How Much Do Pastors Really Make?

How much do pastors really make? That is a great question! You probably know some pastors who have a hard time making ends meet and others who find themselves on Preachers N Sneakers sporting $1000 shoes! 

Maybe you’re asking this to figure out how much you should be paid. Perhaps you are looking for ways to get a raise. You may even be contemplating relocating or pursuing a new challenge elsewhere. Whatever the reason, it is hard to pinpoint a precise answer to this question.

The Average Pastor’s Salary

Timothy may have well been asking the same question when the apostle Paul, his mentor, answered that pastors “…who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” (1 Timothy 5:17-18, NLT).

A specific number of USD is almost impossible to discover for many reasons, even if the US Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average CLERGY salary is $54,000. First, most pastors have some sort of confidentiality agreement stating that their salaries cannot be revealed. Even if they could, most wouldn’t openly say how much they’re making. Churches also want to keep that information as low-key as possible. After all, who would like to have their salary divulged in front of a full congregation?

Use Comparables in Your Research

In professional sports, agents negotiating athletes’ salaries use a tool called “comparables.” An agent may say “This running back had a 750-yard season and makes 2 million a year. My client made similar numbers but has had a bigger impact on the team. They should be worth 2.3 million.” They seek similar numbers in similar situations to gain traction in their negotiations. You can use this concept when figuring out how much a pastor really makes.

Before we check the few determining factors or “comparables” so to speak, let’s acknowledge these facts. You can recognize that

• Everyone wants a bigger and better salary package, pastors included
• Pastors receive benefits that most people don’t get, (for example, a housing allowance)
• Different pastor roles equal different pastor salaries
• Ministry is about a calling, not comparisons

One caution before you begin your search: megachurches (2000+ people) are a fraction of the total number of American churches, yet you mostly hear about those organizations. You see their pastors on TV and online or read their books. These churches, and those preaching here, can hardly be part of most pastors’ “comparables.”

With that in mind, here are ten factors to consider when researching a pastor’s salary:

1. The Pastor’s Role

One can hold the title of “pastor” but have different roles. Consider these: Lead Pastor, Senior Pastor, Youth Pastor, Care Pastor, Children’s Pastor, Small Group Pastor, to name a few. These are all pastoral roles, but each would have different salaries, as expected.

In any structured organization, the higher you are on the totem pole, the higher the salary, which is quite understandable. The level of responsibility increases.

2. The Size of the Church

Your church’s size is the second most important factor to consider. Unless you have an unusually wealthy big-hearted person who believes in your church’s mission, 150 generous givers will never financially match 500, 1,000, or 2,000 donors. It is then normal that a church with a 200K budget won’t be able to pay its pastor the same as a congregation that brings in 2M. This is just logical math, even if the titles are the same from one church to the other. Is it fair? Well, that may not be the right question for now.

According to the National Congregations Study (2019), 68% of all evangelical churches in the United States have a congregation with less than 100 people, including children, and half of those churches have less than 50. This study also shares that 90% of churches have less than 350 people attending each week.

The size of the church you lead will directly affect how much you make or can hope for.

3. The Percentage of Church Budget

The smaller the church, the bigger percentage of the church budget goes to salary expenses. Many fellowships and consultant firms will encourage a church to keep salary expenses “in the range of 45 to 55 percent of total budget”, as Tony Morgan, pastor coach and founder and lead strategist of The Unstuck Group, says.  

With some quick math, you’ll see that if you need a salary of 50K and the church has an annual budget of 75K, that 67% ratio will be hard for the church.

When trying to find out how much pastors make, factor this in.

4. Geography and Cost of Living

Living costs in San Diego, California, are not the same as in Richmond, Virginia. Bigger urban centers generally tend to cost more than rural areas.  In other words, where you minister affects your salary. A 40K salary in rural Pennsylvania won’t cut it in metro DC, just a couple hours south!

States also have various tax benefits. Texas and Florida have no state tax, while California has one of the highest ones in the U.S. The same gross salary in Texas and Massachusetts won’t give you the same net paycheck. You’ll have approximately 5% less in your pockets in Boston!

If you are thinking of moving to a different area, you may desire to consider using this Cost of Living Calculator. This will be very helpful to build “comparables.” Your 50K salary in Columbus, Ohio, will have to be increased to a little over 60K when joining a Tampa, Florida, church in order to keep the same living lifestyle.

Geography does have a guaranteed effect on your wages.

5. The Area’s Living Wage

If living in different areas of the country changes how much you’ll make, you then need to determine how much is needed to live in a specific area. You can use this Living Wage Calculator to find out if you’re making enough or if the church is offering you a good pastor salary.

6. The Congregation’s Median Salary

Most church salary committees aspire to give their pastor a decent salary, though “decent” needs to be defined! When such a team defines the salary, they will usually consider both the previous factors mentioned and the median salary of the church members. For example, for the same church size, one composed of many professionals and upper-middle-class families will usually pay more than another that has more blue-collar workers.

7. The Pastor’s Experience and Education

Experience is worth a certain amount of dollars. Most pastors’ salaries will take an upward direction with the years of ministerial experience they gain. The equation is as simple: more experience equals more income. If you’re starting in ministry, don’t expect the 15-year veteran’s compensation.

Education may not be as important now for every church, salary-wise, as it has been. Still, many churches would consider some sort of seminary degree. So, the same concept applies here as it does with experience: higher education equals higher income.

8. The Cost of Extra Benefits

When evaluating how much a pastor makes, consider benefits like health insurance, 401 (k), paid time off (PTO), sabbatical, paid conferences, expense budget, and free meals. If the church pays 100% of your PPO health plan, that is worth a few thousand dollars. All these extras add up indirectly to your salary.

9. The Pastor’s Previous Salary

Your present salary will also determine your next one if you’re moving to a new place. Typically, remunerations don’t take a descending trajectory unless you move from an expensive area (Los Angeles) to a more modest area (Tampa).

10. The Pastor’s Personal Ministries

The last factor to consider is not always obvious. Does the pastor have a ministry outside the church? Is the minister making money from his writings, video shows, or coaching programs? If so, in the process of finding your “comparables,” bear in mind this shouldn’t influence your evaluation.

So, how much do pastors really make? “Enough” should be a good starting point as you use these various tools to clarify an answer.

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