.05 |
| 8 | The Rock Church | $29,099 | $13.99 |
| 9 | Disciples of Christ | $25,528 | $12.27 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Children's ministries director salary trends
The average children's ministries director salary has risen by $8,258 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average children's ministries director earned $34,856 annually, but today, they earn $43,114 a year. That works out to a 17% change in pay for children's ministries directors over the last decade.
Compare children's ministries director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average children's ministries director salary over time
Compare children's ministries director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Children's ministries director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,100 | $20.73 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $41,900 | $20.15 | +7.0% |
| 2023 | $39,000 | $18.75 | +4.5% |
| 2022 | $37,300 | $17.91 | +0.9% |
| 2021 | $36,900 | $17.74 | -0.4% |
Recently added children's ministries director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The United Methodist Church | Director of Children & Youth Ministries | Midland, TX | 06/24/2025 | $40,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Children's Ministry Director | Dreher, PA | 03/18/2025 | $60,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | FPC Gainesville-Director of Children and Youth Ministries | Gainesville, FL | 03/18/2025 | $30,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Director of Children's Ministry | Scottsdale, AZ | 03/18/2025 | $30,000 |
| Agape Development | Ministry Director | Houston, TX | 02/22/2025 | $65,000 |
| Covenant Theological Seminary | Children's Ministry Director | Dreher, PA | 02/22/2025 | $60,000 |
| Kamr | Children's Ministry Director | Los Angeles, CA | 02/19/2025 | $24,000 |
| Ozark Christian College | Children's Ministry Director Willow View Church Enid, OK, United States of America Children's Minist | Enid, OK | 02/19/2025 | $40,000 |
| St. Andrew's United Methodist Church | Children's Ministry Director | Omaha, NE | 02/17/2025 | $45,000 |
| Dallas Christian College | Children's Ministry Director Bexley United Methodist Church | Bexley, OH | 02/17/2025 | $30,000 |
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