Inflation versus Reported Raises in 2021-2022

During budget season in September-November 2021, the most commonly reported cost-of-living raise was 5 percent.* The average raise was slightly lower at 4.82 percent for pastors and 4.53 percent for staff (non-pastors). When you include employees who received no raise (54.5%) and those who received a pay cut (2-3%), the overall average drops down to 2 percent for pastors and 1.42 percent for staff.