A New Approach
The UUA's Congregational Salary Program is a practical service that promotes Unitarian Universalist values.
In November 2022, we launched a freshly designed Congregational Salary Program in order to live more fully into UU values and better meet the needs of today's congregations. Highlights include a greater emphasis on process and values, along with a new structure for our Recommended Salary Ranges, intended for use in the '23-'24 program year.
2022-2023 resources are available through on this Salary Recommendations: Historical Information page.
Resources
After reviewing the Introductory Information, Key Documents, and Recommended Salary Ranges below, you may want to view the Webinar posted at the end of this section.
Introductory Information
Please review these two resources before accessing the '23-'24 Recommended Salary Ranges.
- Introducing a New Congregational Salary Program (PDF)
- Unconscious Bias in Compensation (YouTube, 8 minutes)
Key Documents for Use with Recommended Salary Ranges
- Salary Process Guidance (PDF): Includes values-based policies and practices along with instructions for use of our Recommended Salary Ranges.
- Geo Index Listing (PDF): The Geo Index for your congregation's location provides an adjustment to national pay norms based on local wages. (For Canadian congregations, see Canadian Geo Index Listing (PDF).)
- Congregational Size Profiles (PDF): New size categories (4) are based primarily on membership, with budget and staffing levels as supplemental information.
- Job Level Rubric (PDF) : The job level of each employee is based on job characteristics.
Recommended Salary Ranges for 2023-2024
As part of our revised Congregational Salary Program, we’ve introduced a new structure for our Recommended Salary Ranges. To support you in making the most of our freshly framed guidance, we’re asking you to confirm that you've viewed the two resources listed above under Introductory Information.
Completing the form below not only assures us that you’ve learned about the basics of the new approach but also allows us to contact you in order to provide updates and/or request feedback. Upon completion of the form, you will receive access to the page containing the Recommended Salary Ranges.
Webinar
In early 2023, we presented a series of webinars orienting lay leaders and staff to the new program. You may find this webinar, focused on Lay Leaders, helpful in understanding the new approach:
- Congregational Salary Program Webinar for Lay Leaders (YouTube, 39 Minutes)
- Slides from Congregational Salary Program Webinar for Lay Leaders (PDF)
Reminders
Process is Primary! Compensation is about more than numbers. Your compensation policies and practices are a way of living your values. Our Salary Process Guidance (PDF) includes a list of suggested policies and practices to help you ground your compensation decisions in equity, transparency, and economic justice,
Local Information: For many positions, understanding local wage norms is important. Additionally, although all Recommended Salary Ranges meet the federal minimum wage, it is possible that some do not comply with all state and local wage laws. Please be aware of minimum wage law in your area, as well as the living wage.
Cost of Living: The third-quarter Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) increase from 2021 to 2022 was 8.3%. As you budget for staff salaries in the year ahead, consider that a 8.3% wage increase would be needed to roughly maintain a typical employee's purchasing power. This this may be aspirational for most congregations as it is for many other organizations. It is common for raises to lag the CPI-U change during periods of high inflation.
Salaries for Ministerial Interns
For salary guidance on ministerial interns, see Guidelines for Ministerial Student Internships in the Internship Clearinghouse.
Need Help?
We are here to help, as are your regional Compensation Consultants.