The hidden costs of job relocation
By Vincent J . Schera , ACC ® , CCP ®
You ’ re excited to start a new position , or to accept a new call to a church or organization that you ’ ve been offered in another city or state . The compensation package is an improvement over what you are currently receiving , and the location seems ideal for you and your family .
As you make the momentous decision , you ’ ll need to consider all the costs involved .
When relocating to a new city or state , the first thing you should do is compare the cost of living . The three major considerations are : where you currently live , where you are considering , and your annual income . Many online cost-of-living tools are helpful but use them with caution . A cost-of-living comparison should include housing , food , utilities , transportation , healthcare costs ( including premiums and common procedures ), taxes , and childcare prices . The biggest factor in cost of living is housing costs — buying or renting a house or apartment .
Next , do your market research . Before accepting the offer , research salaries in the market to be sure that your new salary or compensation package is in line with your experience and education and comparable for similar positions in the area . Is this a larger congregation with more responsibility ? Is there additional staff that will assist you ? Are you moving to a larger city where the cost of living is higher ? Is your compensation package comparable to pastors leading similar-size churches in your region ? Start your research with MMBB ’ s annual compensation study , which gathers reported church salaries around the country . You can also check online resources such as
ChurchSalary . com or
Indeed . com to find out what people with similar education and experience earn . Take a look at what professionals in a comparable profession earn , such as a school principal or school district superintendent ; this is a good barometer for fair compensation for a pastor .
WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD Once you ’ ve decided to accept the new position , you are faced with the task of moving . Some churches and organizations provide relocation packages to help new employees with the moving process . Is the church providing a home or apartment for you and your family to live in ? Some churches might pay a percentage of the rent for your home or apartment as part of your compensation package . Be sure to inquire about this perk . If you own a home , you ’ ll have to sell it and find a place to rent or buy in your new location . This can be stressful and costly . A good relocation package , if offered , can help . Some churches or
12 CHURCH EXECUTIVE | JAN / FEB 2022