Community and social service
Directors, religious activities and education
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.
Median pay
$52,100
Growth to 2035
+3%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
13,000
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Directors, religious activities and education
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
Calculate your switch to directors, religious activities and education
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Directors, religious activities and education: 13% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: Adult Ministries Director · Campus Ministries Director · Children's Ministries Director · Christian Education Director · Religious Education Coordinator · Religious Education Director · Senior Adults Director · Women's Ministries Director
Outlook and AI
Directors, religious activities and education held 141,900 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 146,600 by 2035 (+3%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Directors, religious activities and education vs. Clergy
- Directors, religious activities and education vs. Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
- Directors, religious activities and education vs. Social and community service managers
- Directors, religious activities and education vs. Community health worker
- Directors, religious activities and education vs. Social worker
- Directors, religious activities and education vs. Education teachers, postsecondary
- Directors, religious activities and education vs. Rehabilitation counselor
- Directors, religious activities and education vs. Education administrators, postsecondary
- Directors, religious activities and education vs. Instructional coordinator
- Directors, religious activities and education vs. Health education specialist