Senior pastor demographics and statistics in the US
Senior pastor demographics research summary. Zippia estimates senior pastor demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our senior pastor estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about senior pastors after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 29,944 senior pastors currently employed in the United States.
- 7.8% of all senior pastors are women, while 92.2% are men.
- The average senior pastor age is 51 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of senior pastors is White (68.4%), followed by Black or African American (11.7%), Hispanic or Latino (8.9%) and Asian (6.6%).
- Senior pastors are most in-demand in San Bruno, CA.
- San Diego, CA pays an annual average wage of $65,888, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women senior pastors earned 96% of what men earned.
- California is the best state for senior pastors to live.
- Senior pastors are 51% more likely to work at education companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Senior pastor demographics by:
Senior pastor gender statistics
7.8% of senior pastors are women and 92.2% of senior pastors are men.
- Male, 92.2%
- Female, 7.8%
Senior pastor gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 92.2% |
| Female | 7.8% |
Senior pastor gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$43,864
Female income
$41,940
Senior pastor gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in senior pastor positions over time. Currently, 7.8% of senior pastors are female.
Senior pastor gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 93.59% | 6.41% |
| 2011 | 93.33% | 6.67% |
| 2012 | 92.89% | 7.11% |
| 2013 | 93.22% | 6.78% |
| 2014 | 93.23% | 6.77% |
| 2015 | 92.65% | 7.35% |
| 2016 | 92.87% | 7.13% |
| 2017 | 92.36% | 7.64% |
| 2018 | 93.16% | 6.84% |
| 2019 | 93.00% | 7.00% |
| 2020 | 92.90% | 7.10% |
| 2021 | 92.17% | 7.83% |
Senior pastor related jobs gender ratio
We compared senior pastors with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, catholic priest and imam have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Director Of Preschool | 5% | 95% |
| Deaconess | 8% | 92% |
| Christian Science Nurse | 15% | 85% |
| Senior Pastor | 92% | 8% |
| Music Pastor | 93% | 7% |
| Imam | 94% | 6% |
| Catholic Priest | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Senior pastor demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among senior pastors is White, which makes up 68.4% of all senior pastors. Comparatively, 11.7% of senior pastors are Black or African American and 8.9% of senior pastors are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 68.4%
- Black or African American, 11.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 8.9%
- Asian, 6.6%
- Unknown, 4.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Senior pastor race
| Senior pastor race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 68.4% |
| Black or African American | 11.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8.9% |
| Asian | 6.6% |
| Unknown | 4.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Senior pastor race and ethnicity over time
See how senior pastor racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Senior pastor race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 76.46% | 10.18% | 5.20% | 6.64% |
| 2011 | 73.53% | 10.45% | 6.43% | 7.57% |
| 2012 | 74.80% | 10.46% | 5.75% | 6.94% |
| 2013 | 74.44% | 10.87% | 5.82% | 7.22% |
| 2014 | 73.37% | 10.25% | 6.09% | 8.01% |
| 2015 | 73.97% | 10.83% | 5.75% | 7.52% |
| 2016 | 72.58% | 10.88% | 6.92% | 7.89% |
| 2017 | 72.31% | 9.94% | 6.73% | 8.69% |
| 2018 | 74.09% | 9.66% | 6.10% | 8.07% |
| 2019 | 73.09% | 10.53% | 6.06% | 8.36% |
| 2020 | 70.52% | 10.42% | 7.35% | 7.91% |
| 2021 | 68.41% | 11.66% | 6.58% | 8.93% |
Senior pastor wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown senior pastors have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian senior pastors have the lowest average salary at $40,662.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $46,399 |
| White | $45,083 |
| Black or African American | $45,521 |
| Asian | $40,662 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $41,937 |
Average senior pastor age
See how the average age of senior pastors varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Senior pastor age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 56 | 59.5 |
| Unknown | 45.5 | 57.5 |
| Asian | 54 | 50 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 45 | 49 |
| White | 52 | 53 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 64.5 |
Senior pastor age breakdown
The average age of senior pastors is 40+ years years old, representing 77% of the senior pastor population.
Senior pastor age breakdown
| Senior Pastor Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 77% |
| 30-40 years | 17% |
| 20-30 years | 5% |
Senior pastor educational attainment
The most common degree for senior pastors is bachelor's degree, with 49% of senior pastors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 31% and master's degree degree at 8%.
- Bachelor's, 49%
- Master's, 31%
- Associate, 8%
- Doctorate, 6%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Senior pastors by degree level
| Senior pastor degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 49% |
| Master's | 31% |
| Associate | 8% |
| Doctorate | 6% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Senior pastor jobs you might like
Senior pastor wage gap by degree level
According to the data, senior pastors with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $48,328 annually. With a Master's degree, senior pastors earn a median annual income of $47,444 compared to $43,531 for senior pastors with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $47,444 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,531 |
| Doctorate Degree | $48,328 |
Senior pastor employment statistics
Most senior pastors work for a education in the non profits industry.
Company size where senior pastors work
Below, you can see the size of companies where senior pastors work.
Senior pastor jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 14% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 55% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 25% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 2% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 3% |
| > 10,000 employees | 0% |
Senior pastor jobs by company type
Employees with the senior pastor job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most senior pastors prefer to work at education companies over private companies.
Senior pastor jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 51% |
| Private | 42% |
| Government | 7% |
Senior pastor jobs by industry
The most common industries for senior pastors are non profits, education and health care.
Senior pastor industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Non Profits | 73% |
| Education | 15% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Government | 2% |
| Professional | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Manufacturing | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
Senior pastor turnover and employment statistics
Senior pastor unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for senior pastors between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Senior pastor unemployment rate by year
| Year | Senior pastor unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.37% |
| 2011 | 1.17% |
| 2012 | 1.38% |
| 2013 | 1.26% |
| 2014 | 0.97% |
| 2015 | 0.94% |
| 2016 | 0.92% |
| 2017 | 0.69% |
| 2018 | 0.72% |
| 2019 | 0.96% |
| 2020 | 0.99% |
| 2021 | 1.03% |
Average senior pastor tenure
The average senior pastor stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 8,501 senior pastors resumes in Zippia's database.
Senior pastor tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 2% |
| 1-2 years | 19% |
| 3-4 years | 18% |
| 5-7 years | 21% |
| 8-10 years | 9% |
| 11+ years | 30% |
Senior pastor LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of senior pastors that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Guidance Counselor | 8.30% | 75,740 |
| Church Warden | 10.45% | 48 |
| Child And Youth Program Assistant | 13.09% | 82,047 |
| Teacher Counselor | 13.47% | 83,305 |
| Senior Pastor | 15.69% | - |
| Religious Educator | 16.29% | 7,069 |
| Medical Social Worker | 19.71% | 87,792 |
Similar senior pastor jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Guidance Counselor | 8.30% | 75,740 |
| Church Warden | 10.45% | 48 |
| Child And Youth Program Assistant | 13.09% | 82,047 |
| Teacher Counselor | 13.47% | 83,305 |
| Religious Educator | 16.29% | 7,069 |
| Medical Social Worker | 19.71% | 87,792 |
Foreign languages spoken by senior pastors
The most common foreign language among senior pastors is Spanish at 56.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 8.7% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 4.7%.
- Spanish, 56.7%
- French, 8.7%
- Portuguese, 4.7%
- Dakota, 4.7%
- German, 3.9%
- Other, 21.3%
Senior pastor languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 56.7% |
| French | 8.7% |
| Portuguese | 4.7% |
| Dakota | 4.7% |
| German | 3.9% |
| Other | 21.3% |
