An online bachelor’s degree could pave the way towards a wide range of faith-based in Virginia, including but not limited to:

What jobs can you hold in ministry leadership in Virginia?

Though this is not an exhaustive list, here are just some examples of the many unique jobs you may be able to pursue with a bachelor’s degree in ministry leadership in Virginia:

• Faith-based disaster relief coordinator: Support faith-based disaster relief programs to help combat Virginia’s propensity for storms, floods, cyclones and other weather disasters.
• Military chaplaincy: Virginia’s large military presence could spell opportunities for chaplaincy roles at any of the state’s 27 military bases.
• Academic faculty member: Virginia is home to many seminaries and faith-based universities, including Virginia Theological Seminary, Liberty University, Regent University and more.
• Historic church preservation minister: Help to preserve historic religious sites in Virginia through historical societies and museums.
• Interfaith outreach coordinator: Build spiritual bridges throughout Virginia’s diverse religious network, particularly in Northern Virginia.

Snapshot of ministry and faith-based careers in Virginia

In Virginia, 1,400 individuals work as members of the clergy, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with another 130 as religious workers-all others. Unfortunately, employment data is not available for Virginia regarding directors of religious activities and education. The median hourly wages and expected job growth for these occupations are:

Job role	Median hourly pay (BLS)	National job growth rate through 2034
Directors of religious activities and education	$28	2.1%
Clergy	$27	1%
Religious worker, all others	$23	0.6%

Here are five major employers in Virginia for faith-based or ministry leadership professionals:

Salary stats for Virginia faith-based roles

Salaries for faith-based and ministry roles in Virginia align fairly closely with the national average. Of course, salaries can vary widely based on region, denomination, job function and location. In larger urban areas like Alexandria, Richmond and Norfolk, higher-paying jobs may be more common to balance out the slightly higher cost of living associated with these areas.

Median annual salary comparisons for the three roles the BLS detailed at a national level and within the state of Virginia are as follows:

Median national vs. state wage

Faith-based role	Median annual national wage (BLS)	Virginia median annual wage (BLS)
Directors of religious activities and education	$52,100	$59,020
Clergy	$60,810	$55,430
Religious worker, all others	$45,280	$48,210

Median salaries within Virginia

Median salaries for the three ministry roles the BLS detailed, with highest paying metro areas listed first, include:

Factors affecting ministry leadership salaries in Virginia

Several factors may influence salaries for religious workers, clergy and ministry professionals:

• Employer type and size: Large churches, well-funded nonprofits, denominational offices and national faith-based organizations (e.g., The Salvation Army, CBN) generally have more resources to offer competitive pay compared to small, local congregations. In addition, hospitals or universities with chaplaincy or campus ministry programs often pay more than grassroots ministries.
• Geographic location: Salaries often reflect the cost of living in different parts of Virginia. For example, positions in Northern Virginia (near Washington, D.C.) or Virginia Beach may pay more than similar roles in rural areas due to higher housing and living costs.
• Education and credentials: Advanced degrees (such as a Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry or counseling licensure) can lead to higher pay, especially in leadership, academic or specialized pastoral care roles.

Basic education path to faith-based roles in Virginia

Pursuing a career in ministry leadership and other faith-based occupations in Virginia doesn’t require a standardized education path that everyone must follow. Still, a typical education generally consists of the following:

• Earn a bachelor’s degree: Pursue a bachelor’s degree in ministry, theology, divinity or a related field through an online school program or Bible college.
• Earn a master’s degree: Pursue optional seminary or graduate study for roles such as pastor, chaplain or as an educator.
• Denominational endorsement or ordination: Consider ordination or commissioning by a church, denomination or faith organization in order to advance.

Cost of living in Virginia

O*Net, a subsidiary of the BLS, reported that the job growth rate for clergy in Virginia is 8% through 2032, which is slightly faster than the national average for this career field.

Job growth is important when weighed against the cost of living in Virginia. The World Population Review Cost of Living Index ranked Virginia with an index of 100.7. This means that Virginia is 0.7% higher than the national average. Generally speaking, Virginia as a whole is fairly representative of the average cost of living nationwide.

That said, Arlington and Alexandria have some of the highest costs of living in the state. Both cities are part of the larger Washington D.C. metropolitan area. According to RentCafe, these cities have a cost of living which are 35% and 24% higher than the national average, respectively. In contrast, cities such as Roanoke, Lynchburg, Danville, Martinsville, Blacksburg, Staunton, and others offer significantly more affordable living

Resources for faith-based workers in Virginia

Here are several professional groups and resources in Virginia that support faith-based professionals. These organizations may help them stay connected, grow spiritually and professionally and advocate for the role of ministry in modern society.

• Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC): With chapters in Lynchburg, Richmond, Peninsula and Tidewater, VCIC specializes in interfaith and intercultural education, diversity training, and leadership development to advance mutual understanding across religious communities.
• Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia (SBCV): This statewide body supports around 850 Southern Baptist congregations. They assist with church planting, pastoral development and mission mobilization across regions, including Greater Washington, Richmond, Tidewater and Southwest Virginia.
• National Association of Church Personnel Administrators (NACPA): Based in Alexandria, this organization supports HR, finance and administrative leaders in faith settings, offering training, consultations and an HR primer to integrate Gospel values with workplace systems.
• GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment): Based in Lynchburg, GRACE is a renowned nonprofit offering training for abuse prevention, accountability and ethical leadership within Christian institutions.

Browse our vetted selection of programs

---