Best states for a Pastor

Q: What is the best state for pastors?

The best state to be a pastor is West Virginia based on pastor salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for pastors?

The highest paying state for pastors is Alaska based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for pastors?

The worst state for pastors is Alaska, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted Expert

Peter Kapsner Ph.D.

Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming a pastor and really want to work at First Baptist Church of Glenarden? Turns out, your chances to become a pastor are better in some states than others.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for pastors. We found that West Virginia is the best state in the nation for pastors, and people in Hilo earn the most in the field.

The median salary for pastors in West Virginia is $62,472. Compare that to the median salary in Alaska of $25,476, which ranked worst for pastors, and you can see how your location is important for your career.We found that West Virginia is the best state for pastor jobs, whereas Alaska is the worst.

If you're looking for a Pastor job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best states for pastors in 2025

1. West Virginia
Total Pastor Jobs: 0
Average Annual Salary: $62,472
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $39,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $98,000
Location Quotient:
0
Pastor Jobs in West Virginia
2. Delaware
Total Pastor Jobs: 0
Average Annual Salary: $63,184
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $39,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $101,000
Location Quotient:
0
Pastor Jobs in Delaware
3. Maine
Total Pastor Jobs: 0
Average Annual Salary: $61,594
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $40,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $93,000
Location Quotient:
0
Pastor Jobs in Maine
4. Rhode Island
Total Pastor Jobs: 0
Average Annual Salary: $61,763
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $39,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $97,000
Location Quotient:
0
Pastor Jobs in Rhode Island
5. Hawaii
Total Pastor Jobs: 0
Average Annual Salary: $69,052
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $53,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $88,000
Location Quotient:
0
Pastor Jobs in Hawaii
6. Massachusetts
Total Pastor Jobs: 0
Average Annual Salary: $59,402
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $37,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $92,000
Location Quotient:
0
Pastor Jobs in Massachusetts
7. District of Columbia
Total Pastor Jobs: 0
Average Annual Salary: $62,306
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $38,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $99,000
Location Quotient:
0
Pastor Jobs in District of Columbia
8. Vermont
Total Pastor Jobs: 0
Average Annual Salary: $55,556
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $35,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $86,000
Location Quotient:
0
Pastor Jobs in Vermont
9. New Hampshire
Total Pastor Jobs: 0
Average Annual Salary: $53,193
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $34,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $82,000
Location Quotient:
0
Pastor Jobs in New Hampshire
10. California
Total Pastor Jobs: 8
Average Annual Salary: $55,305
Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $36,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn: $82,000
Location Quotient:
1.66
Pastor Jobs in California

Pastor JobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a pastor

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a pastor

Rank	State	Average Salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job Count
1	West Virginia	$62,472	$39,000	1,815,857	0
2	Delaware	$63,184	$39,000	961,939	0
3	Maine	$61,594	$40,000	1,335,907	0
4	Rhode Island	$61,763	$39,000	1,059,639	0
5	Hawaii	$69,052	$53,000	1,427,538	0
6	Massachusetts	$59,402	$37,000	6,859,819	0
7	District of Columbia	$62,306	$38,000	693,972	0
8	Vermont	$55,556	$35,000	623,657	0
9	New Hampshire	$53,193	$34,000	1,342,795	0
10	California	$55,305	$36,000	39,536,653	8
11	Arizona	$51,781	$35,000	7,016,270	0
12	North Carolina	$49,137	$31,000	10,273,419	2
13	Ohio	$49,392	$31,000	11,658,609	0
14	Maryland	$54,898	$34,000	6,052,177	0
15	Connecticut	$51,005	$32,000	3,588,184	0
16	Michigan	$47,676	$30,000	9,962,311	0
17	Wyoming	$46,600	$33,000	579,315	0
18	Wisconsin	$46,432	$30,000	5,795,483	0
19	Alabama	$44,847	$30,000	4,874,747	0
20	Pennsylvania	$46,085	$28,000	12,805,537	3
21	Texas	$44,031	$29,000	28,304,596	6
22	Nevada	$44,631	$30,000	2,998,039	0
23	Kentucky	$42,885	$28,000	4,454,189	2
24	Florida	$45,869	$30,000	20,984,400	0
25	Iowa	$42,683	$29,000	3,145,711	1
26	New Jersey	$47,863	$29,000	9,005,644	1
27	Virginia	$47,407	$29,000	8,470,020	1
28	Idaho	$44,204	$32,000	1,716,943	0
29	Colorado	$44,115	$31,000	5,607,154	4
30	New York	$46,933	$29,000	19,849,399	2
31	Indiana	$41,059	$27,000	6,666,818	4
32	Utah	$41,140	$29,000	3,101,833	2
33	South Carolina	$42,595	$28,000	5,024,369	0
34	Minnesota	$42,915	$29,000	5,576,606	0
35	Washington	$40,809	$30,000	7,405,743	5
36	North Dakota	$40,988	$29,000	755,393	0
37	Arkansas	$40,764	$27,000	3,004,279	0
38	Missouri	$40,751	$27,000	6,113,532	2
39	Louisiana	$40,790	$27,000	4,684,333	0
40	Oregon	$40,350	$28,000	4,142,776	2
41	Tennessee	$39,108	$26,000	6,715,984	1
42	New Mexico	$40,593	$27,000	2,088,070	0
43	Georgia	$40,650	$27,000	10,429,379	1
44	Oklahoma	$39,518	$27,000	3,930,864	0
45	Illinois	$40,696	$26,000	12,802,023	0
46	Kansas	$38,634	$26,000	2,913,123	0
47	Mississippi	$35,233	$23,000	2,984,100	0
48	South Dakota	$33,836	$23,000	869,666	0
49	Montana	$30,723	$23,000	1,050,493	0
50	Nebraska	$31,205	$21,000	1,920,076	0
51	Alaska	$25,476	$20,000	739,795	0

