Bivocational work is less common among Catholic (14%) and Mainline Protestant (11%) clergy. The study also notes that evangelical pastors are less likely to lead multiple congregations (9%) compared to Mainline Protestants (24%) and Catholics (22%). Many pastors, especially evangelicals (64%), entered ministry after prior careers in other fields.

Nearly half of all Evangelical pastors in the United States hold a second job outside their church ministry, according to a study by Lifeway Research.

Forty-seven percent of Evangelical pastors work bivocationally, compared to 35% of clergy overall, said Lifeway, which compiled data from the National Survey of Religious Leaders (NSRL) and defined bivocational pastors as those employed outside their congregational role, not those serving multiple churches.

The national average increased from 28% in a similar survey conducted in 2001, but the researchers noted that the apparent growth was concentrated among white Evangelical Protestants.

Among Catholic and Mainline Protestant clergy, bivocational work is uncommon, with only 14% and 11%, respectively, reporting a second job. Among black Protestant pastors, 35% are bivocational..

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