The Base Salary for a Theology Career
Theologians introduce students to the study of religion at the postsecondary level. The term theologians is generally used to refer to scholars who teach Biblical studies or various topics within the Christian religious faith, but it can also refer to those who study religion in general. Philosophers are often grouped in with theologians because of the overlap between the two disciplines. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that 21,250 theologians and philosophers were employed in colleges and universities across the United States in 2010. Salaries for those in the theological field depend upon where the theologian works and other factors such as whether they publish regularly or not.
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Salary Determination
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Most theologians make their salaries as a result of teaching at the postsecondary level. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the average salary for theologians and philosophers was $69,150 per year in 2010. Theologians, like other scholars, are generally expected to conduct research and publish their work, especially at the university level. This can affect how much they actually make throughout the course of a year or career, especially if they have book publications from which they draw royalties. Theologians in small religious-based institutions sometimes supplement their income by also working as church pastors. In some cases, pastors with the necessary credentials serve primarily in that capacity and work part-time as college professors. The BLS indicates that church clergymen earned an average salary of $48,290 per year in 2010.
Pay Scale
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Salaries for theologians typically range from $33,420 to $114,380 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau indicates that theologians made a median salary of $62,330 per year in 2010, with the middle 50 percent of the pay scale making salaries ranging from $46,110 to $84,040 on an annual basis. Clergymen typically make between $24,210 and $77,390, with a median salary of $43,970.
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Employers
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Theologians working at the postsecondary level generally have one of two major options as far as employment goes. Some teach in four-year colleges and universities. These theologians earned average salaries of $69,460 per year in 2010. The second major option is to work at the junior college level. Theologians at the junior college level made only slightly less on average, by comparison, at an average of $67,600 per year. Clergymen work in a variety of different venues, but the largest portion worked for religious organizations, making an average annual salary of $48,750 per year in 2010.
Job Outlook
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The job forecast for those working as theologians appears to be positive, based on projections made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period from 2008 to 2018. The bureau indicates that the number of jobs for college professors should grow by about 15 percent during this time frame. This job growth will result from the rapid growth of the student population.
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References
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