Community and Social Service · Career brief

Directors, Religious Activities and Education

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Directors, Religious Activities and Education at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$52,100

Below the middle on pay

2025 national median. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

3.3%

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Near the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

13,000

Above the middle on opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is typically expected

Bachelor's degree + related experience. Related work experience is typically required.

5The work

People-centered

Helping, teaching, or working directly with people matters

Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

ChooseField take

The national benchmarks are mixed, so the work itself and the route in matter more than any standout pay or demand signal. It makes the most sense if people-centered work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a bachelor's-degree path. Main tradeoff: BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

Before choosing, compare:Clergy Child, Family, and School Social Workers Health Education Specialists

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Directors, Religious Activities and Education with another field Explore rankings in Community and Social Service Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$52,100

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

3.3%employment growth13,000openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

Bachelor's degree; Prior related experience: less than 5 years

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

141,900

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Directors, religious activities and education (21-2021).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.
Identify and recruit potential volunteer workers.
Schedule special events, such as camps, conferences, meetings, seminars, or retreats.
Counsel individuals regarding interpersonal, health, financial, or religious problems.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Assisting and Caring for Others4.8
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.6
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.4
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.3
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.3

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Social7.0
Enterprising6.2
Artistic3.4
Conventional3.2
Investigative2.7
Realistic1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Philosophy and Theology Psychology Therapy and Counseling Public Safety and Security

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Volunteer in a structured, supervised role long enough to learn whether sustained responsibility for other people's needs feels meaningful or draining.
Ask someone doing this job which feeder role built the required experience, what that earlier job paid, and how long the transition actually took.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Directors, religious activities and education nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Speaking, Active Listening, Active Learning among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

Prior related experience: less than 5 years. Look for the preceding roles and promotion route before treating this as a first job.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options