Post job

Senior pastor vs hospital chaplain

The differences between senior pastors and hospital chaplains 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 hospital chaplain. Additionally, a hospital chaplain has an average salary of $49,423, which is higher than the $45,556 average annual salary of a senior pastor.

The top three skills for a senior pastor include community outreach, pastoral care and overseer. The most important skills for a hospital chaplain are patients, clinical pastoral, and pastoral care.

Senior pastor vs hospital chaplain overview

Senior PastorHospital Chaplain
Yearly salary$45,556$49,423
Hourly rate$21.90$23.76
Growth rate-6%
Number of jobs4664,343
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Average age5151
Years of experience44

Senior pastor vs hospital chaplain salary

Senior pastors and hospital chaplains have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior PastorHospital Chaplain
Average salary$45,556$49,423
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $71,000Between $26,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CitySan Diego, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyBethel Church-
Best paying industryEducation-

Differences between senior pastor and hospital chaplain education

There are a few differences between a senior pastor and a hospital chaplain in terms of educational background:

Senior PastorHospital Chaplain
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 47%
Most common majorTheologyTheology
Most common collegeEmory UniversityBoston College

Senior pastor vs hospital chaplain demographics

Here are the differences between senior pastors' and hospital chaplains' demographics:

Senior PastorHospital Chaplain
Average age5151
Gender ratioMale, 92.2% Female, 7.8%Male, 68.4% Female, 31.6%
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, 12.1% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage16%16%

Differences between senior pastor and hospital chaplain 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.

Hospital chaplain example responsibilities.

  • Lead outreach efforts to local faith groups engaging them in the life and ministry opportunities on campus.
  • Conduct spiritual assessments and develop pastoral care plans for assign patients.
  • Minister to cardiac, pediatrics, oncology, mental health, and hospice wards.
  • Show compassion, empathy and care for each patient.
  • Educate patients and families in stress management and facilitate comforting end-of-life conversations.
  • Counsele inmates struggling with a variety of problems including: psychological issues, addiction recovery, abuse recovery, and rehabilitation.
  • Show more

Senior pastor vs hospital chaplain skills

Common senior pastor skills
  • Community Outreach, 22%
  • Pastoral Care, 11%
  • Overseer, 8%
  • Bible Study, 6%
  • GOD, 5%
  • Funeral Services, 4%
Common hospital chaplain skills
  • Patients, 30%
  • Clinical Pastoral, 12%
  • Pastoral Care, 11%
  • Spiritual Care, 9%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 4%

Browse community and social services jobs