The “compensation” includes, usually, the whole package: housing, utilities, *insurance-health and life, sometimes a car, and use of a cell phone, *retirement benefits, etc. However, when added all up it is still quite a bit less than a UAW worker receives with all HIS/HER compensation.
Their jobs are only as stable as those of their congregations.
*Denominations try to get group insurance for the health and retirement.
The free housing for many ministers is worth a lot, but with so many houses donated to churches, the free housing doesn’t cost the church much.
The retirement and health benefits packages need to be compared to corporate arrangements. I think my company tacks on 30% of a salary to estimate benefit and retirement cost. So a 65K total minister cost they list, is only a 50K salary after 403B and health plan, 35K after housing.
Their jobs are only as stable as those of their congregations.
Not very stable at all.
Though.. This last weekend we attended a 50th anniversary dinner for the pastor who married us, back when. 50 years as a minister, in that one congregation. He's 78, still going. I doubt his pay is anything like the average "senior pastor"'s is, though.