Becoming a Pastor via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Liberty University Online, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering religion courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
pastors,
ministers,
theologians,
priests,
religion teachers,
religion experts,
religious workers, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 6,140 people employed as
religious workers alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$33,160.
Social and community service managers make on average $61,240
per year and there are about 113,760
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Liberty University Online that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Pastor
- Churches
- Hospitals
- Private Schools
- community Centers
- Prisons
- Senior Assistance Homes
- Special Needs Clinics
- Hospices
- Charity Centers
- Military Institutions
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Pastor
- Salary compensation package
- Medical benefits
- Dental benefits
- Vision benefits
- Social security
- Retirement benefits
- Housing allowance
- Disability benefits
- Social security
- Retirement benefits
Potential Drawbacks
- Always on call
- Have to be on best behavior all the time
- Lots of expectations
- Unable to drink
- Always have to be responsible
- Have to keep your opinions very guarded
- People will be suspicious of your actions
- You have to maintain the trust of other people
- People watch your behavior closely
- The chance of getting into scandal is great
Related Professions to Consider
- Worship Pastor
- Youth Pastor
- Student Pastor
- Senior High Pastor
- Executive Pastor
- Director
- Church Consultant
- Office Administrator
- Lead Pastor
- Assimilation & Care Pastor
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Pastor
- What kinds of sermons are hardest for you to preach?
- What Biblical passages on preaching have impacted your approach to preaching?
- What well-known preachers do you hold in high regard?
- What constitutes a good sermon?
- How do you decide what to preach?
- How far in advance to you plan your sermons?
- Do you use commentaries when you prepare sermons?
- What factors affect how long you spend preparing a sermon?
- How has your education prepared you to preach on a weekly basis?
- How important do you believe it is in preaching to focus a sermon around one central thought or big idea?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Youth Pastor Director
- Youth Pastor Minister
- Youth Pastor Coordinator
- Senior High Youth Pastor
- Junior High Youth Pastor
- Middle School Youth Pastor
- Associate Pastor
- Student Pastor
- Worship Pastor
- Pastor of Vision Implementation
Pastor Training books
Pastor (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Language
- Old Testament
- New Testament
- Christian History
- Ministry
- Community Counseling
- Human Services
- Human Services Management
- Services Management
- Associate of Arts in General Studies
Pastor Salary Information
Category: Social and community service managers
| Total # Employed in the US |
113,760 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$29.44/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16.08 |
$20.46 |
$27.21 |
$35.83 |
$46.31 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$61,240 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $33,440 |
$42,560 |
$56,600 |
$74,520 |
$96,330 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.7% |
9.4% |
15.3% |
6.3% |
37.7% |
24.7% |
