Interesting ... now I know why so many of my Reformed Baptist friends are going Presbyterian. I thought it was because the PCA was more welcoming to their doctrine, but now I know!

"So if you’re going to serve with that degree for five or more years, you’ll probably end up ahead."

I fear for the Church when there is a preoccupation at looking at how to "get ahead." It seems Jesus told his Apostles to be aware of the kind of preeminence the world lusts after.

so I is apparent I need to ask for more money...or get a sex change. Hmm, which would be EASIER... probably the sex change!

No. The reason salaries seemed higher for Baptist youth leaders is because most Baptist churches have part-time or volunteer youth leaders. Only the very larger churches have full-time youth leaders. Those large churches pay the biggest salaries. Writer obviously is not Baptist or he would know that.

A church I went to, the pastor made about $140,000, car lease close to $500 a month, all the nice suits, etc. A very rich church. Couldn't even help out one of the children's pastors (volunteer, not paid position) when his car broke down, so he could effectively minister and assist in the growth of this church.

Not to mention the pastor's wife got her own salary of about $40,000.

I strongly feel that these excesses are disgusting, an abomination to Yahweh. I have no problem with a leader getting their due for laboring, but you've got to admit that what we see today is a far cry from the early church and their community living, where all believers were together and had all things in common.

The amount of money that pours into some of these churches, only to be used to fuel the fire of spiritual pride, and how great they can make their church, without even feeding the people makes me sick.

More pastors should take a good look at Malachi 2, before they love to read and misquote Malachi 3 to force everyone to bring their money, to fuel their own greed.

As a woman minister it is refreshing to hear that women are not discriminated against when it comes to salary as a solo pastor in some denominations.
The Lord only knows how hard it is to even be recognized as an equal in most pulpits. The reason that there are so few female solo pastors is not because so few are called, but because so few women get the opportunity to serve in the area or office that we are called to serve in. So most of us settle for what we can get, others see the struggle and refuse to acknowledge the call of God to serve as a minister or a pastor at all. Please pray for those of us who need an opportunity to serve.

In this report on salary packages, does it include health insurance in those total amounts listed on the graph.
Or would health insurance be on top of this salary amount?
thanks
rob

There is almost enough difference in pay to males vs. females it seems almost discriminatory, in any denomination. Financially, women fare better in the secular world.

Did you survey what pastors of inner city churches receive? I was thinking about those whose members have an average income of 12,000-15,000/yr.
I have friends whose pastor salaries are $500/month

Hello, Rob: The chart shown (viewable at http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/newsletter/2007/cln70917.html) includes salary and benefits. Those benefits include health insurance.

To answer Ray's question: The data I quoted on youth pastors was only for those who serve full-time. So while it may be true that Baptist churches are more likely to have part-time or volunteer youth ministers, that fact doesn't affect the stat given.

And for some reason, I'm very glad to be in the Church of England, where we get paid a fixed amount.

Dave - I don't think the "end up ahead" comment was about getting ahead with the world's standards. It seemed to be more like this, "If you want to pursue education, but the financial side is holding you back, then recognize it might work out for you financially." Let's all start assuming more positive intent in people.

I was asking myself the same thing. Are benefits included in the compensations you quote? With thanks.

@ what's included in these numbers.

Several of you have asked what's included in these numbers. For point 1, the figures are for Salary and housing only.

For point 2, the figures are total compensation: salary, housing, insurance, retirement, continuing education, etc.

If you want further detail, it's all available in the book.

It is really easy to jump on pastoral salaries and play the "why can't we all be as poor as Jesus" card. I am surprised that someone hasn't regurgitated the quote "Neither can we say 'Rise up and walk" nor "Silver and Gold have I none'". It's a given that there is simony in the church. That doesn't mean pastors need to be paid pittance. I have been paid by the "after all the other bills are paid, pastor, we'll see what's left for you" method (30 years ago) and the "what can we entice you with so you won't leave us?" approach. Neither approach seems Spirit-lead. To the church: The pastor is expected to wear the hat of a hundred other professionals, from teacher to counselor to investment broker - shouldn't they be compensated? To the pastor: You would do this work even if they didn't pay you...most of the congregation members are working jobs they hate. Just be happy you're doing what you love and getting paid for it.I still think the best rule of thumb is to pay pastors what teachers in their school district make for the same years of experience and schooling.

