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Lead Pastor Jobs (NOW HIRING)

MinistryHub

Lead Pastor

Roanoke Rapids, NC · On-site

$70K/yr

MinistryHub is honored to partner with First Christian Church in their search for a Lead Pastor. Please direct all applications through MinistryHub and any inquiries to . A Church Ready for Its Next ...

MinistryHub

Lead Pastor

Halls, TN · On-site

Position Overview The Lead Pastor will serve as the primary spiritual leader, preacher, teacher, and shepherd of Archer's Chapel Church. This role calls for a seasoned, relational pastor who can ...

Northshore Christian Church

Lead Pastor

Everett, WA · On-site

$160K - $180K/yr

LEAD PASTOR and Northshore Christian Church (NCC) Staff Member. Position Summary This position is responsible for: Serving on, being accountable with, and submitting to the Elder Board in fulfillment ...

Northshore Christian Church

Lead Pastor

Everett, WA

LEAD PASTOR and Northshore Christian Church (NCC) Staff Member. Position Summary This position is responsible for: Serving on, being accountable with, and submitting to the Elder Board in fulfillment ...

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Lead Pastor information

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$36.5K

$63.9K

$108K

How much do lead pastor jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead pastor in the United States is $63,896.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,000.00 and $65,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a lead pastor?

Lead pastors are the primary leaders of a church, responsible for setting the spiritual direction, preaching sermons, and providing pastoral care to the congregation. They oversee the church's staff and ministries, ensuring that the church's mission and vision are carried out effectively. In addition to spiritual leadership, lead pastors often handle administrative duties, mentor church members, and represent the church in the community.

What does a lead pastor do?

A lead pastor’s duties are to lead their congregation in all forms of spiritual matters. In this career, you organize and lead worship services. You may oversee other pastors or laypeople who work in the church, organize and schedule events, and participate in outreach and community service events, such as running soup kitchens or other volunteer services. As the lead pastor, you are the principal authority of your church, and you represent the church within the wider religious organization with which you affiliate.

What are some common challenges lead pastors face when balancing administrative duties with spiritual leadership?

Lead Pastors often need to juggle a wide range of responsibilities, from sermon preparation and pastoral care to overseeing staff and managing church operations. A common challenge is ensuring that administrative tasks, such as budgeting and team management, do not overshadow time spent on spiritual leadership, prayer, and community engagement. Effective delegation, strong organizational skills, and clear communication within the church staff and leadership team are essential to maintaining this balance. Many churches address this by building a strong support staff and lay leadership to share the load, enabling the Lead Pastor to focus on vision-casting and discipleship.

What is the difference between Lead Pastor vs Associate Pastor?

AspectLead PastorAssociate Pastor
CredentialsTypically requires theological degree, ordination, and pastoral experienceSimilar credentials, often with less experience required
Work EnvironmentLeads the entire church, sets vision, oversees staffSupports Lead Pastor, focuses on specific ministries or congregations
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in churches to denote the primary spiritual leaderUsed in churches for secondary pastoral roles assisting the Lead Pastor

The main difference between a Lead Pastor and an Associate Pastor lies in their responsibilities and authority. The Lead Pastor is the primary spiritual leader, responsible for church vision and overall leadership, while the Associate Pastor supports the Lead Pastor and manages specific ministries. Both roles require similar credentials, but the Lead Pastor holds a higher level of responsibility within the church hierarchy.

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Lead Pastor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Pastor job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,896 per year, or $30.7 per hour.

Lead Pastor

Dallas, TX

Northwest Bible Church - Dallas, TX
See more jobs at Northwest Bible Church - Dallas, TXexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

Northwest Bible Church is seeking a Lead Pastor to faithfully preach the Word of God, shepherd the congregation, and lead the church into its next season of gospel impact. Located in the heart of North Dallas, the church sits in a fast-paced, highly driven metropolitan region. The next Lead Pastor will build upon a decades-long foundation of biblical teaching and global missions, inviting a spiritually curious city into the unexpected joy of a desperate dependence on Jesus. The ideal candidate is a humble, spiritually mature leader who can deliver strong biblical exposition while partnering with a robust Executive Minister and Elder Board in an elder-led, staff-run governance structure.


About Northwest Bible Church

  • Size of the church: Approximately 950 in-person Sunday mornings.
  • 2-3 things that make this role unique:
  • Incredible Missions Footprint: The church commits a significant portion of its operating budget to global missions and operates a local refugee ministry center that serves people from dozens of nations.
  • Strong Executive Support: The Lead Pastor can focus heavily on preaching, vision, and shepherding because they are supported by a highly capable Executive Minister who oversees all day-to-day operations and staff leadership.
  • "Messy Cross" Culture: Despite being in a wealthy, polished area of Dallas, the church deeply values authenticity, recognizing that life is messy and emphasizing a desperate dependence on Christ rather than a perfect image.


Key Qualifications

  • Strongly prefer a MDiv or ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary or similar institution
  • Experience serving as a senior or associate pastor in a large church environment
  • Leadership experience within a church of approximately 600 or more attendees
  • Demonstrated resilience and spiritual maturity developed through ministry challenges



Key Responsibilities

  • Preaching and Teaching: Serve as the primary preaching pastor, delivering approximately 35 or more sermons annually with a strong emphasis on biblical exposition.
  • Spiritual Leadership: Shepherd the congregation through prayer, pastoral care, and spiritual guidance while cultivating a culture of discipleship.
  • Vision and Direction: Provide clear and compelling vision for the future of the church while helping the congregation pursue unity around the mission of the gospel.
  • Staff Leadership: Lead and develop the pastoral staff and ministry leaders in partnership with the Executive Minister.
  • Congregational Shepherding: Build meaningful relationships across the congregation while caring for people through both joyful and difficult seasons of life.
  • Mission Engagement: Champion the church’s commitment to global missions and local outreach.



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