A Pastor's Salary

by Crown Financial Ministries (Church Finances)

“Let the church keep the pastor poor and God can keep him humble.” How often has this
statement been the point around which congregations rally when the issue of paying the pastor
has been addressed?

Even though congregations may not have said it verbally, over the years more times than not a
congregation's actions have spoken volumes in support of this statement.

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of
double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture
says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,' and ‘The laborer is worthy of his
wages'” (1 Timothy 5:17-18).

Typical salary in America

Today few pastors receive an unreasonably high salary.

A reasonable income is based on what would ordinarily be paid for like services by a similar
organization under similar circumstances.

Most ministers serving in pulpits today are highly trained and well educated. In obedience to
God, congregations should pay them what they are worth.

A recent study conducted by The National Association of Church Business Administration points
out that the average American pastor with a congregation of 300 people earns a salary of less
than $28,000 and that one out of five pastors has to moonlight for supplemental income.

The study also indicated that only 5 percent of American pastors earn more than $50,000 a year,
and 14 percent earn less than $25,000.

A responsibility of the church

The Word of God is specific when it says that laborers are worthy of their hire. This means that
churches should give the maximum amount of support to their pastors, without jeopardizing the
overall financial stability of the church.

Pastoral compensation is a two-edged sword: pastors should be paid what they are worth, but the
ministers should be worth what they are paid.
Income paid to pastors should be fair and a reasonable indication of the congregations' evaluation
of the pastors' worth. Yet, it should also relate to the responsibilities, the size of the
congregation, the economic level of the locale, and the experience of the pastor.

A good rule of thumb to determine how much salary pastors should receive is either to pay them
the same salary as the average wage of the church ruling board, the average estimated wage of
the families in the congregation, or base the salary on a proposed budget presented by the pastor
to the appropriate financial authorities for their consideration.

An annual review of a pastor's pay is vital, and the pastor should know exactly what to expect
from the congregation during the coming year.

However, if a church does not increase the pastor's pay each year by at least the cost of living, it
has in effect reduced the salary.

Moreover, just as the members of a congregation expect their employers to provide them with a
cost-of-living pay increase each year, a pastor should expect the same.

Outside employment
In some situations, pastors are forced to seek outside employment in order to supplement low
salaries, especially in smaller churches.

Many churches justify encouraging their pastor to seek outside employment by calling attention
to Paul's outside occupation.

The fact is, too much emphasis is placed on Paul's life, in which he was both a missionary and a
tentmaker.

Paul was primarily a missionary and was supported as a missionary; tent making did not support
him.

Today many congregations expect pastors to be tentmakers because they do not want to support
them in a manner pleasing to God. Paul said, “So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the
gospel to get their living from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14).

If pastors feel committed to earn their living outside the church, so they will not have to take
money from church members, that commitment must be from God.

As such, pastors should be given the freedom to pursue second jobs without fear of stigma.
However, if pastors are working because their churches will not support them, that is wrong,
because it is a lack of commitment on the part of God's people and a lack of faith on the part of
the pastors (see Philippians 4:19).

Before allowing their pastors to take outside jobs, the church board must honestly determine if
they have the resources to assume their full and adequate support.

If pastors are torn between the loyalty of a job in which they earn a living to provide for their
families (1 Timothy 5:8) and the call of ministering to people, they will have divided minds and
the overall stability of their churches very well could suffer.

Conclusion
Inadequate income does produce negative consequences. Pastors who are concerned about
providing the basic needs of their own families may not have the emotional energy to
concentrate on the needs of their churches. Financial burdens may contribute to a lack of
enthusiasm, a low self-esteem, and a negative attitude toward the ministry. Ultimately, that will
harm the congregation. “Appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge
over you in the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:12).