Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
Less than 5 years
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Directors of religious activities and education coordinate and lead programs within religious organizations, balancing leadership responsibilities with educational and community-focused work. Nationally, this occupation employs about 139,000 people, indicating a sizable workforce. The national median annual salary of $54,840 reflects a professional role that can support a stable career, with higher pay available in certain states and metro areas. Projected employment growth of 2.1% and about 14,000 annual openings suggest that opportunities will continue to be available over time. This role draws heavily on interpersonal skills, leadership, communication, and the ability to manage projects and solve problems. Creativity, adaptability, and strong reading and writing abilities also matter in this field. For those who want to blend organizational responsibilities with people-focused work in a religious setting, this occupation provides a structured career path with clear education expectations and geographic options to explore, from large metro areas to smaller labor markets.
The national median annual salary for directors of religious activities and education is $54,840, but earnings vary by location. Among the highlighted states, Colorado shows the highest median salary at $67,760, followed by Massachusetts at $62,930 and California at $61,570. Washington’s median of $56,480 is above the national median, while New York’s $49,990 is slightly lower. At the metro level, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA has a notably high median salary of $75,420, with Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $68,040 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $60,650. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA offer median salaries around $59,000. These figures suggest that pay potential can increase significantly in specific metro areas and certain states, making geographic choice an important factor for maximizing earnings in this field.
Directors of religious activities and education have a national employment base of about 139,000, indicating an established occupation. Projected employment growth of 2.1% suggests that jobs in this field are expected to expand modestly over time. With approximately 14,000 annual openings, there should be ongoing opportunities for both new entrants and experienced professionals seeking new roles. The same 2.1% growth rate appears across the top states and metro areas listed, which points to a fairly consistent growth expectation in those highlighted regions. For job seekers, this combination of an existing large workforce, positive growth, and recurring annual openings indicates a career where positions are likely to continue turning over and becoming available. Individuals who build strong skills in leadership, communication, project management, and problem solving may be well positioned to pursue these openings as they arise across different parts of the country.
Location plays a meaningful role in career planning for directors of religious activities and education. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington all appear with notable CareerGPS opportunity scores. California and New York stand out for their relatively high employment levels (3,200 and 3,550), while Colorado and Massachusetts show smaller employment counts but higher median salaries, such as $67,760 in Colorado and $62,930 in Massachusetts. Washington offers a balance of a median salary of $56,480 and moderate employment of 390. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ have the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, with median salaries around $59,000 and substantial employment in New York-Newark-Jersey City (2,940). San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA combines a strong opportunity score with the highest listed metro median salary at $75,420. These variations give professionals options to prioritize salary, employment scale, or overall opportunity score when choosing where to work.
The typical education requirement for directors of religious activities and education is a bachelor’s degree, providing a clear academic target for those planning to enter the field. Within that educational path, building certain core skills can be especially valuable. Interpersonal abilities, speaking and listening, and customer service skills support day-to-day interaction with diverse groups. Leadership and project management are important for organizing and guiding religious and educational activities. Strong writing and reading skills, along with critical and analytical thinking, help with planning, communication, and evaluation. Creativity and innovation support the development of engaging programs, while problem solving and decision making are essential for handling challenges that arise in organizational and educational contexts. Together, a bachelor’s degree and this blend of people-focused, analytical, and organizational skills form a solid foundation for pursuing roles as a director of religious activities and education and for growing within the occupation over time.
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