Directors, Religious Activities and Education: Job Description
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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What Tasks Do Directors, Religious Activities and Education Take On?
The core tasks performed by directors, religious activities and education span:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective directors, religious activities and education draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills 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
Job Outlook
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.
Salary for Directors, Religious Activities and Education
| 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 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay 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 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for directors, religious activities and education differ across the country. 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 |
Which Industries Hire Directors, Religious Activities and Education
The largest employers of directors, religious activities and education are found across 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)
Work 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
How to Become Directors, Religious Activities and Education
Typical directors, religious activities and education positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
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)
Where to Study
Students preparing for directors, religious activities and education typically earn 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
References
Data on this page comes from 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).