2010 Salary Survey Results

Dr. Charles Siburt, ACU Associate Dean for Ministry Programs and Services, recently administered a nation-wide survey to gather information about current levels of compensation for ministers, support staff, and missionaries in the Churches of Christ. This survey was completed by 557 ministers, support staff, and missionaries of diverse ages and positions, and from churches of all sizes.

The survey compares minister compensation packages, including allowances and benefits, as well as comparing education level, church size, state, and years of experience.

With this vastly detailed and diverse set of information, it is difficult to establish any basis for a salary standard. The survey does, however, document the current compensation range for ministers and does provide powerful information for reassessment and reevaluation of a minister's compensation package.

In an effort to make Salary Survey results as helpful and usable as possible, the Church Relations team has sorted the data in a variety of ways, as seen below. For optimal performance, open Excel files in Excel 2007; the format is compatible with Excel 97-2003.

If you were unable to participate in the 2010 Salary Survey but would like to participate in the future, please enter your name and email address into this form.

Explanation of Terms

What exactly does "Total Compensation" mean? Which allowances are factored into this survey? What about reimbursements? Does the survey include dental and vision insurance, or just health insurance? All these questions and more are addressed in the Explanation of Terms file. To see the exact wording used on the survey itself, open the blank survey files available in the sections below.

Ministry Staff

• Blank Ministers Salary Survey  .pdf
• Survey Results Analysis by Question  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation by Church Size  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation by Education Level  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation by State  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation by Years of Experience  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation by Ministry Roles  .xls  .pdf
  The following ministry roles are included on separate tabs within the Excel spreadsheet and on separate pages within the PDF file:
  • Administration Ministry
  • Associate Ministry
  • Campus Ministry
  • Children's Ministry
  • Education/Spiritual Formation Ministry
  • Involvement Ministry
  • Other Ministries
  • Outreach/Evangelism Ministry
  • Pastoral Care/Counseling Ministry
  • Preaching Ministry
  • Worship Ministry
  • Youth Ministry
• Compensation with More Detailed Data on Benefits  .xls  .pdf

Support Staff

• Blank Support Staff Salary Survey  .pdf
• Survey Results Analysis by Question  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation by Church Size  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation by Education Level  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation by Ministry Roles  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation by State  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation by Years of Experience  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation with More Detailed Data on Benefits  .xls  .pdf

Missionaries

• Blank Missionaries Salary Survey  .pdf
• Survey Results Analysis by Question  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation by Continent  .xls  .pdf
• Compensation with More Detailed Data on Benefits  .xls  .pdf