Salary Recommendations for Congregational Staff

The UUA provides Salary Recommendations to assist you in offering appropriate pay to your employees. They should guide, but not limit, congregational compensation decisions. Our intent is to help you attract and retain excellent staff, as well to urge you to be a faithful employer—one whose compensation and other staffing practices align with your mission and values as a Unitarian Universalist congregation.

Need Help?

We are here to help, as are your regional Compensation Consultants.

Salary Recommendations and Related Resources

Guide to Salary Recommendations

Our Guide to Salary Recommendations (PDF) will assist you in understanding and using the Salary Recommendations in your specific context.

Capsule Job Descriptions

Capsule Job Descriptions (PDF) are brief job summaries for common staff positions in UU congregations, for use with UUA Salary Recommendations. Use the best-fit capsule description for each position, regardless of the job title in your congregation. (In some cases, it's appropriate to use a blend of two positions.)

​Geo Index Listing 

 The Geo Index is based on cost of wages, not cost of living. However, we are now listing a congregation's cost of living, relative to the national average, alongside their Geo Index.

• Geo Index Listing for 2020-2021 (PDF)
• Geo Index Listing for 2019-2020 (PDF)​
• Geo Index Listing for Canadian Congregations

UUA Salary Recommendations

Important Information and Changes for 2020-2021

• Preservation of purchasing power is a fundamental compensation principle. Based on recent Consumer Price Index information, a pay increase of 1.8% is needed to maintain the typical employee's purchasing power over the next year. As you budget for staff salaries in the coming year, keep in mind that the first 1.8% of an employee's raise is going toward increased expenses.
• Range midpoints and maximums have increased between 2% and 6%, depending on position and congregational size.
• Minimum salaries for all positions and sizes have been adjusted so that every minimum is at least 85% of its corresponding midpoint. This has caused some range minimums to rise substantially. It also means that some "midpoints" are no longer the mathematical midpoint between the minimum and maximum. See our Guide to Salary Recommendations for explanation.
• Although all UUA salary guidelines are consistent with the federal minimum wage, it is possible that some recommended salaries do not comply with all state and local wage laws. Please be aware of minimum or living wage laws in your area.

Salary Charts for 2020-2021

• Geo Index 1 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
• Geo Index 2 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
• Geo Index 3 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
• Geo Index 4 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
• Geo Index 5 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
• Geo Index 6 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)
• Geo Index 7 Salary Recommendations 2020-2021 (PDF)

Salary Charts for 2019-2020

• Geo Index 1 Salary Recommendations 2019-2020 (PDF)
• Geo Index 2 Salary Recommendations 2019-2020 (PDF)
• Geo Index 3 Salary Recommendations 2019-2020 (PDF)
• Geo Index 4 Salary Recommendations 2019-2020 (PDF)
• Geo Index 5 Salary Recommendations 2019-2020 (PDF)
• Geo Index 6 Salary Recommendations 2019-2020 (PDF)
• Geo Index 7 Salary Recommendations 2019-2020 (PDF)

Ministerial Interns

For guidance on salaries for ministerial interns, see Salary Recommendations for Interns in the Internship Clearinghouse.