Most Protestant clergy in the United States worked for 10 years or fewer in non-ministry occupations before becoming pastors, according to a recent survey from Lifeway Research.
According to the data, 58% of respondents said they spent 10 years or fewer working in a “non-ministry job” before becoming pastors, including 34% who said they spent five years or fewer and 13% who spent less than a year.
Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said in a statement that although a “journey to the pastorate can happen at almost any age,” most clergy “are in a ministry job by their early 30s.”
He added, “Years of work experience in non-ministry roles can help pastors relate to the experiences of those in their congregations and to develop relationships with people outside their churches.”
The Lifeway Research report comes as other studies have indicated that many clergy in the United States are dissatisfied with their profession.
In March 2023, for example, the Barna Group released a report finding that just 52% of respondents described themselves as “very satisfied with their vocation as a pastor.” This marked a 20-point decline from 2015, when 72% reported the same.
The Barna study also found that 66% of pastors under the age of 45 had experienced a period where they “significantly doubted” their calling.