OK… Senior Pastors… How Much Do You Make?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, August 28, 2008
- Viewed 1483
- (75) comments so far
Here’s the rest of the article from the Christian Post...
Here’s a link to purchase the study and compensation results...
If you're a Senior Pastor at a church in the United States, you're probably making about $80,000 per year. That is the finding of the 2009 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff survey of nearly 5,000 churches and 11,000 employees.
Here's the breakdown: If your church averages 100-300 people, the average pay is around $73k (including benefits). If your church has a weekly worship attendance of between 300-500, that number jumps to $88k. And the total compensation average for the senior pastor of a church $103k if attendance is 500+.
I'm wondering... if you're reading this, how are you matching up? Are you within these findings? I'd like to hear...
Comments
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Randy Ehle on Fri, August 29, 2008
Frustrated: I read both your posts, and am thankful for the honesty in both, and for the repentance and tone of humility in the second.
All: I’ve seen previous editions of the church compensation survey, and served on the board of a church using that to evaluate our own staff salaries. There is so much variation in salaries that you cannot accurately compare salaries on any single factor, least of all the size of the church. Geographic region, demographics of the area and the church, denomination, church age, staff size, experience and education of the pastor…all these and more play into the equation.
There is no single, “right” salary for a pastor. I would submit these two thoughts as important considerations:
<ul><li>Salary shouldn’t be a cause for conflict between the pastor and the church (either the formal leadership or the broader congregation).</li>
<li>Neither God nor the church nor the pastor should have a tarnished reputation because of the salary being too high or too low.</li></ul>
Naum on Sat, August 30, 2008
i have to say those figures, if they truly represent the state of pastor pay are scandalous — and i work for a church, not as a pastor, but as a web developer for about a third of the cited figure (my church attendance is 500+) and i live in a top 10 us metro/city, though it’s not as expensive as NY or SF…
what is the average salary for u.s. worker? 40-50K? somewhere in that range… …that your average pastor makes 2X that? plus all of the tax benefits enjoyed (easily amount to 5-10K+, if that’s not already factored in to the survey figures…)
what kind of sacrifice is that? what message does it send that the pastor lives the good life, able to indulge in material pursuits that congregation give offerings intended to serve the poor…
at the minimum, it sends a bad message to nonbelievers and is very unchristian IMV…
not that they shouldn’t be entitled to a decent living, but 2X the average person?
Brian L. on Sat, August 30, 2008
Naum,
As Randy just mentioned, using raw dollar figures is not an accurate way to compare things.
I live in an area where the cost of living is pretty low compared to others, so if I were to make $80K, I’d be in high cotton, that’s for sure - I’d be able to finally afford cable (so I can watch my Minnesota Twins! http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif), pay off my second mortgage more quickly, and be able to send all my kids to Christian school.
Alaska is a great place to go if you want a high salary - but expect it to be eaten up by living expenses.
Wages/salaries need to be reflective of the cost of living in a given area. I would also agree with the sentiment that pastors shouldn’t necessarily be paid in a way that allows them to live exorbitant lifestyles.
Brian L.
Jamie on Mon, September 01, 2008
Naum,
I’m a mentor to a young man serving at minimum salary in the UMC as he begins his ministry. He now has over $100,000 of debt he accrued getting through 4 years of college and 3 years of seminary. Most of the “average workers” you mention don’t have this kind of debt to deal with right away.
Another reason pastors are compensated better today than in previous generations is that the church became embarrassed about having to provide charity for retired pastors living in poverty.
fishon on Mon, September 01, 2008
Just got back home, so just ran across the post.
$25, 000 BEFORE taxes—-small church—no bennies———Kids are gone, so I make it.
God takes care of us, and I wouldn’t trade places with anyone.
Somebody has to minister in the small, out of the way, rural churches; I am just happy God chose me to be one of the guys to do it.
I wonder what I would do with 80k. Buy a new car? Nah, 160,000 and still going strong. Buy some new cloths? Got plenty. I eat 3 squares, so can’t kick there.
If I have a major health issue—I’m wiped out. But that is only temporary.
fishon
Derek on Tue, September 02, 2008
Fishon,
As a fellow rural pastor, I echo your passion for pastoring in small out of the way places. God cares for the Corinths and the Colossaes of the world.
We use an affordable Christian ministry to help with medical bills. Check it out at http://www.tccm.org/. Health issues don’t have to wipe you out!
Derek
Art on Tue, September 02, 2008
“If you’re a Senior Pastor at a church in the United States, you’re probably making about $80,000 per year.”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! That is such crap. Granted, our church is under 100, but I barely make 1/3 of that!
