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Pastoral Counseling

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Pastoral Counseling

Pastoral Counseling graduates earn $42,915 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $29,185 and $58,127. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Pastoral Counseling

This page covers Pastoral Counseling as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Theology and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Pastoral Counseling is a focused area of study within Theology. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $42,915 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 277 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 3,433 students complete it each year. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $33,407
Median Earnings · 4yr: $42,915
Colleges Offering: 277
Graduates / Year: 3,433
Avg Net Price / yr: $23,710

How Much Do Pastoral Counseling Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Pastoral Counseling, a typical graduate earns $42,915, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $29,185 and $58,127, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$33,407

1 Year After Graduation

Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.

$42,915

4-Year National Median

Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.

$44,603

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

Not every Pastoral Counseling graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.

$29,185 25th pct.

$42,915 Median

$58,127 75th pct.

Is the Cost Worth It?

At median 4-year earnings of $42,915 and an estimated $94,840 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 7.3 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.

Based on outcomes from 168 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 3,433 students who complete Pastoral Counseling programs each year, the majority (40%) earn a master's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

39% 40%

Master's 40%

Bachelor's 39%

Post-Bacc Cert. 7%

What Can You Do With a Pastoral Counseling Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Pastoral Counseling graduates show up in 3 different occupations, and Philosophy and Religion Teachers pay the most at $80,260/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what Philosophy and Religion Teachers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +2.0% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Philosophy and Religion Teachers

$80,260

$63K $105K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 1,800 openings/yr 20K employed nationally

Reading Comprehension Instructing Speaking Active Listening Critical Thinking

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.

↗ +2.4% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Clergy

$60,810

$48K $77K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 19,200 openings/yr 57K employed nationally

Speaking Active Listening Social Perceptiveness Instructing Service Orientation

Day-to-day responsibilities

Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. Provide spiritual and moral guidance and assistance to members.

Pray and promote spirituality.
Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks.
Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.

↗ +3.3% Zone 4: Considerable preparation

Directors

$52,100

$44K $74K 25th–75th pct.

Bachelor's degree 13,000 openings/yr 22K employed nationally

Speaking Social Perceptiveness Active Listening Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking

Day-to-day responsibilities

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.

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.

Top Colleges for Pastoral Counseling

Not sure where to study Pastoral Counseling? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Liberty University, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Liberty University Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit	121	99%	$29,357	$44,813
2	The Master's University and Seminary Santa Clarita, CA · Nonprofit	94	84%	$32,647	$57,106
3	University of St Thomas Houston, TX · Nonprofit	93	89.9%	$19,359	$59,224
4	Ozark Christian College Joplin, MO · Nonprofit	88	93.6%	$20,580	$41,297
5	George Fox University Newberg, OR · Nonprofit	73	93.5%	$31,679	$59,761
6	Calvin University Grand Rapids, MI · Nonprofit	69	70.9%	$22,992	$58,375
7	Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL · Nonprofit	65	82.7%	$22,221	$45,399
8	Grace Christian University Wyoming, MI · Nonprofit	64	99.2%	$12,404	$41,663
9	Lee University Cleveland, TN · Nonprofit	63	70.5%	$18,878	$43,222
10	Nelson University Waxahachie, TX · Nonprofit	63	89%	$21,662	$46,238
11	Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa, CA · Nonprofit	55	62.4%	$21,241	$59,541
12	Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI · Nonprofit	52	81.9%	$12,547	$53,187
13	Regent University Virginia Beach, VA · Nonprofit	47	38.1%	$19,923	$44,498
14	Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL · Nonprofit	45	81.6%	$36,079	$71,530
15	Lancaster Bible College Lancaster, PA · Nonprofit	43	55.9%	$25,480	$44,096
16	Grace College and Theological Seminary Winona Lake, IN · Nonprofit	37	82.2%	$19,932	$45,411
17	Southeastern University Lakeland, FL · Nonprofit	35	53%	$31,942	$46,744
18	North Central University Minneapolis, MN · Nonprofit	34	99%	$25,817	$45,064
19	Life Pacific University San Dimas, CA · Nonprofit	32	95.8%	$20,898	$43,299
20	Bethel University Saint Paul, MN · Nonprofit	28	87.8%	$28,556	$63,764

View all colleges

Ranked by Pastoral Counseling graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Pastoral Counseling program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Pastoral Counseling degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Pastoral Counseling Degree: Pros & Cons

Pastoral Counseling carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 1 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.

PROS

Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 34,000 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.

CONS

Below-average earnings Four-year median of $42,915 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Long earnings breakeven At median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 7.3 years.
High earnings variance Gap between 25th ($29,185) and 75th ($58,127) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.

Pastoral Counseling Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Pastoral Counseling graduates earn?

$42,915 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $29,185 and $58,127, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Pastoral Counseling degree?

$33,407 in the first year out. That grows to $42,915 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.

What jobs can you get with a Pastoral Counseling degree?

Philosophy and Religion Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $80,260 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Pastoral Counseling program take?

Four years for the bachelor's, plus one to two more if you continue on to a master's, which many Pastoral Counseling students do. Some schools shorten that with an accelerated 5-year combined program.

How many colleges offer Pastoral Counseling?

277 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

Is a Pastoral Counseling degree worth it?

$42,915 median earnings four years out against $23,710 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the difference between Pastoral Counseling and Theology?

Pastoral Counseling is the narrower of the two: Theology covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Pastoral Counseling-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Pastoral Counseling graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Pastoral Counseling graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

What is the job outlook for Pastoral Counseling graduates?

Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +2.6% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Directors are among the strongest-growth roles at +3.3%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.