4.9% |
|
Social and community service managers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Hawaii |
$37.98/hr
|
$79,010
|
| Virginia |
$37.05/hr
|
$77,060
|
| Oklahoma |
$36.79/hr
|
$76,520
|
| North Dakota |
$35.68/hr
|
$74,210
|
| Colorado |
$34.05/hr
|
$70,810
|
| Florida |
$33.29/hr
|
$69,250
|
| Nebraska |
$31.93/hr
|
$66,420
|
| Alaska |
$30.56/hr
|
$63,570
|
| District of Columbia |
$30.56/hr
|
$63,560
|
| Mississippi |
$30.48/hr
|
$63,400
|
| Connecticut |
$30.38/hr
|
$63,180
|
| South Carolina |
$30.15/hr
|
$62,710
|
| Missouri |
$29.68/hr
|
$61,740
|
| Oregon |
$29.29/hr
|
$60,920
|
| Ohio |
$29.15/hr
|
$60,630
|
| Montana |
$28.01/hr
|
$58,260
|
| Utah |
$27.84/hr
|
$57,900
|
| Guam |
$27.8/hr
|
$57,830
|
| Delaware |
$27.62/hr
|
$57,440
|
| West Virginia |
$27.58/hr
|
$57,370
|
| Indiana |
$27.56/hr
|
$57,330
|
| North Carolina |
$26.86/hr
|
$55,870
|
| Idaho |
$26.74/hr
|
$55,620
|
| Kansas |
$26.29/hr
|
$54,680
|
| Puerto Rico |
$26.23/hr
|
$54,560
|
| New York |
$26.1/hr
|
$54,280
|
| Tennessee |
$25.99/hr
|
$54,050
|
| Massachusetts |
$25.83/hr
|
$53,740
|
| Maryland |
$25.79/hr
|
$53,650
|
| Washington |
$25.74/hr
|
$53,530
|
| Wyoming |
$25.63/hr
|
$53,300
|
| Michigan |
$24.93/hr
|
$51,850
|
| Alabama |
$24.9/hr
|
$51,800
|
| Louisiana |
$24.63/hr
|
$51,230
|
| Kentucky |
$24.52/hr
|
$50,990
|
| Iowa |
$24.14/hr
|
$50,200
|
| Arkansas |
$24.08/hr
|
$50,080
|
| Wisconsin |
$23.97/hr
|
$49,850
|
| California |
$23.54/hr
|
$48,970
|
| Maine |
$23.18/hr
|
$48,220
|
| Pennsylvania |
$23.07/hr
|
$47,990
|
| New Mexico |
$22.92/hr
|
$47,660
|
| New Hampshire |
$22.8/hr
|
$47,430
|
| South Dakota |
$21.54/hr
|
$44,810
|
| New Jersey |
$19.98/hr
|
$41,560
|
| Nevada |
$19.67/hr
|
$40,910
|
Category: Community and social services occupations
| Total # Employed in the US |
1,891,320 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$20.55/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $10.88 |
$14.09 |
$18.74 |
$25.48 |
$32.95 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$42,750 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $22,640 |
$29,310 |
$38,970 |
$52,990 |
$68,540 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Community and social services occupations — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$24.37/hr
|
$50,700
|
| Delaware |
$24.26/hr
|
$50,450
|
| North Dakota |
$23.92/hr
|
$49,760
|
| New York |
$23.63/hr
|
$49,140
|
| Mississippi |
$22.85/hr
|
$47,540
|
| Florida |
$22.85/hr
|
$47,520
|
| Oklahoma |
$22.04/hr
|
$45,840
|
| Indiana |
$21.94/hr
|
$45,630
|
| Kansas |
$21.52/hr
|
$44,760
|
| Virginia |
$21.35/hr
|
$44,410
|
| Missouri |
$21.07/hr
|
$43,830
|
| Alaska |
$20.91/hr
|
$43,490
|
| Montana |
$20.83/hr
|
$43,330
|
| Wyoming |
$20.57/hr
|
$42,780
|
| District of Columbia |
$20.4/hr
|
$42,430
|
| South Carolina |
$20.22/hr
|
$42,060
|
| Connecticut |
$19.94/hr
|
$41,470
|
| Idaho |
$19.75/hr
|
$41,080
|
| Tennessee |
$19.7/hr
|
$40,970
|
| Nebraska |
$19.53/hr
|
$40,620
|
| Hawaii |
$19.46/hr
|
$40,470
|
| Alabama |
$19.2/hr
|
$39,930
|
| Puerto Rico |
$19/hr
|
$39,530
|
| North Carolina |
$19/hr
|
$39,520
|
| Arkansas |
$18.96/hr
|
$39,440
|
| Massachusetts |
$18.87/hr
|
$39,250
|
| Kentucky |
$18.8/hr
|
$39,100
|
| Ohio |
$18.66/hr
|
$38,820
|
| Utah |
$18.65/hr
|
$38,780
|
| Michigan |
$18.49/hr
|
$38,460
|
| Oregon |
$18.34/hr
|
$38,150
|
| Maryland |
$18.24/hr
|
$37,950
|
| New Hampshire |
$18.19/hr
|
$37,830
|
| Iowa |
$18.11/hr
|
$37,680
|
| Washington |
$17.42/hr
|
