Salaries

“I see solid, educated, selfless, dedicated pastors around me who are full time clergy in churches of 40 to 60 in attendance. Is giving by a group this size enough to support a full time pastor adequately? Do members give per capita sufficient to cover a $50,000 or more salary cost by their minister?

“First, a Christian should absolutely feel freedom to ask for a raise. …Consider the following examples. In Luke 10, Jesus sends out the 72 and encourages them to willingly receive hospitality from their hosts, ‘for the laborer deserves his wages.’” - TGC

Institute for Nouthetic Studies: The cooperative fund, missions, convention agencies, camps, schools, and benevolence are all good and worthy things. But if a church cannot obey Christ in paying their pastor because they are supporting these other things, then ultimately, it is the pastor, not the church that is supporting them. Only one budget item is prescribed in the Word. All others come in second to that priority.

Almost one-third of American pastors (29%) have no money in personal savings. Another third (33%) have less than $10,000 put away for retirement. And half make less than the national median household income of $51,939.

WSJ: Highs and Lows of Pay in 20 Occupations, From Lawyer to Sales Manager to Clergy