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Best states for a youth pastor
Quoted expert
Peter Kapsner Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for youth pastors in the United States. Youth pastor positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for youth pastors.Our research found that Arizona is the best state for youth pastors, while Maine and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Arizona has a median salary of $44,192 and Maine has the highest median salary among all 50 states for youth pastors.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for youth pastors.If you are currently seeking employment as a youth pastor, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for youth pastors in 2025
1. Arizona
Total youth pastor jobs: 87 Average annual salary: $44,192 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Location Quotient: 2.57
2. Wyoming
Total youth pastor jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $43,910 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 1.44
3. Washington
Total youth pastor jobs: 35 Average annual salary: $44,571 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.83
4. California
Total youth pastor jobs: 149 Average annual salary: $45,239 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Location Quotient: 0.88
5. West Virginia
Total youth pastor jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $43,608 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000 Location Quotient: 0.45
6. Maine
Total youth pastor jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $45,472 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Location Quotient: 0.39
7. Colorado
Total youth pastor jobs: 87 Average annual salary: $39,769 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Location Quotient: 2.53
8. Utah
Total youth pastor jobs: 24 Average annual salary: $38,745 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $48,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
9. North Dakota
Total youth pastor jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $38,682 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
10. Rhode Island
Total youth pastor jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $42,015 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Location Quotient: 0.57
Youth pastor jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a youth pastor
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a youth pastor
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $44,192 | $33,000 | 7,016,270 | 87 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $43,910 | $35,000 | 579,315 | 5 |
| 3 | Washington | $44,571 | $35,000 | 7,405,743 | 35 |
| 4 | California | $45,239 | $33,000 | 39,536,653 | 149 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $43,608 | $33,000 | 1,815,857 | 4 |
| 6 | Maine | $45,472 | $37,000 | 1,335,907 | 3 |
| 7 | Colorado | $39,769 | $31,000 | 5,607,154 | 87 |
| 8 | Utah | $38,745 | $31,000 | 3,101,833 | 24 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $38,682 | $31,000 | 755,393 | 6 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $42,015 | $32,000 | 1,059,639 | 4 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $42,462 | $36,000 | 1,427,538 | 14 |
| 12 | Idaho | $43,488 | $35,000 | 1,716,943 | 2 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $39,333 | $31,000 | 5,576,606 | 40 |
| 14 | Delaware | $43,631 | $32,000 | 961,939 | 2 |
| 15 | Oregon | $41,008 | $32,000 | 4,142,776 | 17 |
| 16 | Nevada | $39,841 | $30,000 | 2,998,039 | 7 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $39,169 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 19 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $38,877 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 16 |
| 19 | Vermont | $40,746 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 20 | Kansas | $35,270 | $28,000 | 2,913,123 | 29 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $42,545 | $31,000 | 693,972 | 6 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $37,583 | $29,000 | 5,795,483 | 23 |
| 23 | New York | $37,079 | $27,000 | 19,849,399 | 207 |
| 24 | Iowa | $35,258 | $28,000 | 3,145,711 | 22 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $37,596 | $29,000 | 5,024,369 | 11 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $39,281 | $30,000 | 6,859,819 | 17 |
| 27 | Indiana | $36,465 | $28,000 | 6,666,818 | 22 |
| 28 | Texas | $34,275 | $26,000 | 28,304,596 | 160 |
| 29 | Maryland | $35,974 | $26,000 | 6,052,177 | 50 |
| 30 | Florida | $36,487 | $27,000 | 20,984,400 | 59 |
| 31 | Michigan | $33,962 | $26,000 | 9,962,311 | 36 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $33,117 | $26,000 | 4,454,189 | 21 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $37,000 | $29,000 | 1,342,795 | 1 |
| 34 | New Jersey | $34,404 | $25,000 | 9,005,644 | 69 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $33,760 | $26,000 | 3,930,864 | 15 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $34,550 | $27,000 | 2,088,070 | 6 |
| 37 | Missouri | $33,962 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 25 |
| 38 | Virginia | $35,888 | $26,000 | 8,470,020 | 33 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $33,536 | $26,000 | 10,273,419 | 30 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $32,199 | $23,000 | 12,805,537 | 61 |
| 41 | Montana | $30,226 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 24 |
| 42 | Alabama | $32,278 | $25,000 | 4,874,747 | 17 |
| 43 | Georgia | $33,951 | $26,000 | 10,429,379 | 24 |
| 44 | Alaska | $27,852 | $24,000 | 739,795 | 51 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $30,721 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 6 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $30,170 | $23,000 | 3,004,279 | 13 |
| 47 | Illinois | $30,727 | $24,000 | 12,802,023 | 52 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $32,617 | $25,000 | 4,684,333 | 6 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $27,531 | $22,000 | 1,920,076 | 13 |
| 50 | Ohio | $29,062 | $22,000 | 11,658,609 | 21 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $28,410 | $22,000 | 2,984,100 | 1 |
Highest paying states for youth pastors
| Rank | State | Avg. Youth Pastor Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $44,192 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $43,910 |
| 3 | Washington | $44,571 |
| 4 | California | $45,239 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $43,608 |
| 6 | Maine | $45,472 |
| 7 | Colorado | $39,769 |
| 8 | Utah | $38,745 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $38,682 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $42,015 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $42,462 |
| 12 | Idaho | $43,488 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $39,333 |
| 14 | Delaware | $43,631 |
| 15 | Oregon | $41,008 |
| 16 | Nevada | $39,841 |
| 17 | Connecticut | $39,169 |
| 18 | Tennessee | $38,877 |
| 19 | Vermont | $40,746 |
| 20 | Kansas | $35,270 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $42,545 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $37,583 |
| 23 | New York | $37,079 |
| 24 | Iowa | $35,258 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $37,596 |
| 26 | Massachusetts | $39,281 |
| 27 | Indiana | $36,465 |
| 28 | Texas | $34,275 |
| 29 | Maryland | $35,974 |
| 30 | Florida | $36,487 |
| 31 | Michigan | $33,962 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $33,117 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $37,000 |
| 34 | New Jersey | $34,404 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $33,760 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $34,550 |
| 37 | Missouri | $33,962 |
| 38 | Virginia | $35,888 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $33,536 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | $32,199 |
| 41 | Montana | $30,226 |
| 42 | Alabama | $32,278 |
| 43 | Georgia | $33,951 |
| 44 | Alaska | $27,852 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $30,721 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $30,170 |
| 47 | Illinois | $30,727 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $32,617 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $27,531 |
| 50 | Ohio | $29,062 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $28,410 |
Expert opinions on the best states for youth pastors
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for youth pastors to find work opportunities?
Peter Kapsner Ph.D.
Teaching Partner, Bethel University & Seminary
Social organizations and non-profits still appear to be thriving in the USA, but their focus is also increasingly less spiritual. Churches have fewer and fewer opportunities. Missiologists undoubtedly will have opportunities to bring "good news" for social and physical needs, as they should, but the needs of the spirit in terms of the historical focus on sin, future, love, life, death, spiritual freedom, and eternity are less relevant to many today.
Youth pastor best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025