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Senior pastor vs children's pastor

The differences between senior pastors and children's pastors 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 pastor. Additionally, a senior pastor has an average salary of $45,556, which is higher than the $44,525 average annual salary of a children's pastor.

The top three skills for a senior pastor include community outreach, pastoral care and overseer. The most important skills for a children's pastor are child care, kids, and curriculum development.

Senior pastor vs children's pastor overview

Senior PastorChildren's Pastor
Yearly salary$45,556$44,525
Hourly rate$21.90$21.41
Growth rate--
Number of jobs4668,658
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age5151
Years of experience44

Senior pastor vs children's pastor salary

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

Senior PastorChildren's Pastor
Average salary$45,556$44,525
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $71,000Between $26,000 And $75,000
Highest paying CitySan Diego, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyBethel Church-
Best paying industryEducation-

Differences between senior pastor and children's pastor education

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

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

Senior pastor vs children's pastor demographics

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

Senior PastorChildren's Pastor
Average age5151
Gender ratioMale, 92.2% Female, 7.8%Male, 60.9% Female, 39.1%
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, 11.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 6.7% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between senior pastor and children's pastor 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 pastor example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage online presence via Facebook.
  • Organize and lead weekly youth group meetings as well as retreats for jr. and sr. high students.
  • Schedule appointments; coordinate summer camps, VBS and all meetings for the children's ministry.
  • Work with children in the VBS.
  • Handle administrative responsibilities and policy development, keep volunteer records and develop a vision manual and serve on leadership team.
  • Handle administrative responsibilities and policy development, keep volunteer records and develop a vision manual and serve on leadership team.

Senior pastor vs children's pastor skills

Common senior pastor skills
  • Community Outreach, 22%
  • Pastoral Care, 11%
  • Overseer, 8%
  • Bible Study, 6%
  • GOD, 5%
  • Funeral Services, 4%
Common children's pastor skills
  • Child Care, 35%
  • Kids, 12%
  • Curriculum Development, 11%
  • Outreach Events, 6%
  • Ministry Programs, 5%
  • Children Birth, 3%

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