Study: Pastors' Salaries Rise; Women Paid Less Than Men
A new study reveals that pastors and other church workers saw an average pay increase of 1.7 percent over the course of the last two years. The same survey taken in 2009 showed an average decline of 1.4 percent in pay and benefits. These numbers seem to be balancing out following one of the worst recessions in U.S. history.
"If you only looked at this year it would look like the results were really meager and the recession was still really holding a grip on pastors, but really when we analyze the data a little bit further, there actually is a better swing than first appears," said Marian Liautaud, an editor for Christianity Today's Church Management team, in an interview with The Christian Post on Tuesday.
“At least it's showing that we're trending in a better direction.”
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The study conducted by Christianity Today International, a not-for-profit ministry that reaches over 2.5 million people each month through magazines, websites and other publications. The results from this survey are included in The 2012-2013 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff.
“We do the handbook because churches need to have some kind of authoritative data on what is typical for churches of their size and ... their demographics,” said Liautaud, adding that it also helps churches avoid being accused of over-compensating their staff.
The percentages mentioned in the study are the results of a survey of 4,600 churches that reported on a total of 8,000 church positions.
The survey examined each position's total compensation package, which not only consists of salary, but also housing allowance, retirement, health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance and allowances for continuing education when applicable.
Some of the results of the survey reveal positive trends, while others reveal numbers that may be cause for concern.
The salary for senior pastors this year is up to $82,938 from last year's average of $80,745, showing a 2.7 percent increase. Also, although part-time staff members generally receive fewer fringe benefits than those who work full-time, the study found that a higher percentage of part-time positions came with paid vacations this year.
One shocking find from the survey, however, is that women are compensated 28 percent less than men across all paid positions in the church.
“This particular bit of data really baffles me,” said Liautaud.
She said the fact that some churches won't allow women into certain leadership roles doesn't explain the numbers they've studied, because the pay gap between men and women is also evident in what she calls “business-oriented positions,” such as the executive pastor position.
“It's a little disconcerting,” she said.
