Interesting stats from the Oct 07 Christianity Today...
$56,959- Average annual compensation, including salary and benefits, for solo pastors.
10.4%- How much more female solo pastors make than their male counterparts
I suspect this has something to do with the socio-economic class of the kinds of denominations that have female solo pastors... But interesting nonetheless!
That is a pretty typical statistic. Women typically make that much less the male counterparts in every profession. Interestingly, if a profession becomes largely female, the annual salary goes down.
Posted by: | November 21, 2007 at 01:15 PM
I read it the other way. I think it is saying that female pastors make MORE than men. That is the opposite of typical. I think Bob may be right about the overall size and payscale for mainline churches and denominations versus evangelicals and others. Conservatives don't pay?! :-)
Posted by: emerging worshiper | November 21, 2007 at 02:19 PM
Yes- the statistics says that as a group- female solo pastors make 10.4% MORE than their average male counterpart.
More. :)
Posted by: Bob Hyatt | November 21, 2007 at 02:36 PM
Man, I should have been a pastor...
Posted by: Jessi | November 21, 2007 at 05:59 PM
Just from personal knowledge I think this is because some of the denominations in which women can become ordained, have deeper pockets than others. For example PCUSA or Episcopalian, both of which I know women who are pastors in, typically can pay better than a struggling church plant. So given that many women pastors are concentrated in these denominations it explains why they might on average make more.
Posted by: ryan | November 22, 2007 at 07:13 PM
I was surprised by your statistics. I am United Methodist and in my conference women clergy make less than men do... but i think ryan is partially correct denominations that ordain women usually have a higher salary. I also think that the little country independent church that serves a town of 2500 people, and pays a pastor $18K a year don't typically hire or ordain women.
I'd be interested if the CT article gave a statistic on women who pastor "large" congregations as Sr pastor as opposed to men in the same position. I would assume it is much smaller
Posted by: Mark | November 22, 2007 at 09:53 PM
Um, wow. was not expecting that. Looks like there is evidence of another culture at hand...
Posted by: starla | November 23, 2007 at 12:25 PM