Comments on: How much do you think he makes?

By: Ajisuun

Ajisuun — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:15:38 +0000

I grew up in Baptist churches (and my dad was usually the pastor). I know his salary was known and voted on by the church. One church he served from ‘67 to ‘72 paid him $25/week. Obviously he also worked a secular job.

As a missionary, my salary is known to anyone who wants to know. Altogether with salary and benefits, I make about $930/month. I know, I know, I could make more flipping burgers part-time, but I wouldn’t trade jobs with any of you.

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By: Chas

Chas — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:06:26 +0000

Cameron, the Personnel Committee meets with the Budget Planning Committee to determine the salaries and perks for all the staff. The pastor has input for the secretaries, etc., but not the professional staff. I have served on them.

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By: Cameron

Cameron — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:09:20 +0000

Chas,
That’s fascinating–so who decides how much to pay a pastor, or how to schedule raises, and all of that? I just figured y’all handled it at congregational business meetings–ours is decided by the elders and ultimately voted on by the congregation (the budget as a whole, with a line-item breakdown of salary, benefits, etc.).

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By: Chas

Chas — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:09:38 +0000

Grandma, the best I can do is a 30% raise each year. “It’s the thought that counts.”

Cameron, at none of the churches I’ve attended, could anyone know specifically how much the pastor makes. The budget contains “personnel expenses” which included salaries, medical, SS, etc. Of course, all of that is part of salary. However, in my prior church, there were three full time workers and they (within the past few years) decided to pay the pianist and organist. There is no way the salary of one person can be determined at FBCH.
There is a separate category for reimbursed expenses. The previous pastor in Falls Church drove a Volkswagon, so he probably came out ahead, most probably don’t.

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By: Make it Man

Make it Man — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:55:15 +0000

Luke?
You gonna go first?

I make somewhere between “just eeking by” and “living comfortably” on the basement end of middle class. Most years I was just one eensy step above “earned income credit”.

With the boys moving out on their own, I expect to pay more taxes… And essentially my salary will go down. That will suck.

But in a few more months, the house will be paid off.
But then I’ll probably pay more in taxes. ….that will suck too.

So I’ll tell you how much is enough… “just a little bit more”.

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By: Yoshiyahu

Yoshiyahu — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:30:03 +0000

Doing 911 and police dispatch, my salary is public record (much like Dav’s). However, if you’re really curious, it works out to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $13.03 an hour, for a gross annual income of $26,000. The benefits are nice. I’m sure the pay is different for other counties/cities.

My last day here is Monday, though, and my pay with the Air Force (starting in June) will be very public knowledge too, since everyone is paid by rank.

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By: KI

KI — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:39:13 +0000

My husband worked in a large mine which was unionized. Their wages were open to everyone. They also often knew what the salary employees made. The pay was determined by how much one needed to know for a particular job. My husband studied on his own to supplement what he had learned in the service and ended up getting the highest paid job class in the company before moving onto a salary position. He did not want that headache. He also had a college education as did many of the people he worked with. Many were former teachers who could make a lot more at this job. There was often a lot of overtime pay, which could boost the wage earners over some of the salary workers in pay. That balanced out the lay-offs and strikes, I guess.

I was surprised to have a woman, who works at McDonalds tell me, she makes $11.50 an hr. She has been there for 14 yrs. to get that. I knew some of there employees make that much in other areas of the country, but was surprised here they do here. That is more than my college educated daughter makes teaching at a day care.

My husband helped call several pastors. The salary and benefits were always discussed. They were also listed in the annual budget. This was in both a Lutheran and Evangelical Free Church. The pay was a lot different depending on the church.

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By: Justus331

Justus331 — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:55:18 +0000

Dav, if I were the mayor of your city/town, I would mandate your payscale to be DOUBLE what it is now – no questions. I am one of those citizens who believe you police don’t get what you folks really deserve for what you go through. …..and don’t forget our firefighter friends, too.

as for me, I have no qualms about my pay. I am paid $10/hour as a short order cook in a glorified sandwich shop. Yeah, I work my tail off, and have been in the biz for about 20 years, on & off.
However, I feel as if I’m Donald stinkin Trump some weeks, due to the long hours I work each week. But then, the hiring manager liked my experience and qualifications. My bills are paid, and I am saving for my honeymoon that I couldn’t afford earlier……..

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By: Cheryl D.

Cheryl D. — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:20:54 +0000

Yep, I was Baptist most of my life, and the pastor’s salary always was part of the annual report. (Salary, any benefits.)

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By: Cameron

Cameron — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:10:47 +0000

K.,
We’re Presbyterian. Though I would imagine Baptists would do the same, since they vote on it as a congregation–Chas?

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