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The differences between senior pastors and youth 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 youth pastor. Additionally, a senior pastor has an average salary of $45,556, which is higher than the $39,712 average annual salary of a youth pastor.
The top three skills for a senior pastor include community outreach, pastoral care and overseer. The most important skills for a youth pastor are outreach events, disciple, and youth program.
| Senior Pastor | Youth Pastor | |
| Yearly salary | $45,556 | $39,712 |
| Hourly rate | $21.90 | $19.09 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 466 | 3,120 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 51 | 51 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Senior pastors take responsibility in offering pastoral care and spiritual leadership in churches and parishes. They engage in community events, especially those with a religious theme. Their other duties and responsibilities include teaching, management, and preaching. They also oversee the management of the ministry of the congregation. The qualities of senior pastors include being accountable, humble, loyal, and honest. They should also be compassionate and loving to those they serve within the congregation.
A Youth Pastor is focused on offering spiritual guidance. They also ensure that the youth ministry is functioning in an effective and focused manner.
Senior pastors and youth pastors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Pastor | Youth Pastor | |
| Average salary | $45,556 | $39,712 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $71,000 | Between $31,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Diego, CA | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Maine |
| Best paying company | Bethel Church | First Presbyterian Church |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a senior pastor and a youth pastor in terms of educational background:
| Senior Pastor | Youth Pastor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Theology | Theology |
| Most common college | Emory University | Boston University |
Here are the differences between senior pastors' and youth pastors' demographics:
| Senior Pastor | Youth Pastor | |
| Average age | 51 | 51 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 11.8% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 6.6% White, 68.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 16% | 16% |