How Much Does a Senior Pastor Make? (2025)
A senior pastor’s main responsibility is to conduct religious worship and help people with their religious beliefs. They’re also responsible for providing religious and moral guidance and assistance to their members.
Although there are no statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding a senior pastor’s salary, Salary’com’s data suggests that a senior pastors with the average yearly salary of $109,080.
Learn more about the salary trend for senior pastors, top-paying cities in the US, and some FAQs about the occupation in this salary guide.
What is the Average Senior Pastor’s Salary?
As mentioned above, the salary of a senior pastor is $80,290 per year. As of July 10, 2025, senior pastor’s salaries range from $75,456 to $138,501, with the majority earning between $91,480 to $124,480.
2025 Senior Pastor salary: $109,080 ($52 per hour)
A senior pastor’s average monthly salary is $9,090, while the average weekly pay is $2,098. Meanwhile, the salary of a senior pastor per hour is $52, according to the report.
| Percentile | By Hour | By Week | By Month | By Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36 | $1,451 | $6,288 | $75,456 |
| 25th Percentile | $44 | $1,759 | $7,623 | $91,480 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $52 | $2,098 | $9,090 | $109,080 |
| 75th Percentile | $60 | $2,394 | $10,373 | $124,480 |
| 90th Percentile | $67 | $2,663 | $11,542 | $138,501 |
Senior Pastor Salaries State by State
The salary for senior pastors differs across US states based on factors like minimum wage, job demand, location, and cost of living.
As shown in the table below, the three (3) states with the lowest average annual salary for senior pastors in the United States are Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas with $97,280, $98,180, and $72,530, respectively.
Meanwhile, the three (3) states with the highest average annual salary for senior pastors are the District of Columbia, California, and Massachusetts with $120,780, $120,280, and $118,680, respectively.
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $100,180.00 |
| Alaska | $118,080.00 |
| Arizona | $106,280.00 |
| Arkansas | $98,480.00 |
| California | $120,280.00 |
| Colorado | $111,280.00 |
| Connecticut | $116,580.00 |
| Delaware | $110,480.00 |
| District of Columbia | $120,780.00 |
| Florida | $103,180.00 |
| Georgia | $105,180.00 |
| Hawaii | $113,980.00 |
| Idaho | $101,780.00 |
| Illinois | $111,180.00 |
| Indiana | $104,680.00 |
| Iowa | $104,380.00 |
| Kansas | $103,880.00 |
| Kentucky | $102,580.00 |
| Louisiana | $103,680.00 |
| Maine | $106,380.00 |
| Maryland | $112,480.00 |
| Massachusetts | $118,680.00 |
| Michigan | $107,380.00 |
| Minnesota | $111,580.00 |
| Mississippi | $97,280.00 |
| Missouri | $103,580.00 |
| Montana | $102,980.00 |
| Nebraska | $102,780.00 |
| Nevada | $107,980.00 |
| New Hampshire | $110,280.00 |
| New Jersey | $118,180.00 |
| New Mexico | $100,980.00 |
| New York | $115,980.00 |
| North Carolina | $103,680.00 |
| North Dakota | $107,680.00 |
| Ohio | $106,180.00 |
| Oklahoma | $100,880.00 |
| Oregon | $110,780.00 |
| Pennsylvania | $108,580.00 |
| Rhode Island | $113,080.00 |
| South Carolina | $102,180.00 |
| South Dakota | $99,080.00 |
| Tennessee | $101,880.00 |
| Texas | $106,380.00 |
| Utah | $104,480.00 |
| Vermont | $107,080.00 |
| Virginia | $109,780.00 |
| Washington | $118,280.00 |
| West Virginia | $98,180.00 |
| Wisconsin | $107,280.00 |
| Wyoming | $104,580.00 |
What are the Best-Paying Cities for Senior Pastor?
Senior pastors' salaries also vary by city due to the differences in the standard of living, local demand for occupation, and industry rates in metropolitan areas.
The table below shows that the labor industry in California is offering higher average annual salaries for senior pastors, specifically in cities like San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland.
Certain cities such as New York, Queens Village, and Paramus also show signs of increased demand for the role and are considered as few of the highest paying cities for senior pastors:
| City | Average Pay |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $137,580 |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,180 |
| Oakland, CA | $133,180 |
| New York, NY | $126,380 |
| Queens Village, NY | $125,580 |
| Paramus, NJ | $124,680 |
How Does Experience Affect a Senior Pastor’s Salary?
Having more experience gives senior pastors an advantage over their peers, along with having an important role in increasing their salaries.
Salary.com reports that an entry-level senior pastor earns an average annual income of $102,513. Having 2 more years of experience can increase a Senior Pastor’s salary to $103,301.
After 2 to 4 years of experience, the salary of senior pastors could increase to about $105,928. Specialist and expert-level Senior Pastors can earn up to $109,080 and $112,987, respectively.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Senior Pastor | $102,513 |
| Intermediate Level Senior Pastor | $103,301 |
| Senior Level Senior Pastor | $105,928 |
| Specialist Level Senior Pastor | $109,080 |
| Expert Level Senior Pastor | $112,987 |
How to Increase Salary as a Senior Pastor?
To be a senior pastor, having a degree in theology or in any related field on top of 5 or more years in a pastoral or in a senior leadership role.
Below are some of the common skills and advancements needed for a salary raise as a senior pastor.
Senior Pastor Advancements
- Education: Senior pastors are required to have a degree in theology or in any related fields. This will allow them to have basic knowledge of religious beliefs and provide them with the basic skills that a pastor should have.
- Experience: Most senior pastors need at least 5 years of professional experience in both small churches and large churches before being promoted to a senior position and receive pastor pay.
- Be ordained to a pastor: Though it may vary from specific ministries and specific congregations, senior pastors would need to be ordained to become a pastor.
Senior Pastor Skills
Gaining sought-after skills for a senior pastor is an effective way to earn a better salary and unlock more career opportunities.
The Real-time Job Posting Salary Data Report indicates that the most in-demand Senior Pastor skills are counselling skills and social work skills, with 20.97% and 7.83%, respectively.
On the other hand, essential skills such operations and non-profit management can increase the salary for senior pastors by 6.36% and 5.84%, respectively.
| Skill | Demand | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Management (OM) | 2.05% | 6.36% |
| Non-Profit Management | 2.05% | 5.84% |
| Social Work | 7.83% | 5.69% |
| Spiritual Guidance | 2.75% | 5.24% |
| Counseling | 20.97% | 5.18% |
| Bereavement Support | 2.45% | 5.17% |
What are FAQs About Senior Pastor Salaries?
Here are some common questions about a senior pastor’s salary:
What does a Senior Pastor do?
A senior pastor is mainly responsible for providing guidance towards their devoted people, as well as providing them with moral and religious guidance to their followers.
What skills should Senior Pastors possess?
As mentioned above, an ideal candidate for the senior pastor role should possess skills like operation management, non-profit management, and counseling. However, having operations and non-profit management skills can help senior pastors earn more.
How much does a Senior Pastor earn in the U.S.?
The average pastor salary in the United States is $75,456, or $36 per hour in the United States, as of July 10, 20.25. The highest median pastor salary can go up to $138,501 for those who belong in the 90th percentile.
