A master's degree in divinity is required for anyone seeking to become a pastor in many churches regardless of denomination. A pastor has many roles in a church or religious organization, including spiritual leadership, praying, counseling, conducting services, officiating at weddings and funerals, organizing the church staff and developing a plan to grow his ministry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for a pastor in 2009 was $42,950.
Institutional chaplains are pastors or ministers who serve in nursing homes, hospitals, prisons, police departments and athletic organizations. They provide worship services, religious education, pastoral care and counseling. Some chaplains serve in full-time, salaried positions at their designated institution, while others serve part-time or as volunteers. Although the required qualifications vary depending on the institution being served, a common prerequisite for all chaplains is a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, and a Master of Divinity degree from an accredited theological seminary. The average annual salary for a full-time chaplain in the federal government as of 2009 was $75,485, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Many addiction treatment centers require spiritual counselors to have a Master of Divinity or Master in Pastoral Counseling degree. A spiritual counselor interacts directly with patients in activities, private sessions, lectures, support groups and religious services designed to help them overcome their addictions. While formal training in counseling and 12-step programs is also beneficial, spiritual counselors must possess a solid education in religious principles and history. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2009 median annual wage for a counselor was $37,700.
To become a professor of divinity at an institution of higher learning, you need a Master of Divinity degree. Divinity professors teach students the principles, history and literature of religious traditions, and supervise direct-experience learning in field studies at churches and hospitals. Divinity professors often have an interdisciplinary education provided by their master's degrees, and can instruct on subjects as diverse as preaching and worship, administration and program development, community organizing and spiritual development. Although wages can fluctuate depending on tenure, the average professor of divinity earned a median salary of $61,240 as of 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.