$36,230
|
| Wisconsin |
$17.37/hr
|
$36,120
|
| Louisiana |
$17.36/hr
|
$36,100
|
| Guam |
$17.35/hr
|
$36,080
|
| Maine |
$17.33/hr
|
$36,040
|
| Pennsylvania |
$17.33/hr
|
$36,050
|
| South Dakota |
$17.18/hr
|
$35,740
|
| West Virginia |
$17.05/hr
|
$35,450
|
| Nevada |
$16.99/hr
|
$35,340
|
| California |
$16.93/hr
|
$35,210
|
| New Mexico |
$16.61/hr
|
$34,540
|
| New Jersey |
$16.41/hr
|
$34,140
|
Category: Mental health and substance abuse social workers
| Total # Employed in the US |
127,140 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$19.88/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $11.99 |
$14.66 |
$18.37 |
$23.96 |
$30.17 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$41,350 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $24,940 |
$30,480 |
$38,200 |
$49,840 |
$62,760 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 1.2% |
6.2% |
10.4% |
6.0% |
42.3% |
32.2% |
1.6% |
|
Mental health and substance abuse social workers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| North Dakota |
$28.36/hr
|
$59,000
|
| Virginia |
$25.05/hr
|
$52,100
|
| Mississippi |
$24.4/hr
|
$50,750
|
| Indiana |
$24.37/hr
|
$50,680
|
| Delaware |
$24.31/hr
|
$50,560
|
| Alaska |
$23.7/hr
|
$49,300
|
| Oklahoma |
$23.52/hr
|
$48,910
|
| Nebraska |
$23.4/hr
|
$48,680
|
| Florida |
$23.05/hr
|
$47,950
|
| New York |
$22.97/hr
|
$47,770
|
| Colorado |
$22.28/hr
|
$46,340
|
| Missouri |
$21.01/hr
|
$43,700
|
| District of Columbia |
$20.37/hr
|
$42,370
|
| Montana |
$19.86/hr
|
$41,300
|
| Oregon |
$19.85/hr
|
$41,290
|
| Guam |
$19.72/hr
|
$41,020
|
| California |
$19.68/hr
|
$40,940
|
| Massachusetts |
$19.5/hr
|
$40,570
|
| Kansas |
$19.47/hr
|
$40,500
|
| North Carolina |
$19.38/hr
|
$40,310
|
| Idaho |
$19.22/hr
|
$39,990
|
| Michigan |
$18.77/hr
|
$39,040
|
| Arkansas |
$18.63/hr
|
$38,750
|
| Utah |
$18.51/hr
|
$38,500
|
| Maine |
$18.16/hr
|
$37,780
|
| New Mexico |
$18.13/hr
|
$37,700
|
| Louisiana |
$17.94/hr
|
$37,310
|
| Tennessee |
$17.9/hr
|
$37,230
|
| South Carolina |
$17.85/hr
|
$37,130
|
| Maryland |
$17.84/hr
|
$37,110
|
| South Dakota |
$17.84/hr
|
$37,100
|
| Ohio |
$17.65/hr
|
$36,710
|
| Pennsylvania |
$17.55/hr
|
$36,500
|
| New Jersey |
$17.3/hr
|
$35,990
|
| Hawaii |
$17.15/hr
|
$35,660
|
| Kentucky |
$17.02/hr
|
$35,400
|
| Iowa |
$16.91/hr
|
$35,180
|
| Wyoming |
$16.64/hr
|
$34,610
|
| West Virginia |
$16.59/hr
|
$34,510
|
| New Hampshire |
$16.47/hr
|
$34,260
|
| Wisconsin |
$16.37/hr
|
$34,050
|
| Nevada |
$16.35/hr
|
$34,010
|
| Connecticut |
$15.84/hr
|
$32,960
|
| Alabama |
$15.68/hr
|
$32,610
|
| Washington |
$13.86/hr
|
$28,830
|
Category: Community and social service specialists, all other
| Total # Employed in the US |
109,120 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$19.48/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $10.82 |
$14.05 |
$18.07 |
$23.84 |
$30.84 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$40,530 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $22,500 |
$29,220 |
$37,580 |
$49,580 |
$64,140 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.4% |
15.3% |
20.9% |
9.6% |
37.1% |
13.4% |
1.3% |
|
Community and social service specialists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Indiana |
$23.42/hr
|
$48,710
|
| Colorado |
$21.91/hr
|
$45,580
|
| North Dakota |
$21.59/hr
|
$44,900
|
| Oklahoma |
$21.57/hr
|
$44,860
|
| New York |
$21.46/hr
|
$44,640
|
| Virginia |
$20.69/hr
|
$43,030
|
| Florida |
$20.49/hr
|
$42,610
|
| Nebraska |
$20.41/hr
