2011 Salary Survey Results

Under Dr. Charles Siburt’s direction, the Office of Church Relations team 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 341 ministers, support staff, and missionaries of diverse ages and positions, and from churches of varying sizes.

The survey compares individuals’ 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 church staff and missionaries, and does provide powerful information for reassessment and reevaluation of their compensation packages.

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. And since the files are available in Excel format, you are welcome to apply additional sort criteria if desired.

If you would like to participate in next year’s Salary Survey, please complete this brief online 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, view the blank survey (pdf).

Results: Ministry Staff

• Survey Results Analysis by Question: xls   pdf
• Compensation by Church Size: xls   pdf
• Compensation by Education Level: xls   pdf
• Compensation by Ministry Role: xls   pdf
• Compensation by State: xls   pdf
• Compensation by Years of Experience: xls   pdf
• Compensation Showing More Detailed Data on Benefits: xls   pdf

Results: Support Staff

• Survey Results Analysis by Question: xls   pdf
• Compensation by Church Size: xls   pdf
• Compensation by Education Level: xls   pdf
• Compensation Showing More Detailed Data on Benefits: xls   pdf

Results: Missionaries

• Survey Results Analysis by Question: xls   pdf
• Compensation by Continent: xls   pdf
• Compensation Showing More Detailed Data on Benefits: xls   pdf