Pastor demographics and statistics in the US
Pastor demographics research summary. Zippia estimates pastor demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our pastor estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about pastors after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 29,944 pastors currently employed in the United States.
- 12.9% of all pastors are women, while 87.1% are men.
- The average pastor age is 51 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of pastors is White (68.3%), followed by Black or African American (11.7%), Hispanic or Latino (9.0%) and Asian (6.6%).
- Pastors are most in-demand in Argyle, TX.
- The education industry is the highest-paying for pastors.
- 16% of all pastors are LGBT.
On This Page
Pastor demographics by:
Pastor gender statistics
12.9% of pastors are women and 87.1% of pastors are men.
- Male, 87.1%
- Female, 12.9%
Pastor gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 87.1% |
| Female | 12.9% |
Pastor gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male Income
$43,404
Female Income
$41,821
Pastor gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in pastor positions over time. Currently, 12.9% of pastors are female.
Pastor gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 89.32% | 10.68% |
| 2011 | 88.90% | 11.10% |
| 2012 | 88.21% | 11.79% |
| 2013 | 88.73% | 11.27% |
| 2014 | 88.74% | 11.26% |
| 2015 | 87.83% | 12.17% |
| 2016 | 88.17% | 11.83% |
| 2017 | 87.37% | 12.63% |
| 2018 | 88.64% | 11.36% |
| 2019 | 88.37% | 11.63% |
| 2020 | 88.22% | 11.78% |
| 2021 | 87.07% | 12.93% |
Pastor related jobs gender ratio
We compared pastors with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, catholic priest and imam have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Director Of Preschool | 5% | 95% |
| Deaconess | 8% | 92% |
| Christian Science Nurse | 15% | 85% |
| Pastor | 87% | 13% |
| Music Pastor | 93% | 7% |
| Imam | 94% | 6% |
| Catholic Priest | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Pastor demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among pastors is White, which makes up 68.3% of all pastors. Comparatively, 11.7% of pastors are Black or African American and 9.0% of pastors are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 68.3%
- Black or African American, 11.7%
- Hispanic or Latino, 9.0%
- Asian, 6.6%
- Unknown, 4.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Pastor Race
| Pastor Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 68.3% |
| Black or African American | 11.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9.0% |
| Asian | 6.6% |
| Unknown | 4.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Pastor race and ethnicity over time
See how pastor racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Pastor race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 76.33% | 10.24% | 5.23% | 6.68% |
| 2011 | 73.41% | 10.50% | 6.46% | 7.61% |
| 2012 | 74.67% | 10.52% | 5.77% | 6.98% |
| 2013 | 74.31% | 10.93% | 5.85% | 7.26% |
| 2014 | 73.25% | 10.31% | 6.11% | 8.05% |
| 2015 | 73.85% | 10.88% | 5.78% | 7.56% |
| 2016 | 72.46% | 10.93% | 6.94% | 7.93% |
| 2017 | 72.18% | 10.00% | 6.76% | 8.73% |
| 2018 | 73.96% | 9.72% | 6.12% | 8.11% |
| 2019 | 72.96% | 10.59% | 6.08% | 8.40% |
| 2020 | 70.39% | 10.48% | 7.37% | 7.95% |
| 2021 | 68.28% | 11.72% | 6.60% | 8.97% |
Pastor wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown pastors have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian pastors have the lowest average salary at $40,762.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $45,472 |
| White | $44,402 |
| Black or African American | $44,759 |
| Asian | $40,762 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $41,818 |
Average pastor age
See how the average age of pastors varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Pastor age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 56 | 59.5 |
| Unknown | 45.5 | 57.5 |
| Asian | 54 | 50 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 45 | 49 |
| White | 52 | 53 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 64.5 |
Pastor age breakdown
The average age of pastors is 40+ years years old, representing 77% of the pastor population.
Pastor age breakdown
| Pastor Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 77% |
| 30-40 years | 17% |
| 20-30 years | 5% |
Pastor educational attainment
The most common degree for pastors is bachelor's degree, with 51% of pastors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 31% and master's degree degree at 8%.
- Bachelor's, 51%
- Master's, 31%
- Associate, 8%
- Doctorate, 4%
- Other Degrees, 6%
Pastors by degree level
| Pastor Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 51% |
| Master's | 31% |
| Associate | 8% |
| Doctorate | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 6% |
Pastor Jobs You Might Like
Pastor wage gap by degree level
According to the data, pastors with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $47,033 annually. With a Master's degree, pastors earn a median annual income of $46,320 compared to $43,131 for pastors with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $46,320 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,131 |
| Doctorate Degree | $47,033 |
Pastor employment statistics
Company size where pastors work
Below, you can see the size of companies where pastors work.
Pastor jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 9% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 57% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 28% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 2% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 3% |
| > 10,000 employees | 1% |
Pastor jobs by industry
The most common industries for pastors are non profits, education and internet.
Pastor industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Non Profits | 80% |
| Education | 12% |
| Pharmaceutical | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Government | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Media | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Professional | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Technology | 1% |
Pastor turnover and employment statistics
Pastor unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for pastors between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Pastor unemployment rate by year
| Year | Pastor Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.37% |
| 2011 | 1.17% |
| 2012 | 1.38% |
| 2013 | 1.26% |
| 2014 | 0.97% |
| 2015 | 0.94% |
| 2016 | 0.92% |
| 2017 | 0.69% |
| 2018 | 0.72% |
| 2019 | 0.96% |
| 2020 | 0.99% |
| 2021 | 1.03% |
Average pastor tenure
The average pastor stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 13,272 pastors resumes in Zippia's database.
Pastor tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 7% |
| 1-2 years | 24% |
| 3-4 years | 17% |
| 5-7 years | 20% |
| 8-10 years | 9% |
| 11+ years | 23% |
Pastor LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of pastors that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluator | 8.30% | 1,601 |
| Prior | 10.45% | 625 |
| Social Service Coordinator | 13.09% | 109,487 |
| Counselor | 13.47% | 77,536 |
| Pastor | 15.69% | - |
| General Director | 16.29% | 74,664 |
| Clinical Social Worker | 19.71% | 124,816 |
Similar pastor jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluator | 8.30% | 1,601 |
| Prior | 10.45% | 625 |
| Social Service Coordinator | 13.09% | 109,487 |
| Counselor | 13.47% | 77,536 |
| General Director | 16.29% | 74,664 |
| Clinical Social Worker | 19.71% | 124,816 |
Foreign languages spoken by pastors
The most common foreign language among pastors is Spanish at 55.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 6.9% and German is the third-most popular at 5.7%.
- Spanish, 55.3%
- French, 6.9%
- German, 5.7%
- Greek, 5.1%
- Hebrew, 4.5%
- Other, 22.5%
Pastor languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 55.3% |
| French | 6.9% |
| German | 5.7% |
| Greek | 5.1% |
| Hebrew | 4.5% |
| Other | 22.5% |
