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Best states for a senior pastor
Quoted expert
Peter Kapsner Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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Do you wonder which states in the U.S. are the best for senior pastors? If so, we have the full list of best to worst states for senior pastor jobs for you to check out and see if you think it's time to move and start anew. Not all states fare the same when it come to job opportunity and pay.This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for senior pastor jobs.
We figured that the best places for senior pastor 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.California is the best state, and Monterey is the city with the highest pay for senior pastors.
10 best states for senior pastors in 2026
1. California
Total senior pastor jobs: 8 Average annual salary: $65,738 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 1.7
2. West Virginia
Total senior pastor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,772 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 0
3. Delaware
Total senior pastor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,678 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0
4. Maine
Total senior pastor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,150 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000 Location Quotient: 0
5. Rhode Island
Total senior pastor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,000 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 0
6. Texas
Total senior pastor jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $51,877 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 1.84
7. District of Columbia
Total senior pastor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $63,035 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 0
8. Vermont
Total senior pastor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $56,570 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $92,000 Location Quotient: 0
9. Massachusetts
Total senior pastor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $57,759 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0
10. Connecticut
Total senior pastor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $57,313 Lowest 10 percent earn: $34,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location Quotient: 0
Senior pastor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a senior pastor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a senior pastor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $65,738 | $42,000 | 39,536,653 | 8 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $63,772 | $38,000 | 1,815,857 | 0 |
| 3 | Delaware | $63,678 | $37,000 | 961,939 | 0 |
| 4 | Maine | $63,150 | $39,000 | 1,335,907 | 0 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $62,000 | $37,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 6 | Texas | $51,877 | $33,000 | 28,304,596 | 6 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $63,035 | $37,000 | 693,972 | 0 |
| 8 | Vermont | $56,570 | $34,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $57,759 | $35,000 | 6,859,819 | 0 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $57,313 | $34,000 | 3,588,184 | 0 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $53,854 | $32,000 | 1,342,795 | 0 |
| 12 | Arizona | $53,028 | $34,000 | 7,016,270 | 0 |
| 13 | New York | $54,474 | $32,000 | 19,849,399 | 2 |
| 14 | Georgia | $51,592 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 1 |
| 15 | Virginia | $53,564 | $32,000 | 8,470,020 | 1 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $59,112 | $44,000 | 1,427,538 | 0 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $49,677 | $31,000 | 5,795,483 | 0 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $47,326 | $29,000 | 10,273,419 | 2 |
| 19 | Maryland | $52,927 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 0 |
| 20 | Alabama | $46,810 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 0 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $46,484 | $32,000 | 579,315 | 0 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $44,769 | $28,000 | 4,454,189 | 1 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $47,878 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 0 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $45,606 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 2 |
| 25 | Iowa | $43,531 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 1 |
| 26 | Nevada | $46,242 | $30,000 | 2,998,039 | 0 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $47,871 | $28,000 | 9,005,644 | 1 |
| 28 | Colorado | $44,260 | $30,000 | 5,607,154 | 4 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $44,413 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 0 |
| 30 | Indiana | $41,557 | $26,000 | 6,666,818 | 4 |
| 31 | Michigan | $44,081 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 0 |
| 32 | Washington | $42,997 | $31,000 | 7,405,743 | 4 |
| 33 | Missouri | $42,383 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 2 |
| 34 | Idaho | $43,495 | $31,000 | 1,716,943 | 0 |
| 35 | Utah | $41,013 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 2 |
| 36 | Illinois | $44,472 | $27,000 | 12,802,023 | 0 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $42,484 | $27,000 | 4,684,333 | 0 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $41,787 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 0 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $40,906 | $26,000 | 6,715,984 | 1 |
| 40 | Ohio | $41,770 | $25,000 | 11,658,609 | 0 |
| 41 | Oregon | $40,595 | $28,000 | 4,142,776 | 2 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $41,877 | $27,000 | 2,088,070 | 0 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $41,192 | $27,000 | 3,930,864 | 0 |
| 44 | Kansas | $40,208 | $26,000 | 2,913,123 | 0 |
| 45 | Florida | $40,127 | $24,000 | 20,984,400 | 2 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $38,075 | $24,000 | 3,004,279 | 0 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $36,813 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 0 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $34,659 | $23,000 | 869,666 | 0 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $32,162 | $21,000 | 1,920,076 | 0 |
| 50 | Montana | $29,989 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 0 |
| 51 | Alaska | $23,896 | $19,000 | 739,795 | 0 |
Highest paying states for senior pastors
| Rank | State | Avg. Senior Pastor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $65,738 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $63,772 |
| 3 | Delaware | $63,678 |
| 4 | Maine | $63,150 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $62,000 |
| 6 | Texas | $51,877 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $63,035 |
| 8 | Vermont | $56,570 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $57,759 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $57,313 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $53,854 |
| 12 | Arizona | $53,028 |
| 13 | New York | $54,474 |
| 14 | Georgia | $51,592 |
| 15 | Virginia | $53,564 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $59,112 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $49,677 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $47,326 |
| 19 | Maryland | $52,927 |
| 20 | Alabama | $46,810 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $46,484 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $44,769 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $47,878 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $45,606 |
| 25 | Iowa | $43,531 |
| 26 | Nevada | $46,242 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $47,871 |
| 28 | Colorado | $44,260 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $44,413 |
| 30 | Indiana | $41,557 |
| 31 | Michigan | $44,081 |
| 32 | Washington | $42,997 |
| 33 | Missouri | $42,383 |
| 34 | Idaho | $43,495 |
| 35 | Utah | $41,013 |
| 36 | Illinois | $44,472 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $42,484 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $41,787 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $40,906 |
| 40 | Ohio | $41,770 |
| 41 | Oregon | $40,595 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $41,877 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $41,192 |
| 44 | Kansas | $40,208 |
| 45 | Florida | $40,127 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $38,075 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $36,813 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $34,659 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $32,162 |
| 50 | Montana | $29,989 |
| 51 | Alaska | $23,896 |
Expert opinions on the best states for senior pastors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for senior pastors to find work opportunities?
Peter Kapsner Ph.D.
Teaching Partner, Bethel University & Seminary
Social organizations and non-profits still appear to be thriving in the USA, but their focus is also increasingly less spiritual. Churches have fewer and fewer opportunities. Missiologists undoubtedly will have opportunities to bring "good news" for social and physical needs, as they should, but the needs of the spirit in terms of the historical focus on sin, future, love, life, death, spiritual freedom, and eternity are less relevant to many today.
Senior pastor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025