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The differences between youth directors 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 youth director and a youth pastor. Additionally, a youth director has an average salary of $44,333, which is higher than the $39,712 average annual salary of a youth pastor.
The top three skills for a youth director include youth program, community outreach and bible studies. The most important skills for a youth pastor are outreach events, disciple, and youth program.
| Youth Director | Youth Pastor | |
| Yearly salary | $44,333 | $39,712 |
| Hourly rate | $21.31 | $19.09 |
| Growth rate | 12% | - |
| Number of jobs | 7,501 | 3,120 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 48 | 51 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Youth Director plans and supervises programs and activities for children and adolescents at a church, community outreach organization, or social service program. Another primary duty is to train and oversee volunteers.
A Youth Pastor is focused on offering spiritual guidance. They also ensure that the youth ministry is functioning in an effective and focused manner.
Youth directors and youth pastors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Youth Director | Youth Pastor | |
| Average salary | $44,333 | $39,712 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $65,000 | Between $31,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Milpitas, CA | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Maine |
| Best paying company | Providence Christian College | First Presbyterian Church |
| Best paying industry | Education | Education |
There are a few differences between a youth director and a youth pastor in terms of educational background:
| Youth Director | Youth Pastor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Theology |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Boston University |
Here are the differences between youth directors' and youth pastors' demographics:
| Youth Director | Youth Pastor | |
| Average age | 48 | 51 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.3% Female, 44.7% | Male, 87.7% Female, 12.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.3% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Asian, 2.8% White, 75.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 17% | 16% |