Annual Salary
variable
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Religious or faith leaders offer spiritual and moral guidance, and lead public worship and other religious ceremonies.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends; managing your own hours
There will be
2.4% more Religious leader jobs in 2027.
Your day-to-day duties will depend on your faith. You may:
You may need to wear a uniform.
You could work in an office, from home, in a prison, in a place of worship or in an NHS or private hospital.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding and you'll travel often.
You can get into this job through:
You may need a degree or postgraduate award for some leadership positions. Most subjects are accepted though theology and philosophy may be particularly useful.
You'll usually need:
You could do a church minister degree apprenticeship, if you want to train to be a religious leader within the Christian tradition.
This typically takes 36 months to complete and you will complete a degree in theology and ministry as part of the apprenticeship.
The process of becoming a leader can take several years, and is often based on your knowledge, experience and position within the religion.
Each religion has a different way of training its leaders, so the training and the length of time it takes will vary. For many religions the process might include:
In some religions, there are rules on who can become a leader and what duties they can carry out.
If you want to train to become a leader in your faith, the first thing you should do is ask your own religious leader for advice and guidance.
Becoming a religious leader is a serious commitment that can be seen as a calling as much as a career.
As well as a strong belief in your faith and its traditions, you should accept that the work will affect all aspects of your life.
Every religion or faith is structured differently, and career progression will vary from faith to faith.
You may be recommended for higher positions by senior members of your faith, or you may have to apply for vacant posts.
You may also have opportunities to become involved in teaching, counselling, interfaith relations, writing, or humanitarian and charity work.
There are also opportunities to work as a chaplain in the armed forces. You can find out more from:Army; Royal Air Force; Royal Navy
You'll need: