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Senior pastor vs children's minister

The differences between senior pastors and children's ministers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior pastor and a children's minister. Additionally, a senior pastor has an average salary of $45,556, which is higher than the $45,421 average annual salary of a children's minister.

The top three skills for a senior pastor include community outreach, pastoral care and overseer. The most important skills for a children's minister are outreach events, bible studies, and VBS.

Senior pastor vs children's minister overview

Senior PastorChildren's Minister
Yearly salary$45,556$45,421
Hourly rate$21.90$21.84
Growth rate--
Number of jobs4668,614
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age5151
Years of experience44

Senior pastor vs children's minister salary

Senior pastors and children's ministers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior PastorChildren's Minister
Average salary$45,556$45,421
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $71,000Between $25,000 And $79,000
Highest paying CitySan Diego, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyBethel Church-
Best paying industryEducation-

Differences between senior pastor and children's minister education

There are a few differences between a senior pastor and a children's minister in terms of educational background:

Senior PastorChildren's Minister
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorTheologyTheology
Most common collegeEmory UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior pastor vs children's minister demographics

Here are the differences between senior pastors' and children's ministers' demographics:

Senior PastorChildren's Minister
Average age5151
Gender ratioMale, 92.2% Female, 7.8%Male, 36.5% Female, 63.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 6.6% White, 68.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between senior pastor and children's minister duties and responsibilities

Senior pastor example responsibilities.

  • Manage and provide oversight for the administration of all ministry areas within the organization.
  • Emphasize Christ-centered teaching, fervent prayer, multilevel family Christian education programs, evangelism and mission outreaches.
  • Encourage servant evangelism and outreach through numerous community service projects i.e.
  • Major responsibilities include purchasing or developing curriculum, group leadership, volunteer recruitment and training.
  • Major responsibilities include purchasing or developing curriculum, group leadership, volunteer recruitment and training.

Children's minister example responsibilities.

  • Lead church to incorporate a vision for integrating evangelistic and discipleship efforts.
  • Revamp 5th & 6th grade VBS to be more age appropriate in a large group concept.
  • Plan and give oversight of all children's activities.
  • Perform other various functions as needed including communication with church leadership to ensure efficient operations for church outreach activities.
  • Develop deacons in fulfilling their respective leadership obligations.

Senior pastor vs children's minister skills

Common senior pastor skills
  • Community Outreach, 22%
  • Pastoral Care, 11%
  • Overseer, 8%
  • Bible Study, 6%
  • GOD, 5%
  • Funeral Services, 4%
Common children's minister skills
  • Outreach Events, 18%
  • Bible Studies, 14%
  • VBS, 12%
  • Children Birth, 8%
  • Oversight, 5%
  • Children Ages, 5%

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