Pastors & Staff statistics

253 sourced statistics on pastors & staff for U.S. church leaders, newest first, from Lifeway Research, Barna Group and other published research.

2026

• Black Protestant clergy who support women's leadership in the Black church Public Religion Research Institute
• Decline in churches insuring their senior pastor Leader Insights
• Drop in pastors considering quitting since the 2022 peak Leader Insights
• Evangelical pastors with some income outside of church work Lifeway Research
• Meaningful friendships among rural pastors Lifeway Research
• Other full-time ministers' pay after inflation Leader Insights
• Other insurance types Southern Baptist congregations provide Lifeway Research
• Pastoral confidence in calling Barna Group, via Gloo
• Pastors in evangelical churches who are married Lifeway Research
• Pastors sure they can stay at their church as long as they want Lifeway Research
• Pastors who are very satisfied with their vocation Barna Group, via Gloo
• Pastors who feel they must be on call around the clock Lifeway Research
• Pastors who find the role frequently overwhelming Lifeway Research
• Pastors who left their last church because of conflict Lifeway Research
• Pastors who seriously considered leaving full-time ministry in the past year Barna Group
• Rural pastors who see members stepping into leadership Lifeway Research
• Senior pastor pay after inflation Leader Insights
• Southern Baptist churches providing medical insurance for at least the pastor Lifeway Research

2025

• Advice former pastors give to current pastors Lifeway Research
• Annual rate of pastors leaving for reasons other than retirement or death Lifeway Research
• Bivocational pastors by tradition Lifeway Research
• Challenges pastors call a major issue for their church Barna Group
• Churches that provide medical insurance for the senior pastor Lifeway Research
• Churches with a plan for the pastor to receive a sabbatical Lifeway Research
• Clergy serving more than one congregation Lifeway Research
• Education levels of pastors Lifeway Research
• Expectations and fit at last church: current versus former pastors Lifeway Research
• High trust in clergy by household income Lifeway Research
• High trust in pastors by age group Lifeway Research
• High trust in pastors by education level Lifeway Research
• High trust in pastors by political affiliation Lifeway Research
• How Americans rate the honesty and ethics of clergy Lifeway Research
• Leadership development programs in Protestant churches Lifeway Research
• Mainline pastors who began at their church within the past 10 years Lifeway Research
• Pastor pay package, June 2022 to June 2024 Lifeway Research
• Pastors serving their first church as senior pastor Lifeway Research
• Pastors who agree with statements about the pressures of ministry Lifeway Research
• Pastors who attended a counseling conference Lifeway Research
• Pastors who believe abuse is not a problem in their congregations Lifeway Research
• Pastors who call their spouse their best friend Barna Group, via Gloo
• Pastors who consistently put family first when time conflicts arise Lifeway Research
• Pastors who counsel opposite-sex members with another staff member present Lifeway Research
• Pastors who feel they must be on-call around the clock Lifeway Research
• Pastors who have read several books or articles on counseling Lifeway Research
• Pastors who keep a list of counselors to refer people to Lifeway Research
• Pastors who refer someone for counseling after a couple of visits Lifeway Research
• Pastors who regularly call congregations to respond to a sermon truth Lifeway Research
• Pastors who say they are well-known by someone outside their home and church Barna Group
• Pastors who say they deserve the respect of their church members Lifeway Research
• Pastors who say training current leaders and volunteers is a challenge Lifeway Research
• Pastors who seriously considered leaving full-time ministry Barna Group
• Pastors who struggle with consistently resting Lifeway Research
• Pastors who were members of their church before becoming its leader Lifeway Research
• Pastors who work a second job Lifeway Research
• Pastors who worked outside the church before ministry Lifeway Research
• Pastors who worked somewhere else before entering ministry Lifeway Research
• Pastors whose church has a written expectations document Lifeway Research
• Pastors whose church has documented a doable set of pastor responsibilities Lifeway Research
• Pastors whose church provides a marriage support system Barna Group
• Pastors whose families regularly receive genuine encouragement from their church Lifeway Research
• Pastors with a graduate degree in counseling Lifeway Research
• Pastors' greatest concerns about their people Lifeway Research
• Pastors' rating of their personal financial health Lifeway Research
• Pay change since 2024 vs. inflation Lifeway Research
• Professions rated high in honesty and ethics, including clergy Lifeway Research
• Professions rated high or very high for honesty and ethics Lifeway Research
• Public rating of clergy honesty and ethics Lifeway Research
• Reasons former pastors stepped down from ministry Lifeway Research
• Reasons pastors leave pastoral ministry Lifeway Research
• Reasons the previous pastor left the ministry, as reported by current pastors Lifeway Research
• Retired pastors' struggles after retirement Lifeway Research
• Rural pastors who feel called specifically to rural or small-town ministry Lifeway Research
• Rural pastors' sense of calling to their setting Lifeway Research
• Rural pastors: biggest obstacles Lifeway Research
• Student ministers who feel supported by their churches Lifeway Research
• The aging of America's pastors Barna Group
• Top concerns pastors have for the Church in the U.S Barna Group
• Types of conflict former pastors faced in their last congregation Lifeway Research
• U.S. clergy who serve bivocationally Lifeway Research
• What former pastors are doing now Lifeway Research
• Where senior pastors began their ministry careers Lifeway Research
• Why pastors consider quitting Barna Group
• Why student pastors feel insecure in their ministries Lifeway Research
• Younger pastors' areas where they say they need to invest more Lifeway Research

