Career Explorer Community and social care
Changing shape
Directors, religious activities and education
Coordinate or design programs and conduct outreach to promote the religious education or activities of a denominational group. May provide counseling, guidance, and leadership relative to marital, health, financial, and religious problems.
In the middle of the pack: more resilient than 42% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by +3.3% by 2035, slower than average. The work leans on emotional intelligence and creative vision.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $52,100
- Job growth to 2035
- +3.3%
- Openings a year
- 13,000
- People doing it (2025)
- 142,000
- Usual route in
- Bachelor's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Plan events or programs
- Teach academic or vocational subjects
- Advise others on healthcare or wellness issues
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Develop business or marketing plans
- Develop educational programs, plans, or procedures
- Collaborate in the development of educational programs
What the work looks like
- Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.
- Identify and recruit potential volunteer workers.
- Select appropriate curricula or class structures for educational programs.
- Schedule special events, such as camps, conferences, meetings, seminars, or retreats.
- Counsel individuals regarding interpersonal, health, financial, or religious problems.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Mental health and substance abuse social workersGrows with AI, Index 90, +10.3%
- Rehabilitation counselorsChanging shape, Index 48, +2.2%
- Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselorsGrows with AI, Index 83, +18.4%
- Community and social service specialists, all otherGrows with AI, Index 70, +5.5%
Also known as: Children's Ministries Director, Christian Education Director, Religious Education Director, Youth Pastor, Adult Ministries Director, Campus Ministries Director, Religious Education Coordinator, Senior Adults Director.
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.