Directors, Religious Activities and Education: Career Overview
Coordinate or design programs and conduct outreach to promote the religious education or activities of a denominational group. May provide counseling, guidance, and leadership relative to marital, health, financial, and religious problems.
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The Daily Work of Directors, Religious Activities and Education Take On?
Typical responsibilities of directors, religious activities and education include:
- Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.
- Identify and recruit potential volunteer workers.
- Select appropriate curricula or class structures for educational programs.
- Schedule special events, such as camps, conferences, meetings, seminars, or retreats.
- Counsel individuals regarding interpersonal, health, financial, or religious problems.
- Collaborate with other ministry members to establish goals and objectives for religious education programs or to develop ways to encourage program participation.
- Train and supervise religious education instructional staff.
- Implement program plans by ordering needed materials, scheduling speakers, reserving space, or handling other administrative details.
What Directors, Religious Activities and Education Need to Know
Effective directors, religious activities and education draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Other Directors, Religious Activities and Education Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Adult Ministries Director
- Campus Ministries Director
- Campus Ministry Director
- Children and Family Ministries Director
- Children and Youth Ministries Director
- Children's Director
- Children's Ministries Coordinator
- Children's Ministries Director
How Many Directors, Religious Activities and Education Are There?
There are about 244,716 directors, religious activities and education working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -2.3% over the projection horizon.
Directors, Religious Activities and Education Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $64,599 |
| Hourly median | $31.06 |
| 10th percentile | $41,535 |
| 25th percentile | $53,067 |
| 75th percentile | $76,131 |
| 90th percentile | $87,663 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Directors, Religious Activities and Education Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $82,230 |
| North Carolina | $81,900 |
| Colorado | $78,280 |
| Texas | $77,120 |
| California | $74,010 |
| Georgia | $71,900 |
| Tennessee | $69,410 |
| Alabama | $65,190 |
| New Jersey | $63,320 |
| Massachusetts | $61,890 |
| Washington | $58,830 |
| Kansas | $58,770 |
| Iowa | $58,610 |
| Indiana | $57,860 |
| Maryland | $57,380 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,140 |
| Virginia | $56,060 |
| New York | $55,340 |
| Minnesota | $54,990 |
| Hawaii | $54,600 |
| South Carolina | $52,990 |
| Arizona | $52,810 |
| Missouri | $51,030 |
| Florida | $49,290 |
| Oklahoma | $49,180 |
| Ohio | $49,150 |
| Mississippi | $48,660 |
| Illinois | $48,060 |
| Oregon | $46,810 |
| Nevada | $46,420 |
| Connecticut | $45,870 |
| Michigan | $43,300 |
| Kentucky | $39,380 |
| South Dakota | $38,980 |
| Montana | $38,790 |
| Wisconsin | $37,960 |
| Rhode Island | $36,970 |
| Idaho | $36,030 |
| Arkansas | $33,620 |
| Utah | $31,200 |
| Louisiana | $29,150 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for directors, religious activities and education shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $69,562 | 3.2% | 0.25 |
| Far Western US | $61,910 | 29.6% | 3.68 |
| Middle Atlantic | $56,578 | 33.8% | 2.99 |
| Plains States | $54,836 | 3.8% | 0.85 |
| Southeast | $54,272 | 12.7% | 0.78 |
| Great Lakes | $45,683 | 11.4% | 1.00 |
| New England | $45,307 | 1.9% | 1.19 |
| Rocky Mountains | $42,315 | 3.6% | 5.38 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $96,210 | 160 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $82,220 | 480 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $81,880 | 180 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | NC | $81,250 | 60 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | TX | $80,460 | 140 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | TX | $77,090 | 50 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $75,830 | 60 |
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | TN | $74,770 | 70 |
Industry Breakdown
Most directors, religious activities and education work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 17,060 | $52,410 |
| Educational Services | 2,850 | $56,500 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,120 | $76,880 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 150 | $88,000 |
Below are examples of industries where directors, religious activities and education work:
Tools and Technology
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Google Workspace software (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Zoom (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The on-the-job environment of directors, religious activities and education tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Telephone Conversations
Education and Training
Entry-level directors, religious activities and education positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Training and Development Managers (Supplemental)
- Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Short)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Primary-Short)
- Mental Health Counselors (Supplemental)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Primary-Long)
Degree Programs
Future directors, religious activities and education often complete programs in:
Theology and Religious Vocations
12 programs across 5 majors
- Pastoral Specialized Ministries
- Biblical Studies
- Religious Education
- Missionary Studies
- Sacred Music
Health Professions and Related Programs
2 programs across 2 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
2 programs across 2 majors
Sources
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 21-2021.00 (Directors, Religious Activities and Education).