2024

• Aim to serve their church through their professional skillset Barna Group
• Areas where U.S. pastors feel underprepared Barna Group
• Churchgoers who completely trust their pastor Lifeway Research
• Churchgoers who completely trust their pastor Lifeway Research
• Churchgoers who say a pastor must address current issues Lifeway Research
• Churchgoers who say a pastor must address current issues Lifeway Research
• Complaints of churchgoers who left a church over the pastor Lifeway Research
• Congregation had a high degree of input in succession Barna Group
• Employment status of women's ministry leaders Lifeway Research
• How often pastors address current issues in sermons Lifeway Research
• How often pastors address current issues in sermons Lifeway Research
• How senior pastor transitions begin Barna Group
• Issues Hispanic pastors say need attention in their lives Lifeway Research
• Ministry positions senior pastors held before becoming a senior pastor Lifeway Research
• Needs and challenges pastors report around friendship Lifeway Research
• Pastors equipped to lead on politics and civic engagement Barna Group
• Pastors naming political division as hurting pastors' credibility Barna Group
• Pastors reporting congregational conflict, by thoughts of leaving Lifeway Research
• Pastors who believe fear is growing in their congregations Lifeway Research
• Pastors who feel supported by other local pastors Lifeway Research
• Pastors who have never seriously considered leaving ministry Lifeway Research
• Pastors who have struggled with pornography at some point in their lives Barna Group
• Pastors who say financial stress is one of their most significant issues Lifeway Research
• Pastors who say politics is the area they are least equipped to lead Barna Group
• Pastors with good to great health and wellness scores, by church size Lifeway Research
• Pastors' self-rated financial health Lifeway Research
• Pastors' views on the future of church leadership Barna Group
• Positive personal impacts of being a pastor, Hispanic pastors Lifeway Research
• Primary spiritual gift pastors list Barna Group
• Protestant pastors who are currently married Barna Group
• Protestant pastors with a biblical worldview, by church segment Barna Group
• Senior pastors who consider themselves effective leaders Barna Group
• Senior pastors who say they are effective at thinking strategically Barna Group
• Time a church spent without a pastor before the current senior pastor started Lifeway Research
• Types of books pastors name as most helpful Barna Group
• What outgoing senior pastors do after a transition Barna Group
• Whether our pastor understands blended and nontraditional families Barna Group
• Why Hispanic Protestant pastors are bivocational Lifeway Research
• Why women's ministry leaders lead Lifeway Research
• Women's ministry leaders married to the pastor Lifeway Research
• Women's ministry leaders offering Bible studies for women Lifeway Research
• Women's ministry leaders who are unpaid Lifeway Research
• Work status of Hispanic Protestant pastors Lifeway Research
• Years senior pastors worked in non-ministry jobs before becoming a senior pastor Lifeway Research

