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Congregations and Houses of Worship
Life.Church, Willow Creek Community Church, Lakewood Church
Religious Workers, All Other
These workers lead worship, teach, counsel, and organize the day-to-day life of a faith community, but the exact mix of duties changes a lot from one congregation or institution to another. The work is defined by a tradeoff between personal calling and practical realities: the job can be deeply meaningful, yet pay is modest and advancement is often limited by the size and budget of the organization.
Also known as Associate PastorAssistant PastorYouth PastorAssociate MinisterCampus Minister
Median Salary
$45,120
Mean $49,830
U.S. Workforce
~12K
11.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+0.6%
88.4K to 89K
Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Religious Workers, All Other sits in the Community & Social Services category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~12K workers, with a median annual pay of $45,120 and roughly 11.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 88.4 K in 2024 to 89K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Bachelor's degree in theology, religious studies, or a related field, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Entry-level ministry support and can progress toward Senior minister or executive pastor. High-value skills usually include Sermon Preparation & Public Speaking, Pastoral Counseling & Spiritual Care, and Worship Planning & Liturgical Coordination, paired with soft skills such as Empathy, Active listening, and Discretion.
Core Responsibilities
- Prepare and deliver sermons, prayers, or other faith-based talks for services and special events.
- Meet with individuals or families who need encouragement, guidance, or spiritual counseling.
- Plan classes, study groups, retreats, and other programs that help people learn and stay involved.
- Coordinate volunteers, schedules, and event logistics for worship services, holidays, weddings, and funerals.
Keep exploring: more Community & Social Services careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Prepare and deliver sermons, prayers, or other faith-based talks for services and special events.
02 Meet with individuals or families who need encouragement, guidance, or spiritual counseling.
03 Plan classes, study groups, retreats, and other programs that help people learn and stay involved.
04 Coordinate volunteers, schedules, and event logistics for worship services, holidays, weddings, and funerals.
05 Visit people in hospitals, care facilities, prisons, homes, or on campus when they cannot come to the building.
06 Handle routine communication and administration, such as announcements, lesson materials, outreach lists, and follow-up notes.
Industries That Hire
🏥
Hospitals and Hospice Care
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, HCA Healthcare
🎓
Colleges and Campus Ministries
Cru, InterVarsity, University of Notre Dame
🤝
Nonprofit and Faith-Based Charities
The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities USA, World Vision
🪖
Military, Veterans, and Corrections Chaplaincy
U.S. Army, Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Bureau of Prisons
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The work is direct and personal: you spend your day helping people through weddings, funerals, crises, and everyday decisions.
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BLS says the role typically starts with a bachelor's degree and no work experience, so it is accessible without a long apprenticeship.
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There are still plenty of openings, with 11.1K projected annual openings even though overall growth is only 0.6%.
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Pay is modest but not locked at one number; the mean annual wage is $49,830, which suggests some settings pay more than the median $45,120.
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The job mixes teaching, counseling, public speaking, and organizing, so it can feel varied instead of repetitive.
Challenges
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The pay ceiling is real: a median of $45,120 is not much for a job that often asks for a bachelor's degree and significant emotional labor.
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Growth is nearly flat at 0.6%, so opportunities are driven more by turnover and local openings than by expansion of the field.
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Advancement can be slow because many organizations only have a few leadership slots, and those openings depend on size, budgets, and denomination structure.
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The work is tied to evenings, weekends, holidays, and in-person presence, which makes true remote work rare.
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Funding can be unstable in smaller congregations or ministries, so salaries and staffing levels often depend on donations or local support rather than predictable revenue.
Career Progression
Entry-level ministry support
0-2 years
$29K-$33K
Supports office tasks, service prep, scheduling, and basic follow-up while learning the culture and routines of the congregation or campus.
Program coordinator
2-5 years
$34K-$41K
Runs small groups, classes, volunteer teams, and events, often with more responsibility for communication and logistics.
Religious Worker, All Other THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$42K-$56K
Balances teaching, counseling, worship support, and community outreach in a role that changes based on the needs of the organization.
Associate minister or ministry director
10-15 years
$57K-$76K
Oversees multiple programs, mentors volunteers or junior staff, and takes on more visible leadership and planning.
Senior minister or executive pastor
15+ years
$77K-$100K
Sets direction for the ministry, handles higher-level decisions, and often manages budgets, staff, and external relationships.
Education Paths
Bachelor's degree in theology, religious studies, or a related field
The standard entry route; BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical preparation for this occupation.
Master of Divinity or master's degree in ministry
A common next step for workers who want to lead larger congregations, teach, or move into chaplaincy.
Church-based ordination, Bible college, or ministry certificate
A practical alternative in some denominations, especially when the employer values experience and local recognition as much as formal schooling.
Key Skills
Technical
Sermon Preparation & Public Speaking 92%
Pastoral Counseling & Spiritual Care 88%
Worship Planning & Liturgical Coordination 84%
Volunteer Scheduling & Event Planning 80%
Church Management Software (Planning Center, Breeze, MinistryPlatform) 72%
Livestream, Presentation & Video Conferencing Tools (ProPresenter, Zoom, YouTube Live) 66%
Soft Skills
EmpathyActive listeningDiscretionConflict resolutionCultural sensitivityAdaptability Job Outlook and Trends
+0.6%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
11.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 88.4K to 89 K over the next decade, representing 0.6% growth. Around 11.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.