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Directors, Religious Activities and Education

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $52,100 Median per year · $25.05/hr Most earn $34,670–$98,310

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Visit congregational members' homes or arrange for pastoral visits to provide information or resources regarding religious education programs.
  • Plan or conduct conferences dealing with the interpretation of religious ideas or convictions.
  • Schedule special events, such as camps, conferences, meetings, seminars, or retreats.
  • Locate and distribute resources, such as periodicals or curricula, to enhance the effectiveness of educational programs.
  • Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.
  • Plan or conduct conferences dealing with the interpretation of religious ideas or convictions.

Job outlook

United States
3% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 13,000 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't break this career out by industry.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Most people don't start directly in this job. It usually takes a bachelor's degree plus about 1 to 2 years of related work before you're ready to direct a religious education or activities program, so plan on roughly 5 to 6 years after high school. Your results page shows typical pay near you and nationally, and the career page has the full range.

  1. High school diploma, then a Bachelor's degree in religious studies, theology, or ministry

    4 years

    A bachelor's degree gives you the faith knowledge, teaching skills, and communication background that religious education roles expect.

  2. Religious Education Assistant or Youth Program Assistant

    1-2 years

    Working with children, teens, or adults in a faith community teaches you how to plan lessons, run events, and talk with families.

  3. Director of Religious Education

    Ongoing

    You lead and design programs, reach out to members of the community, and offer guidance on personal and family concerns.

Where it can lead

  1. Clergy

    1-2 years of experience first

    Moving into clergy usually means earning a master's degree in ministry or divinity and being ordained, which adds more schooling and a more formal leadership role within a congregation.

  2. Social and Community Service Manager

    4-6 years of experience first

    This role oversees larger community or nonprofit programs and budgets, and it usually calls for several years of program leadership experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take English and speech or debate classesStrong speaking and writing skills help you teach lessons, write newsletters, and talk with families.
  • Volunteer with a youth group or religious schoolHelping with children or teens in a faith or community setting shows you what it's like to plan and lead activities.
  • Get a job as a camp counselor or babysitterWorking with young people builds patience, responsibility, and experience managing groups.
  • Join a club or student council and take a leadership roleOrganizing events and speaking to others builds the outreach and program skills this career uses.
  • Take psychology or sociology if your school offers itThese classes help you understand how people think, grow, and face challenges, which is useful for offering guidance.

In college

  • Major in religious studies, theology, or a related fieldA bachelor's degree in one of these fields is the usual starting point for this career.
  • Join or lead a campus ministry or faith-based student groupLeading events and small groups gives you hands-on practice with program planning and outreach.
  • Work as a resident assistant or youth program assistantThese campus jobs build skills in guiding, listening to, and supporting other people.
  • Complete an internship at a religious organization or nonprofitAn internship gives you real experience in running programs and working with a community.
  • Take a course in counseling, social work basics, or nonprofit managementThese classes prepare you for the guidance and administrative parts of the job.

Tips for getting started

  • Get experience with people early. Volunteering with kids, teens, or adults in any faith or community group builds the skills this job depends on.
  • Choose a bachelor's major you enjoy and add courses in counseling, communication, or nonprofit management, since this role mixes teaching, outreach, and guidance.
  • Keep notes on the programs you help run, such as events you planned or groups you led. These examples will help you show experience when you apply for jobs.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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