Pastors Feel More Equipped for Ministry but Report Declining Job Satisfaction, Study Finds

May 12, 2026

According to research from Barna Group, while pastors are experiencing better mental and emotional health than in the past, many are becoming less satisfied with their roles in ministry.

Christianity Daily reports that the study, conducted in collaboration with Gloo, shows pastors today feel more capable in their ministry work than in previous years.

Among the findings of Barna’s 2026 State of the Church series, researchers found that feelings of inadequacy among pastors have dropped to their lowest levels on record.

According to the research, the percentage of pastors who feel unprepared for their responsibilities has steadily declined since 2015, with a notable drop in recent years.

Over the past three years alone, that number fell significantly from 64% in 2023 to 44% in 2026.

The study also shows burnout levels among pastors improving over the past decade with 75% of pastors reporting burnout ten years ago, and just over 60% now saying they frequently or occasionally feel emotionally or mentally exhausted.

According to Christianity Daily, despite those improvements, overall satisfaction with pastoral work has declined over time with only 52% of pastors saying they are “very satisfied” with their vocation, down from 72% in 2015.

Daniel Copeland, Barna’s vice president of research, described the data as presenting a mixed picture of pastoral well-being.

Copeland said, “Pastors are in the most emotionally healthy place they’ve been in a while regarding vocation. But the satisfaction data suggest they may be settling into a more sustainable — but less deeply fulfilling — experience of the work itself.”

Brad Hill, chief partner success officer at Gloo, described the findings as a call to action for church leadership.

Hill stated, “The role of pastoring today and tomorrow will likely look different than in the past. This research is a wake-up call for leaders to examine how we resource, equip, train and support pastors so they can fully live out their calling.”

Photo: top, Credit: Unsplash/Ben White