Share of church budget spent on personnel in Southern Baptist congregations
Median percent of spending on personnel by attendance, 2026 (in percent)
Key finding
Highest: 250 or more (50%). Lowest: Fewer than 50 (42%).
- 250 or more: 50%
- 100 to 249: 47%
- 50 to 99: 46%
Source: Lifeway Research, Southern Baptist Pastor Pay Stagnant Since 2024 · Lifeway Research study of Southern Baptist pastor compensation. Article published 2026-09-08.
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Questions about this statistic
What does this statistic show?
Highest: 250 or more (50%). Lowest: Fewer than 50 (42%). 250 or more: 50%. 100 to 249: 47%. 50 to 99: 46%.
Who published this data?
Lifeway Research, 2026. Source: Lifeway Research, Southern Baptist Pastor Pay Stagnant Since 2024 (https://research.lifeway.com/2026/09/08/southern-baptist-pastor-pay-stagnant-since-2024/).
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About this data
Leader Insights collects statistics about U.S. churches from published research by organizations such as Lifeway Research, Barna Group, Springtide, the American Bible Society and PRRI. Every number is checked against the wording of the original source before it is published, and each statistic links back to the study it came from. Figures are reproduced from the publishers named above; see the source for full methodology.