GuideStone®, Lifeway Research, and Baptist state conventions have again teamed up for the SBC Church Compensation Survey.
Pastors and church employees are invited to participate in the brief survey, a resource used by churches of all sizes to determine applicable wages and benefits.
The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete at GuideStone.org/CompensationSurvey.
The survey will continue until the end of June. It is the largest free church compensation study available in the United States.
How can I access the results?
The survey’s results will be available in August, in time for many churches to consider their 2025 budgets. Survey respondents will receive advance notice of the survey’s availability.
Why should I participate?
“We honor the Lord and strengthen the church when we give proper financial support to those who serve,” GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck said. “GuideStone is committed to advocate for pastors and local church employees. We pray this compensation survey will challenge each of our churches to provide appropriate compensation and to do so by following best practices.”
Is my data anonymous?
Individual survey results can be contributed anonymously. The data collected is strictly confidential and will not be shared with other agencies or used to market products or services to your church. Information provided about the name of the church and the city in which it is located will not be revealed as part of the survey results.
What info do I need?
Respondents should have the church’s average weekly attendance, church membership, and 2024 annual budget.
Additional information needed to complete the survey is the respondents’ annual salary, annual contributions to a retirement plan and annual church-paid insurance premiums, annual housing allowance, Social Security offset, and the rental value and utilities for church-provided housing.
When is it due?
Southern Baptist church ministers and staff have until June 30, 2024, to complete the online survey.
Who should fill out the survey?
Each pastor and paid staff person, whether full or part-time, should individually complete the survey.