2023

• Americans rating the honesty and ethical standards of professions high or very high Lifeway Research
• Americans who rate clergy high or very high in honesty and ethics Lifeway Research
• Areas where women's ministry leaders say they need training Lifeway Research
• How equipped Protestant pastors feel to help congregants dealing with trauma Barna Group
• How often clergy think about leaving pastoral ministry Lifeway Research
• How pastors view developing a leadership pipeline Barna Group
• Pastors considering leaving their jobs Barna Group
• Pastors who feel very confident about their preaching Barna Group
• Pastors who name preaching and teaching as their favorite part of the job Barna Group
• Pastors who say churches aren't training the next generation of leaders Barna Group
• Pastors who seriously considered quitting full-time ministry in the past year Barna Group
• Racial reconciliation activities pastors engaged in over the past three months Lifeway Research
• Trust in professions for honesty and ethics Lifeway Research
• Where women's ministry leaders get their training Lifeway Research
• Who is involved in creating the church budget Lifeway Research

2022

• Challenges pastors say they face Lifeway Research
• Challenges pastors struggle with in ministry Lifeway Research
• Greatest needs pastors say they need to address Lifeway Research
• Life experiences pastors feel least equipped to minister through Barna Group
• Ministry needs U.S. Protestant pastors say they face Lifeway Research
• Pastors rate their church's ministry to older adults Barna Group
• Pastors who feel very satisfied with their job Barna Group
• Pastors who feel very satisfied with their job as a pastor Barna Group
• Pastors who have considered quitting full-time ministry in the past year Barna Group
• Pastors who say consistently exercising is an issue affecting their ministry Lifeway Research
• Pastors who say developing leaders and volunteers is an issue to address Lifeway Research
• Pastors who see a growing sense of fear in their congregations about the future of the nation and world Lifeway Research
• Prefer pastors be honest about doubts over being certain Barna Group
• Protestant pastors who have never been asked to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony Lifeway Research
• Protestant senior pastors who are 40 years old or younger Barna Group
• Reasons pastors considered quitting in 2022 Barna Group
• Reasons pastors have considered quitting full-time ministry Barna Group
• Reasons pastors who considered quitting full-time ministry cite for leaving Barna Group
• Roles Protestant pastors allow LGBTQ+ people to serve in Lifeway Research
• Roles pastors say are open to women in their churches Lifeway Research
• Strongly agree it is a pastor's responsibility to help congregants in these ways Barna Group
• Typical sermon length reported by pastors Lifeway Research
• What pastors who have not considered quitting say about their ministry Barna Group
• Where Protestant pastors say LGBTQ+ people can serve in their church Lifeway Research

2021

• Areas of conflict former pastors had in their last church Lifeway Research
• Greatest needs pastors say they face Lifeway Research
• How far ahead pastors plan sermon topics Lifeway Research
• Local pastors that Protestant pastors personally know and spend time with Lifeway Research
• Most challenging people dynamic for pastors Lifeway Research
• Most important spiritual need for pastors to invest in right now Lifeway Research
• Needs U.S. pastors say they must address today Lifeway Research
• Pastors who feel supported by other local pastors Lifeway Research
• Pastors who have considered quitting full-time ministry in the past year Barna Group
• Pastors who work 50 hours or more a week Lifeway Research
• Pastors' experience preaching on racial reconciliation Lifeway Research
• People dynamics pastors find challenging in their churches Lifeway Research
• Personal areas pastors say need attention or investment Lifeway Research
• Reasons pastors leave the pastorate Lifeway Research
• Reasons pastors say they left their previous church Lifeway Research
• Single greatest personal need pastors name Lifeway Research
• Skills pastors say they need to invest in developing Lifeway Research
• Spiritual areas pastors say are important to invest in Lifeway Research
• Top ministry difficulty pastors most need to invest in Lifeway Research
• Types of conflict pastors experienced at their last church Lifeway Research
• Who former pastors shared struggles with at least monthly in their last pastorate Lifeway Research
• Why pastors left their last church Lifeway Research
• Why predecessor pastors left the pastorate for work outside it Lifeway Research

