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Factors that affect pastors' salaries

Written by Allie Martin - OneNewsNow

Wednesday, 20 August 2008

A new survey reveals that the average senior pastor in the U.S. makes more than $80,000 a year.

The national survey of pastors and church staff was conducted by the "Your Church Media Group" of Christianity Today International. According to the survey, the compensation and benefits paid to the average senior pastor have risen to $81,113 per year.

The survey also showed a pastor's salary is affected by his education. The difference in compensation between pastors with a doctorate is $14,000 to $24,000 more every year, compared to those with a bachelor's degree in similar positions.

Ryan Ellis with Christianity Today says the location and municipal setting of a church also was a key factor in a pastor's salary.

"When you approach communities -- and suburban communities, especially -- that have a higher concentration of wealth and more highly paying jobs, you often find that the church communities and the pastoral staff and their salaries are going to increase accordingly," Ellis explains. "And also, as you go into poorer, rural communities -- the communities that just don't have the influx of capital as a suburban or urban area would have -- the church salaries are going to decrease proportionally, as well."

Twenty-five percent of pastors surveyed made more than $97,000 every year. The information in the survey was based on a complete compensation package, including salary, retirement, life and health insurance, disability insurance, and continuing education allowances.