|
$42,440
|
| Arkansas |
$20.38/hr
|
$42,390
|
| Delaware |
$20.07/hr
|
$41,750
|
| Oregon |
$19.91/hr
|
$41,410
|
| Mississippi |
$19.38/hr
|
$40,300
|
| Connecticut |
$19.35/hr
|
$40,240
|
| Hawaii |
$19.14/hr
|
$39,800
|
| Alabama |
$19.12/hr
|
$39,760
|
| Montana |
$19.05/hr
|
$39,620
|
| Kansas |
$18.94/hr
|
$39,400
|
| Alaska |
$18.89/hr
|
$39,290
|
| South Carolina |
$18.74/hr
|
$38,980
|
| North Carolina |
$18.61/hr
|
$38,710
|
| Ohio |
$18.54/hr
|
$38,560
|
| Utah |
$18.42/hr
|
$38,310
|
| Tennessee |
$17.93/hr
|
$37,300
|
| Maryland |
$17.92/hr
|
$37,270
|
| Pennsylvania |
$17.52/hr
|
$36,440
|
| New Mexico |
$17.44/hr
|
$36,270
|
| District of Columbia |
$17.43/hr
|
$36,250
|
| Kentucky |
$16.98/hr
|
$35,310
|
| Wyoming |
$16.87/hr
|
$35,100
|
| South Dakota |
$16.83/hr
|
$35,010
|
| Missouri |
$16.82/hr
|
$34,990
|
| New Hampshire |
$16.82/hr
|
$34,990
|
| Guam |
$16.65/hr
|
$34,640
|
| Puerto Rico |
$16.35/hr
|
$34,000
|
| Iowa |
$15.82/hr
|
$32,900
|
| Idaho |
$15.8/hr
|
$32,860
|
| Massachusetts |
$15.46/hr
|
$32,160
|
| Michigan |
$15.44/hr
|
$32,120
|
| Wisconsin |
$15.4/hr
|
$32,040
|
| Louisiana |
$15.27/hr
|
$31,770
|
| Maine |
$14.87/hr
|
$30,940
|
| Nevada |
$14.77/hr
|
$30,730
|
| California |
$14.71/hr
|
$30,600
|
| New Jersey |
$14.23/hr
|
$29,600
|
| Washington |
$13.98/hr
|
$29,080
|
Category: Clergy
| Total # Employed in the US |
42,670 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$22.58/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $11.03 |
$14.89 |
$20.65 |
$27.4 |
$36.21 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$46,960 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $22,940 |
$30,970 |
$42,950 |
$56,990 |
$75,320 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.8% |
7.2% |
11.7% |
4.1% |
24.3% |
34.3% |
15.7% |
|
Clergy — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| New York |
$29.39/hr
|
$61,130
|
| Colorado |
$29.05/hr
|
$60,430
|
| Delaware |
$26.83/hr
|
$55,800
|
| Florida |
$26.2/hr
|
$54,490
|
| Missouri |
$25.83/hr
|
$53,730
|
| North Dakota |
$24.96/hr
|
$51,930
|
| Oklahoma |
$24.52/hr
|
$51,000
|
| North Carolina |
$23.35/hr
|
$48,560
|
| Mississippi |
$23.2/hr
|
$48,260
|
| District of Columbia |
$23.11/hr
|
$48,060
|
| Connecticut |
$22.89/hr
|
$47,620
|
| Tennessee |
$22.79/hr
|
$47,410
|
| Maryland |
$22.76/hr
|
$47,350
|
| Puerto Rico |
$22.54/hr
|
$46,870
|
| Oregon |
$22.48/hr
|
$46,750
|
| Wisconsin |
$22.2/hr
|
$46,180
|
| Idaho |
$22.14/hr
|
$46,050
|
| Iowa |
$21.65/hr
|
$45,040
|
| Nebraska |
$21.57/hr
|
$44,870
|
| New Hampshire |
$21.42/hr
|
$44,560
|
| West Virginia |
$21.14/hr
|
$43,960
|
| Hawaii |
$21.1/hr
|
$43,890
|
| Maine |
$20.67/hr
|
$42,990
|
| Indiana |
$20.52/hr
|
$42,670
|
| Kansas |
$20.37/hr
|
$42,360
|
| Washington |
$20.19/hr
|
$41,990
|
| California |
$20.05/hr
|
$41,700
|
| Wyoming |
$20.03/hr
|
$41,660
|
| Virginia |
$20.03/hr
|
$41,670
|
| Massachusetts |
$20.01/hr
|
$41,620
|
| Alabama |
$19.75/hr
|
$41,090
|
| New Mexico |
$19.61/hr
|
$40,800
|
| Montana |
$19.54/hr
|
$40,640
|
| South Carolina |
$19.46/hr
|
$40,490
|
| Alaska |
$19.44/hr
|
$40,440
|
| South Dakota |
$19.27/hr
|
$40,080
|
| Utah |
$19.21/hr
|
$39,960
|
| New Jersey |
$19.14/hr
|
$39,800
|
| Louisiana |
$19.04/hr
|
$39,610
|
| Guam |
$18.31/hr
|
$38,090
|
| Kentucky |
$18.24/hr
|
$37,940
|
| Arkansas |
$18.23/hr
|
$37,920
|
| Pennsylvania |
$18.07/hr
|
$37,590
|
| Michigan |
$17.07/hr
|
$35,490
|
| Ohio |
$16.84/hr
|
$35,020
|
| Nevada |
$16.82/hr
|
$34,990
|
