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Sports Chaplain Jobs (NOW HIRING)

On-site complex case management team, social workers, chaplain, including the Ray Hickey Hospice ... Sports fanatic? Cheer for professional basketball, soccer, and baseball organizations. You will ...

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Sports Chaplain information

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$29K

$63.6K

$98K

How much do sports chaplain jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for sports chaplain in the United States is $63,587.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48,500.00 and $80,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical responsibilities and daily interactions of a Sports Chaplain within a team environment?

Sports Chaplains typically provide emotional, spiritual, and practical support to athletes, coaches, and staff. Their daily responsibilities often include offering confidential counseling, leading team reflections or prayer sessions, and being present at practices, games, and team events. Chaplains also collaborate with team management and medical personnel to ensure holistic well-being for team members, while respecting diverse faith backgrounds. Building trust and maintaining professional boundaries are key challenges, as chaplains must be approachable yet discreet in their support.

What Does a Sports Chaplain Do?

As a sports chaplain, you provide spiritual guidance and religious services to players, their families, coaches, and team staff members. These positions are usually available at a college or university, but some pro sports teams hire chaplains to work with athletes during the season. In this role, your duties typically include providing counsel to athletes and acting as a life coach. You provide general spiritual guidance and non-denominational religious services. You may have additional responsibilities outside of ministering to sports teams, such as overseeing a bible study group for athletes’ families or providing pastoral care for baptisms and weddings.

What is the difference between Sports Chaplain vs Sports Psychologist?

AspectSports ChaplainSports Psychologist
CredentialsOften requires religious or pastoral certifications, counseling trainingRequires advanced degrees in psychology or counseling, licensure
Work EnvironmentReligious settings, sports teams, community eventsClinics, sports organizations, private practice
Employer & IndustryReligious organizations, sports clubs, community groupsSports teams, mental health clinics, academic institutions

While both roles support athletes' well-being, Sports Chaplains focus on spiritual and emotional support rooted in faith, often within religious contexts. Sports Psychologists specialize in mental performance and psychological health, using evidence-based techniques. Understanding these differences helps athletes find the right support for their needs.

What are sports chaplains?

Sports chaplains are trained individuals who provide emotional, spiritual, and sometimes practical support to athletes, coaches, and teams within the sports community. They often work with professional, collegiate, or amateur teams to offer counseling, lead team prayers or reflections, and assist with personal or family challenges. Their role is non-denominational and inclusive, focusing on the overall well-being of sports participants regardless of faith background. Sports chaplains may also be involved in crisis response and support during injuries, losses, or other stressful events. Their presence helps foster a positive, healthy environment both on and off the field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Sports Chaplain, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Sports Chaplain, you need a background in pastoral care or ministry, strong spiritual and ethical grounding, and often a relevant theological degree or certification. Familiarity with counseling tools, crisis intervention protocols, and sometimes athlete welfare systems is typically required. Excellent listening skills, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to build trust set outstanding Sports Chaplains apart. These skills and qualities are vital for providing effective emotional, spiritual, and ethical support to athletes and sports teams in high-pressure environments.
What cities are hiring for Sports Chaplain jobs? Cities with the most Sports Chaplain job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Sports Chaplain jobs? The most popular types of Sports Chaplain jobs are:
What states have the most Sports Chaplain jobs? States with the most job openings for Sports Chaplain jobs include:
Infographic showing various Sports Chaplain job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 94% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,587 per year, or $30.6 per hour.
Pastoral Services Intern (Unpaid)

Pastoral Services Intern (Unpaid)

Baptist Health Care

Pensacola, FL

$15.75 - $20.50/hr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

The Chaplain Intern is responsible for the spiritual and emotional support of people of all religions and beliefs in the hospital. This position functions as a competent spiritual care provider with the ability to relate cooperatively with patients, family members, peers and other hospital personnel. The chaplain intern provides crisis, grief and loss support, spiritual guidance by helping patients and families identify their spiritual resources, needs, and concerns; helps identify and evaluate moral and ethical options; provides rituals and services; and helps patients identify and utilize systems of support. 

Baptist Health Care is a not-for-profit health care system committed to improving the quality of life for people and communities in northwest Florida and south Alabama. The organization includesthree hospitals, four medical parks,Andrews Institute for Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine, and an extensive primary and specialty care provider network. With more than 4,000 team members, Baptist Health Care is one of the largest non-governmental employers in northwest Florida. 

Baptist Health Care, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. BHC maintains and enforces a policy that prohibits discrimination against any workforce members or applicants for employment because of sex, race, age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, religion, genetic information, or other category protected by federal, state or local law. Certain positions may require a Level 2 Background check through AHCA.  Additional information about this requirement can be found here: Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse

  • Bachelor's Degree Religion, Related field Required or
  • Master's Degree Related field, Completed or enrolled in a religious master's program Required

Baptist Health Care logo

About Baptist Health Care

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Baptist Health Care is a not-for-profit health care system committed to improving the quality of life for people and communities in northwest Florida and south Alabama. The organization includes three hospitals, four medical parks, Andrews Institute for Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine, and an extensive primary and specialty care provider network. With more than 4,000 team members, Baptist Health Care is one of the largest non-governmental employers in northwest Florida.

Industry

Health care and social assistance

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Pensacola, FL, US

Year founded

1951

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