Pastor salaries in the United States vary widely depending on factors such as church size, location, denomination, role, and experience.
- Average Salary: The average full-time pastor salary is around $51,000 to $53,000 per year according to Indeed and other sources, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reporting a median salary of about $58,920
- By Church Size:
- Small churches (under 150 members) typically pay pastors between approximately $35,000 and $67,000 annually
* Medium-sized churches (150-500 members) offer salaries around $75,000 to $96,000
* Large churches (501-999 members) pay on average about $120,000
* Megachurches (over 1,000 members) pay senior pastors roughly $160,000 or more, with some earning up to $360,000 or higher in exceptional cases
- Other Factors:
- Pastors at larger churches often receive additional benefits such as housing allowances, health insurance, retirement contributions, sabbaticals, and bonuses tied to church growth
* Experience and specific pastoral roles (e.g., executive pastor, youth pastor) also influence compensation, with executive pastors sometimes earning over $120,000 annually
* Geographic location affects pay, reflecting local cost of living
- Salary Ranges: According to Salary.com, as of early 2025, the average pastor salary is about $109,000 per year, with typical ranges from around $90,000 to $124,000 depending on various factors
In summary, pastor salaries range broadly from as low as $30,000 in small or part-time roles to well over $150,000 in large or megachurch settings, with the average full-time pastor earning roughly between $50,000 and $110,000 annually depending on church size and other conditions
