How to determine a minister's salary:
One way of effectively determining a minister's salary is by adhering to the minimum recommended (or mandatory) salary within a connectional (or episcopal) denomination.
A 'second method is to average the salaries of the church's leadership board. I reason with the board that most churches feel their pastor is at least equally valuable to a church as the other leaders. Therefore, a survey of the lay leaders' incomes, including social security and benefits, is an equitable way to determine what a pastor's peers within the church are making.' [2]
Another 'method acknowledges that a pastor compares in many ways to a teacher—in duties, continuing education, and role in the community. The salary package, therefore, should equate to what a local teacher with comparable education and experience would be paid. In addition, because a teacher's health insurance, social security, and often pension contribution are included, a local church should compensate for these as well.' [3]
A fourth way is by national comparative salary statistics. The following table shows the comparable salary averages for ministers in the United States in the year 2000 (source: Clergy Salaries in Congregations, Alban Institute, September/October 2002 issue, p. 7):
Year 2000 Stats | Average Weekly Attendance | % of Pastors within Polity | Median Salary plus Housing |
Connectional Churches | Small (<100) | 56% | $36,000 |
Medium (101-350) | 38 | 49,835 | |
Large (351-1,000) | 6 | 66,003 | |
Congregational Churches | Small (<100) | 63 | 22,300 |
Medium (101-350) | 32 | 41,051 | |
Large (351-1,000) | 4 | 59,315 | |
Very Large (1,000+) | 1 | 85,518 |
Concluding remarks:
The issue of ministry salaries will likely remain a sensitive and controversial one for years to come. Hopefully this little article as well as the thoughts shared by our colleagues below will get you started on a quest for the appropriate method and approach to help you and your peers determine a fair ministry salary package.
Links:
Preacher & Children Date of Joke: Thursday, 2nd September, 2004 |
There was a preacher whose wife was expecting a baby. The preacher went to the congregation and asked for a raise. After much consideration and discussion, they passed a rule that whenever the preacher's family expanded, so would his paycheck. |