Religious Director Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Bachelor's and master's degrees are available in Religious Education and Theology. Some master's degree programs offer certification in the areas of schools, congregations and communities.
Training and Education
Education or job training for workers typically involves a bachelor's degree. At least 64% of employees had a degree of four or more years. About 26% of religious directors had some college below a bachelor's degree. An estimated 10% of workers had just a high-school diploma.
Job Overview
Religious directors oversee the activities of a denominational group's religious education programs. They oversee church school programs that promote religious education among church members. They promote religious learning for all age levels. Religious directors develop objectives and plans for religious education. They also assist in selecting and implementing social action events and projects.
Job Requirements
Some religious directors have a bachelor's degree or a master's degree in Religious Education or Theology.
Nature of Work
- Develop a budget
- Select curricula for education programs
- Work with other ministry members to establish objectives for religious education programs
- Schedule special events including conferences, camps, retreats and seminars
Area Job Conditions
The cities with the most employees per capita are Corvallis (Oregon), Salem (Oregon), and Eugene (Oregon), while the worst cities are St. Louis (Missouri), Edison (New Jersey), and Houston (Texas).
The highest salaries for religious directors are in and around Charlotte (North Carolina), Miami (Florida), and Oakland (California). The lowest-paying areas are Albany (New York), Virginia Beach (Virginia), and Missoula (Montana).
Part-Time and Self Employment
An estimated 25% of religious directors work part-time.
Career Videos
Religious Directors by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $36,000 | 30 | +73% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $47,000 | 70 | +106% |
| Los Angeles | $56,000 | 420 | -4% |
| Oakland | $51,000 | 130 | +21% |
| Oxnard | $38,000 | 30 | -5% |
| Riverside | $36,000 | 240 | +84% |
| Sacramento | $38,000 | 160 | +71% |
| San Diego | $30,000 | 490 | +246% |
| San Francisco | $48,000 | 250 | +133% |
| San Jose | $46,000 | 180 | +86% |
| San Luis Obispo | $35,000 | 40 | +333% |
| Santa Ana | $45,000 | 460 | +192% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford | $49,000 | 40 | -35% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $53,000 | 450 | +71% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale | $36,000 | 110 | +46% |
| Jacksonville | $33,000 | 70 | +8% |
| Miami | $34,000 | 120 | +13% |
| Orlando | $41,000 | 130 | +18% |
| Pensacola | $37,000 | 40 | +161% |
| Tampa | $33,000 | 210 | +70% |
| West Palm Beach | $38,000 | 110 | +98% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $28,000 | 200 | +325% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $33,000 | 740 | +81% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gary | $41,000 | 30 | +5% |
| Indianapolis | 50 | -48% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport | $40,000 | 30 | +54% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | $26,000 | 30 | -47% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $47,000 | 270 | +90% |
| Bethesda | $45,000 | 100 | +61% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $35,000 | 60 | +246% |
| Detroit | $36,000 | 220 | +205% |
| Grand Rapids | $44,000 | 70 | +74% |
| Kalamazoo | $32,000 | 30 | +116% |
| Lansing | $37,000 | 60 | +189% |
| Warren | $37,000 | 290 | +148% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $56,000 | 180 | -7% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Louis | $40,000 | 70 | -52% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula | $21,000 | 50 | +907% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison | $55,000 | 30 | -73% |
| Newark | $45,000 | 50 | -54% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $38,000 | 90 | +86% |
| Binghamton | $32,000 | 50 | +338% |
| Buffalo | $43,000 | 300 | +404% |
| Nassau | $31,000 | 440 | +221% |
| New York | $45,000 | 1,270 | +125% |
| Poughkeepsie | $42,000 | 80 | +207% |
| Rochester | $43,000 | 130 | +139% |
| Syracuse | $37,000 | 120 | +261% |
| Utica | $36,000 | 30 | +136% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $74,000 | 40 | -57% |
| Durham | $40,000 | 60 | +105% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $43,000 | 190 | +73% |
| Cleveland | $39,000 | 40 | -64% |
| Dayton | $39,000 | 100 | +145% |
| Toledo | $28,000 | 80 | +156% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $37,000 | 50 | +720% |
| Corvallis | $34,000 | 40 | +1577% |
| Eugene | $36,000 | 120 | +731% |
| Medford | $38,000 | 30 | +294% |
| Portland | $35,000 | 930 | +741% |
| Salem | $37,000 | 260 | +1591% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $36,000 | 50 | +35% |
| Johnstown | $19,000 | 40 | +645% |
| Philadelphia | $50,000 | 340 | +64% |
| Pittsburgh | $30,000 | 190 | +53% |
| Scranton | $30,000 | 70 | +153% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $39,000 | 220 | +267% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $48,000 | 90 | -68% |
| San Antonio | $36,000 | 30 | -68% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $55,000 | 70 | +6% |
| Virginia Beach | $38,000 | 120 | +47% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $60,000 | 40 | -74% |