I definitely need to move to a more white collar town where I can make more money! $80,000???!!!! I’d be freakin’ rich!
Gregg on Tue, September 02, 2008
Friends,
We have 350 people involved a week—up from about 180 two years ago. I’m the only full-time person but I also gratefully have the following paid staff working alongside me ...
3/4 time office manager
3/4 time worship arts director
3/4 time student ministries director
1/2 time office assistant
1/2 time children’s ministries director
1/3 time finance manager
1/4 time student ministries assistant
1/4 time community groups coordinator
1/4 time drama coordinator
1/4 webmaster
1/4 administrative support
TOTAL STAFF = 5.75 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES
Our total Ministry Funding Plan is 403K
My total payment as the lead pastor-teacher is right around 80K [salary,-housing (55k), insurance (13K), retirement (7K), fuel allowance (1.5K) and professional expenses 3.5K)].
Peter Hamm on Tue, September 02, 2008
I’m not a Senior Pastor, I’m an associate… but…
To all of you who are frustrated by how much pastors make and “how little” they do and “how ineffective” the church is, I’m happy to offer you the opportunity to job-shadow any of those who work here in my church as full-time pastors… to see how much we do, how tough it is to get by (I took a MAJOR pay cut to go into the ministry full-time, and God has blessed me anyway), and how much better we are getting all the time at making disciples.
frustrated, maybe you’re just in the wrong church, or maybe you need to roll up your sleeves and help them become the right church. I’d prefer the latter…
Jeremy on Tue, September 02, 2008
Wow!! I am surprised at those figures. I am not a senior pastor, nor do I want to be, as I see what they have to go through and deal with. It is a LOT of responsibility, and appears to be overwhelming to me.
I am, however, a youth pastor at a church running 300-500 people, and a youth group running 50-100. My salary is 25K and that includes benefits. I cant live off of that, so my wife has to have a great full-time job just to help support us, while my pastors wife is employed by the church. My wife is vitally important to my job but doesnt really have the time to dedicate, as she has to work and be a mother, etc.
My question is: Why do youth pastors get the short end of the stick on the pay scale? We have senior pastors making 88K, but youth guys making 25k. I can tell you, I dont have anywhere near the responsibility my pastor has, and dont expect equal pay, but I do A LOT at the church above and beyond my job description, and work well over 50 hours a week, but struggle to make ends meet. This seems to me like a typical situation that in my mind at least, needs to be rectified.
fishon on Tue, September 02, 2008
Peter,
I can tell you, I am NOT a frustrated preacher. I didn’t go into the ministry until I was 50. My wife and I gave up wonderful jobs, salaries, bennies to come to where we are. Frustrated, no way.
fishon
Craig on Tue, September 02, 2008
I think that Frustrated is just Todd trying to stir the pot!
Great job Todd it work!
Craig
Derek on Tue, September 02, 2008
Jeremy,
You are right that Youth Pastors get the short end of the stick and it isn’t fair. Youth Pastors are REAL pastors and a workman is worthy of their hire.
I am a senior pastor, but I spent five years as a youth pastor. I started at $28k, which was too low. To do it again, I would have negotiated for a higher starting salary BEFORE I took the position. I know that you cannot do that now, but I think it is important for Youth Pastors to put a dollar tag on themselves and figure out their needs and how much they are worth.
Youth Pastor are extremely valuable to the body of Christ. We need guys like you. Youth Pastors are essentially missionaries reaching out to an nearly unreached people group. It is difficult work and we should compensate guys like you accordingly.
Derek
Kev on Tue, September 02, 2008
Todd.
You initial statements were a little misleading and has lead to some discussion. Just to clarify, their is a large difference between salary and salary package. You quoted “What Pastors make” and what you gave numbers for is what a “Pastor costs”. In most business scenarios, an employee cost 25-35% more than they actually earn, therefore an employee that makes in the mid $50’s could easily cost $75,000. For example, I live in the d.c. region and health insurance costs over $9,000/year, retirement contributions are about $5,000, Social Security match is another $4,000, and continuing education is $1,500. So a $55,000 salary now becomes a $74,500 cost, not including vacation allowance. Just thought I would clarify to make it a fair conversation. Your opening comment was just not appropriately stated and has caused some unnecssary discussion. Hope this helps.
Frustrated's Employer on Tue, September 02, 2008
Frustrated, please quit using the company internet to read and respond to these blogs. We know who you are. You aren’t working as hard as you want others to believe, and we are all very tired of your quasi-Christian rants. Your days are numbered so you may want to seriously consider whether an actual church will take you in - obviously you wouldn’t work for one that paid you.
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