Church Choir Director's Salary

Church choir directors are hired by religious institutions to conduct and lead vocal performances by their choirs. Choir directors are responsible for planning performances, setting the schedule and directing rehearsals. The choir director will also consult with clergy for help in determining appropriate music for various religious services. The nature of this work requires that the choir director understands and appreciates the religion of his employer.

Salary and Benefits

The average salary of a church choir director varies greatly, from $12,339 to $36,735 annually, based on PayScale data from 2011. This pay range falls within the 25th to 75th percentile. Bonus plays a negligible part in the overall pay structure, between $101.47 and $425. Benefits for church choir directors are virtually nonexistent, with 81 percent having no coverage.

Professional Experience

Unlike other careers, the experience of a church choir director does not result in an increase in income. Early on in their career, choir directors with one to four years' experience earn between $8,118 and $25,000 annually, according to January 2011 PayScale data. With five to nine years' experience, income increases to a range of $13,531 to $39,305. Income remains fairly stable for choir directors with ten to 19 years of experience, between $11,850 and $33,496. For those individuals with 20 years or more experience, income ranges from $11,933 to $20,400.

Church Size

The size of a church has a profound effect on the salary of a church choir director, accounting for up to a 160 percent difference. Presumably, this is because larger religious institutions have more funds available to pay their employees. Church choir directors working for small institutions, less than 10 employees, earn between $9,991 and $19,715, based on PayScale 2011 data. Individuals working in medium-size churches, between ten and 49 employees, earn between $12,850 and $32,492. Church choir directors working in institutions with 50 or more employees earn the most, between $11,665 and $51,393.

Gender

Gender can account for up to a 39 percent difference in the earnings of a church choir director. Female church choir directors earn an annual salary of between $11,220 and $18,937, according to PayScale January 2011 data. Their male counterparts can earn significantly more, between $10,500 and 25,539.

Location

Alabama tops the list of states that pay choir directors the best. According to PayScale January 2011 data, church choir directors working in the state earn between $11,550 and $61,500 annually. Those individuals working in North Carolina also enjoy a relatively good income, between $13,484 and $56,010. Church choir directors working in California earn far less than their peers in other states, earning between $11,933 and $17,092.

References

• PayScale; Church Choir Director Salary, Average Salaries
• PayScale; Church Choir Director Salary, Average Salaries by Years Experience
• PayScale; Church Choir Director Salary, Average Salaries by Company Size
• PayScale; Church Choir Director Salary, Average Salaries by Gender
• PayScale; Church Choir Director Salary, Average Salaries by State