2020

• Americans rating clergy honesty and ethics as high Lifeway Research
• Americans who see a pastor as a trustworthy source of wisdom Barna Group
• Areas pastors wish they had been better prepared for Barna Group
• Areas where pastors say they struggle or face a challenge Barna Group
• Average age of clergy Lifeway Research
• Black pastors are the most important leaders in the Black community Barna Group
• Churches with a ministry program for those struggling with porn Lifeway Research
• How long a pastor who commits adultery should withdraw from public ministry Lifeway Research
• How much pastors' spouses can count on church friends when under stress Lifeway Research
• How well-equipped pastors feel to lead through the rest of 2020 Barna Group
• Length of a typical sermon according to pastors Lifeway Research
• Pastors strongly agree their identity is deeply tied to preaching and teaching Barna Group
• Pastors who feel equipped to teach on future prophecies in the Bible Lifeway Research
• Pastors who preach 40 minutes or less each week Lifeway Research
• Pastors who say it is important to lead by example and follow government COVID-19 regulations Barna Group
• Pastors' spouses who find it difficult to balance church and family in position decisions Lifeway Research
• Pastors' spouses who have become more callous toward people since their spouse began the job Lifeway Research
• Senior pastors who say porn is a much bigger problem for the church than 20 years ago Lifeway Research
• Top concerns of pastors in April 2020 Lifeway Research
• Top ministry struggles reported by pastors during the pandemic Barna Group
• Top pressure points pastors named during the pandemic Lifeway Research

2019

• How pastors would respond if their state legalizes sports gambling Lifeway Research
• How retired ministers feel toward the churches or mission fields they served Lifeway Research
• How senior pastor transitions began Lifeway Research
• Meetings Protestant pastors say they regularly have Lifeway Research
• Pastors who are bivocational Lifeway Research
• Pastors who had another career before starting church work Lifeway Research
• Pastors' satisfaction with their pastoral role Lifeway Research
• Pressures pastors report in ministry Lifeway Research
• Regular ministry meetings Protestant pastors say they hold Lifeway Research
• Retired ministers confident they can retire comfortably Lifeway Research

2018

• Additional insurance benefits churches provide to senior pastors Lifeway Research
• Americans rating honesty and ethics of occupations high or very high Lifeway Research
• Areas where pastors rate themselves excellent Lifeway Research
• Aspect of the job pastors love most Lifeway Research
• Biggest frustration of pastors Lifeway Research
• Churches providing some medical insurance for the senior pastor, by attendance Lifeway Research
• How pastors describe their relationship with the church music leader Lifeway Research
• Pastors who know someone who has been sexually harassed Lifeway Research
• Pastors who know someone who has been sexually harassed Lifeway Research
• Pastors' biggest challenge in the area of music Lifeway Research
• Why pastors address sexual or domestic violence Lifeway Research

2017

• Challenges reported by pastors' spouses Lifeway Research
• Pastors who choose sermon topics a month or less ahead Lifeway Research
• Positive views of pastors' spouses about ministry life Lifeway Research
• Protestant pastors on the next generation of church leaders Lifeway Research
• Racial reconciliation actions taken by Protestant senior pastors Lifeway Research

2016

• Current pastors compared with former pastors on ministry pressures Lifeway Research
• Pastors who say they are on call 24 hours a day Lifeway Research

2015

• Churches with a full-time pastor Lifeway Research
• Drop in pastors under 40, 1992 to 2015 Leader Insights
• Growth in pastors age 65 and older Leader Insights
• How current and former pastors describe the pastorate Lifeway Research
• Reasons pastors left the pastorate, as reported by current pastors Lifeway Research
• Support structures present at former pastors' churches Lifeway Research

2014

• Pastors and domestic violence: awareness, training and response Lifeway Research
• Pastors who rarely or never speak about domestic violence Lifeway Research

2010

• Senior pastors who work 50 or more hours a week Lifeway Research

2008

• Senior pastor compensation as a share of the typical mainline church budget Barna Group

2004

• Protestant senior pastors with a biblical worldview Barna Group

2001

• Senior Pastors who describe themselves as evangelical Barna Group
• Senior Pastors who say they are theologically conservative Barna Group
• Spiritual gifts pastors claim to have Barna Group