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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Religious Education Director in the United States stands at $44,620 per year. This figure can fluctuate depending on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific educational institution. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals.
In addition to average salary data, it is beneficial to explore the highest paying states for this role. States such as Texas and Florida also present competitive salaries, making them attractive options for job seekers. Understanding these variances can help potential candidates negotiate better pay and make informed career decisions.
With experience, Religious Education Directors can expect salary increases. Positions in larger churches or educational institutions typically offer more competitive compensation. Moreover, roles that involve administrative responsibilities or specialized educational programs often command higher salaries.
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The average religious education director salary in California, Nevada, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average religious education director salary states are South Dakota, Wyoming, and Illinois.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $60,250 | $28.97 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $58,649 | $28.20 |
| 3 | California | $67,740 | $32.57 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $61,266 | $29.45 |
| 5 | Nevada | $62,361 | $29.98 |
| 6 | Delaware | $57,079 | $27.44 |
| 7 | Maine | $55,463 | $26.66 |
| 8 | Alaska | $62,255 | $29.93 |
| 9 | Mississippi | $50,143 | $24.11 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $49,298 | $23.70 |
| 11 | Vermont | $52,727 | $25.35 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $54,991 | $26.44 |
| 13 | Idaho | $57,812 | $27.79 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $50,399 | $24.23 |
| 15 | Arizona | $50,115 | $24.09 |
| 16 | Washington | $54,536 | $26.22 |
| 17 | Utah | $54,975 | $26.43 |
| 18 | Texas | $53,372 | $25.66 |
| 19 | Oregon | $53,381 | $25.66 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $54,018 | $25.97 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $51,766 | $24.89 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $44,691 | $21.49 |
| 23 | New Jersey | $50,655 | $24.35 |
| 24 | Michigan | $48,284 | $23.21 |
| 25 | Georgia | $49,555 | $23.82 |
| 26 | Colorado | $46,102 | $22.16 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $47,209 | $22.70 |
| 28 | New York | $46,919 | $22.56 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $41,880 | $20.13 |
| 30 | Maryland | $48,996 | $23.56 |
| 31 | Indiana | $47,823 | $22.99 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $46,976 | $22.58 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $44,745 | $21.51 |
| 34 | Virginia | $47,952 | $23.05 |
| 35 | Missouri | $46,554 | $22.38 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $56,132 | $26.99 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $40,261 | $19.36 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $43,886 | $21.10 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $35,088 | $16.87 |
| 40 | Alabama | $36,631 | $17.61 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $40,729 | $19.58 |
| 42 | Ohio | $42,140 | $20.26 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $40,059 | $19.26 |
| 44 | Montana | $38,793 | $18.65 |
| 45 | Iowa | $31,396 | $15.09 |
| 46 | Illinois | $33,960 | $16.33 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $34,710 | $16.69 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $33,352 | $16.03 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $38,213 | $18.37 |
| 50 | Florida | $38,607 | $18.56 |
| 51 | Kansas | $32,867 | $15.80 |
The highest-paying cities for religious education directors are Martinez, CA, Warwick, RI, and Las Vegas, NV.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinez, CA | $77,260 | $37.14 |
| 2 | Warwick, RI | $61,303 | $29.47 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $61,235 | $29.44 |
| 4 | El Paso, TX | $55,845 | $26.85 |
| 5 | Englewood, NJ | $50,970 | $24.50 |
| 6 | Lawrenceville, GA | $49,483 | $23.79 |
| 7 | Silver Spring, MD | $48,670 | $23.40 |
| 8 | Hempstead, NY | $47,284 | $22.73 |
| 9 | Bethlehem, PA | $40,874 | $19.65 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | $40,801 | $19.62 |
| 11 | Birmingham, AL | $36,428 | $17.51 |
| 12 | Carbondale, IL | $34,343 | $16.51 |
A religious education director's salary ranges from $24,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| Average | $44,620 | $3,718 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $24,000 | $2,000 | $12 |
The highest paying types of religious education directors are director, general director, and director training & education.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | $113,489 | $9,457 | $54.56 | 230,711 |
| Director Training & Education | $70,224 | $5,852 | $33.76 | 36,551 |
| Choir Director | $51,590 | $4,299 | $24.80 | 4,799 |
| General Director | $109,550 | $9,129 | $52.67 | 74,664 |
| Youth Ministry Director | $43,203 | $3,600 | $20.77 | 7,224 |
| Youth Director | $44,333 | $3,694 | $21.31 | 7,501 |
Top companies hiring religious education directors now:
Religious education director salaries at All Nations Family and Good Community Church of Torrance are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average religious education director salary at companies like Archdiocese of Philadelphia and Archdiocese of Chicago are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | All Nations Family | $39,364 | $18.93 |
| 2 | Good Community Church of Torrance | $39,237 | $18.86 |
| 3 | Archdiocese of Philadelphia | $39,203 | $18.85 |
| 4 | Archdiocese of Chicago | $38,683 | $18.60 |
| 5 | St. Stephen Catholic Church | $38,632 | $18.57 |
| 6 | Philadelphia Church Of God | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| 7 | Archdiocese Of San Antonio | $38,381 | $18.45 |
| 8 | Children's Hunger Fund | $37,831 | $18.19 |
| 9 | Calvary Church | $36,930 | $17.75 |
| 10 | Southern California Health | $36,345 | $17.47 |
| 11 | Mission Society of New York City | $34,809 | $16.74 |
| 12 | Archdiocese of Washington | $32,845 | $15.79 |
| 13 | Grace Lutheran Church | $32,265 | $15.51 |
| 14 | Living Faith Church | $31,481 | $15.14 |
The average religious education director salary has risen by $8,546 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average religious education director earned $36,074 annually, but today, they earn $44,620 a year. That works out to a 17% change in pay for religious education directors over the last decade.
Compare religious education director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare religious education director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $44,600 | $21.45 | +2.8% |
| 2025 | $43,400 | $20.86 | +7.0% |
| 2024 | $40,400 | $19.41 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $38,600 | $18.54 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | $38,200 | $18.36 | -0.4% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archdiocese of Washington | Director of Religious Education-OUR Lady of Mercy Parish-Potomac Maryland | Potomac, MD | 06/26/2025 | $50,000 |
| Archdiocese of Washington | Director of Religious Education-Mother Seton Parish-Germantown Maryland | Germantown, MD | 05/02/2025 | $50,000 |
| Archdiocese of Washington | Director Religious Education-ST. Patrick's Parish-Rockville Maryland | Rockville, MD | 04/15/2025 | $55,000 |
| Jewishsac | Director of Religious School Education and Youth Engagement | Olney, MD | 02/20/2025 | $70,000 |
| Archdiocese of Washington | Director of Religious Education-ST. Joseph's Parish-Pomfret Maryland | Pomfret, MD | 02/19/2025 | $40,000 |
| Catholic | Director of Religious Education | San Diego, CA | 02/17/2025 | $43,827 |
| Educators Wales | Head of Religious Education-Ysgol Tryfan | Bangor, ME | 02/17/2025 | $38,099 |
| Roman Catholic Bishop of San Diego | Director of Religious Education | San Diego, CA | 12/03/2024 | $43,827 |
| Diocese of San Diego | Director of Religious Education | San Diego, CA | 10/13/2024 | $43,827 |
| Archdiocese of Denver Management Co | Director of Religious Education | Windsor, CO | 10/09/2024 | $42,000 |
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