Highest paying states for pastors

Rank	State	Avg. Pastor Salary
1	West Virginia	$62,472
2	Delaware	$63,184
3	Maine	$61,594
4	Rhode Island	$61,763
5	Hawaii	$69,052
6	Massachusetts	$59,402
7	District of Columbia	$62,306
8	Vermont	$55,556
9	New Hampshire	$53,193
10	California	$55,305
11	Arizona	$51,781
12	North Carolina	$49,137
13	Ohio	$49,392
14	Maryland	$54,898
15	Connecticut	$51,005
16	Michigan	$47,676
17	Wyoming	$46,600
18	Wisconsin	$46,432
19	Alabama	$44,847
20	Pennsylvania	$46,085
21	Texas	$44,031
22	Nevada	$44,631
23	Kentucky	$42,885
24	Florida	$45,869
25	Iowa	$42,683
26	New Jersey	$47,863
27	Virginia	$47,407
28	Idaho	$44,204
29	Colorado	$44,115
30	New York	$46,933
31	Indiana	$41,059
32	Utah	$41,140
33	South Carolina	$42,595
34	Minnesota	$42,915
35	Washington	$40,809
36	North Dakota	$40,988
37	Arkansas	$40,764
38	Missouri	$40,751
39	Louisiana	$40,790
40	Oregon	$40,350
41	Tennessee	$39,108
42	New Mexico	$40,593
43	Georgia	$40,650
44	Oklahoma	$39,518
45	Illinois	$40,696
46	Kansas	$38,634
47	Mississippi	$35,233
48	South Dakota	$33,836
49	Montana	$30,723
50	Nebraska	$31,205
51	Alaska	$25,476

Expert opinions on the best states for pastors

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Pastors to find work opportunities?
P
Peter Kapsner Ph.D.
Teaching Partner, Bethel University & Seminary
Social organizations and non-profits still appear to be thriving in the USA, but their focus is also increasingly less spiritual. Churches have fewer and fewer opportunities. Missiologists undoubtedly will have opportunities to bring "good news" for social and physical needs, as they should, but the needs of the spirit in terms of the historical focus on sin, future, love, life, death, spiritual freedom, and eternity are less relevant to many today.

Pastor best states FAQs

What is the best state for pastors?

What is the highest paying state for pastors?

What is the worst state for pastors?

Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.

Search for pastor jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse community and social services jobs

Total Pastor Jobs:	0
Average Annual Salary:	$62,472
Lowest 10 Percent Earn:	$39,000
Highest 10 Percent Earn:	$98,000
Location Quotient:	0

Best states for a Pastor

If you're looking for a Pastor job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best states for pastors in 2025

1. West Virginia

2. Delaware

3. Maine

4. Rhode Island

5. Hawaii

6. Massachusetts

7. District of Columbia

8. Vermont

9. New Hampshire

10. California