Wow! Apparently I need to ask for a raise!

I am one of the few Christians who have been an active member of a Presbyterian Church and a Baptist Church. Both were large churches and as a non staff member of the churches, both valued and continue to value youth ministry. Both churches have great youth programs. It is true that the Baptist staffers get paid more than the Presbyterian staffers involved in Youth ministry...none of the theories seem to hold water from my experiences...it seems, however, that those Youth Pastors in the Presbyerian Church who have gone through seminary get significantly more salary...it might be as simple as the denomination's intrinsic value placed on formal training. Just a thought.

Hmmm.

It seems to me that if a monetary reward is the driving force propelling anyone into vocational ministry that I would have to say, get out of vocational ministry.

I always assumed it was a call of God that put you and kept you in ministry, not one's ability to keep up with the cost of living. Sure, it may be pragmatic to look at the monetary side, we all have to eat, right? But, we must be aware of the insidious nature of wealth to creep into our bones through a resurrected flesh. Temptation is real.

Yet, God asks us to depend on him doesn't he, and not on our own ability to generate wealth?

Strive to make God your supply and as the psalm says, "...I shall not be in want." Ps. 23:1

I was just getting ready to throw a party about that "female pastors are getting more" news. But, unfortunately, I have to keep the champagne corked.

I've been doing a lot of research on this for my book Tribal Church. You're right in saying that the male/female comparison is skewed by regional demographics. If you dig deeper, and do a male/female comparison within the region, women are still making less than men.

So, Carl, hold off on the sex change!

As a man called to full-time student ministry, I've always been torn between the aspects of meeting the needs of my family and staying where God put me until he moves me. Fortunately God has always been faithful. I am currently serving at a church who has the, I believe thoroughly biblical, attitude of, "We believe that God will provide for you if he calls you here, but the church is the vessel for provision. Therefore, if your wife wants to work, she's welcome to, but we are not going to put you in a position so that she has to in order for you to live."

That's a refreshing attitude. I've never asked for a raise or complained about a salary, but I was at my previous ministry for eight years and I was making less when I left than when I got there. And I wasn't making very much when I got there. I stayed until God moved me. I wasn't even told what this current ministry would pay until we agreed to come. This is an expensive area and it had a huge real estate explosion for the last three years so the cost of homes went up by 2-3 times. God provided us a house, but it's still a stretch. We don't have any other debt, but we still don't have a lot of excess money each month.

My point is this (not about me or my spirituality, just the reality of my 17 years ministry experience): I need to stay where God puts me until He moves me, but the church has the responsibility to pay so I can do that. I would love a nice raise every year, but it may or may not happen. My perception on money is a daily struggle, as it probably is with anyone who has been called to ministry.

Since when did being a church leader become all about money? And especially one with letters after their names. Please remember it is about Christ not about us. Christianity is Christ centered not money or degree centered. If anyone is really concerned with what they are compensated for their services let it be in the heavenly relm, not here. Arrogance is a sin, or has money bought that one off to?

I am very shocked, saddened, and extremely angry at the pay discrimination toward women. Especially the family, assistant pastors was upward 20-30% differences. Will the church have the willingness and the heart to take the lead in assuring that their sisters in the Kingdom are payed fairly?

Marshall has a great rule of thumb (pay pastors what teachers in their school district make for the same years of experience and schooling). I've attended large churches in which the minister is paid an amount wildly out of line with that of the average member of his/her church (taking into account education, experience, etc.). I think it can become very difficult to understand the needs and challanges of your congregation when you are that far out of their world.

I think the "pay your pastor what teachers with similar experience and schooling in your district are making" is a BAD rule of thumb. Senior pastors have to teach, counsel, preach, financially advise, and manage. Second, pastors work more hours than public school teachers (I'm assuming the two comments were talking about public school teachers). Let the congregation decide what to pay their pastors. If the pastor agrees to serve at that church for that amount of pay, then it is his problem. Otherwise, the pastor can find a new church or find a higher paying job.

For the record, I have an M.Div. and serve as a student pastor at a Baptist church and my wife does not work. When I can't support my family because it keeps expanding, then I will find other work, either at another church or secular employment.

greetings men and brethren; i am also saddened,angry, and disgusted at the blatant,willful neglect of the poor and needy christian brothers and sisters in the usa and around the world-by the organized church and it's greedy pastors. how can we dare to call ourselves followers of JESUS CHRIST when we refuse to obey HIS commandments. we need to, no! we must read the WORD OF GOD and PRAY for strength to make our actions line-up in righteousness with ALMIGHTY GOD and for the GLORY of JESUS CHRIST the SON of GOD. over the past 35yrs. i have seen with my own eyes of how the church has refused to help those who have called out for help and this is a disgrace and a shame and disgusting. it is obvious that in the church world today we are self obsorbed and full of jelousy and out to promote ourselves instead of promoting JESUS. well i had better close for now before i really get wound-up. MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON US ALL. a true believer in YESHUA--JESUS. don blue

Your article makes a comment about one category of pastors in which women earn more than men, but in every other category except one, women are paid significantly less than men. A gross oversight on your might.

Americans in general have a very inflated sense of how much money it takes to support a family. Even the lowest of presbytery minimums is several times over what the average citizen of the world lives on - and is far above what a lot of Americans get by on, too.

I'm afraid too many Presbyterian ministers feel entitled to an upper class lifestyle, and that drives the decisions they make on where to serve as their careers progress.

I used to be a pastor. I pastored a church for four years in a rural area. The church was small and during my tenure, I earned a M. Div and a M.Ed.

I taught school full time and I traveled two hours both ways to preach on sunday. The amount of money I recieved was enough to cover my gas; $400.00 a month. I did not complain because I knew the church was not in a position to do better. (My congragents were all retirees on fixed income. I had twenty faithful members to show up every sunday).

I am a little torn about this issue. I believe that pastors should be compensated at the same level as high school principals, managers and execs. However, I think that pastor should base his decision concerning salary based on what the congregation can afford.

It is SAD SAD SAD that there is the mindset that pastors cannot possibly be paid well. It is almost downright disgusting. Pastors should be making MORE than doctors, lawyers, or any of the other worldly occupations. Jesus was NOT a poor man. If you do an in-depth study on this, Jesus was a WEALTHY man. Satan wants us all to believe that pastors and ministers should make nothing...guess why...so that THEY WILL QUIT!! Isn't that what satan wants?? Pay them nothing so they can't afford to stay in it!!!

Wake up call church...

"Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching." - 1Timothy 5:17

I know ministers who are wealthy, but yet, OUT OF JEALOUSY, people will cut them down. Yes, that's right, OUT OF A JEALOUS SPIRIT. Those same ministers are GIVING AWAY hundreds of thousands of dollars. When was the last time YOU could say that?? Most people cringe when thinking about giving $20.

Are there ministers who squander money? Of course there are!! So because of that, then ALL ministers get lumped into the "greedy" category, when the truth is that MOST are honest and decent and doing HARD WORK for the Lord.

Wake up church....it may be YOU that needs help from your pastor someday...and if he has ABUNDANCE then maybe you will get blessed!!

My pastor gets paid an excess of $233,000 a year. He is paid $16,000 per month salary; $400 per week expense allowance, and $1840 per month retirement plan. I am the bookkeeper, I know for sure. I make $1000 per month. He recently requested a raise of better than 50% of his salary. Within two months we are in the read every week. We do not have the resources to pay him this much, but he insist he will not take a pay cut. Our Trustee Board have been reduced to raising money only. The Pastor is in full control of the finances. Our staff secretary, for instance, is paid $1,000 a month for her duties. She is at work every day. The Pastor may come to the church twice a week, including Sundays. When other pastors have Pastor's Anniversary events our pastor sends them from $100 to $2500, and, of course when it's his turn, they do the same. This is beyond my understanding as a Christian.

It is sad, there are plenty of people, common folk who know the Word of God better than many Pastors or Minsiters but going
to college and getting a degree makes one earn more money (in the Church). Funny, totally opposite of what Christ intended. To be supported by the Congregation to fulfill a ministerial position is one thing, getting paid for status in the area of brillance is not what God wanted. What a racket, the Christian church is a mine field of invented ways of man.