Best Christian Jobs Guide

December 24 2024

est. 10-minute read

This section compares 15 jobs commonly taken by impact-driven Christians.

Jobs are ranked by:

  1. Direct Impact: How much good the job does.

  2. Salary: The potential for giving through earnings.

  3. Career Capital: How it prepares you for future roles.

  4. Evangelism: Chances to share your faith.

  5. Competitiveness: How hard it is to get the job.

  6. Work-life Balance: Flexibility for family, church, and personal time.

This comparison will help you think about impactful career choices, but keep in mind that God can work through any job, especially through the 10% Pledge.

Christian Job Profiles

  • Our career profiles give full descriptions and tips for each job.

  • Each profile includes:

    • Stories of Christians in this job

    • What a typical day looks like

    • How to know if it’s a good fit

    • Strategy for maximizing impact within this job

    • How to get it

Economist

The goal of economics and politics is to serve humanity, beginning with the poorest and most vulnerable wherever they may be

- Pope Francis

Medical Doctor

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

- Luke 5:31-32

Traditional Missionary

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

- Matthew 28:19

Teacher

Teaching is a beautiful job; as it allows you to see the growth day by day of people entrusted to your care.

- Pope Francis

Nonprofit Entrepreneur

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

- Hebrews 13:16

Think Tank Researcher

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.

- Proverbs 1:5

Fundraiser

My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.

- 2 Corinthians 9:6

For-Profit Entrepreneur

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

- Deuteronomy 8:18

Communications

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

- Proverbs 12:18

Grantmaker

Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.

- A.W. Tozer

Software Engineer

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

- Colossians 3:17

Monitoring and Evaluation

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

- Colossians 3:23-24

Congressional Staffer

Politics can be divisive, but the love and hope of Jesus Christ unites us.

- Billy Graham

Management Consultant

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

- Proverbs 11:14

Journalism

You are the light of the world.

- Matthew 5:14

Psychology

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing

- 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Recruiting

Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field

- Matthew 9:37-38

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The measurable difference a job makes in improving lives or advancing solutions that address specific problem areas. 

    More generally, we define “impact” or “kingdom impact” as a concrete change that conforms with God’s redemptive plans to renew our fallen world.

    Why does impact matter?: As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors and work toward the flourishing of others. Jobs with high direct impact often address pressing needs in tangible ways.

    You can read more about how we define impact here.

  • Problem areas include:

    There is strong biblical evidence that God cares deeply about each of these problems and strong secular evidence that each of these problems is important, tractable, and neglected. Read more about the ITN framework here.

    We recommend using reason and evidence to find the best ways to tackle the world's most important problems.

    This concept is called effective altruism.

  • The name of a career strategy of pursuing a high-earning career (or higher-earning than one would otherwise pursue) with the deliberate goal of donating a substantial portion of one’s earned income.

    Why is earning-to-give impactful?: Since the world’s most effective charities are incredibly efficient at using money to save lives (or help in other ways), earning to give can have a larger impact than many careers that help others directly. 

    E.g. The average annual income of a person living in the United States is about $60,000. By donating 10% of their income to effective charities such as the Against Malaria Foundation, the average American could save dozens of lives over the course of their career. This is like the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) - the Samaritan uses his resources to care for someone in need.

  • The skills, connections, and experience a job provides that enhances long-term impact potential. It matters because developing expertise and credibility in your field opens doors for greater influence and effectiveness in future roles.

    You can read more about career capital here.

  • We are referring to the opportunities a job provides to share the gospel and disciple others.

    Why does evangelism at work matter?: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) calls Christians to make disciples of all nations. Jobs with high evangelism opportunities integrate faith into daily work.

  • We refer to the difficulty of entering and succeeding in a particular career path. Understanding competitiveness is important because it helps in assessing the feasibility of pursuing a specific job, given your skills, background, and resources.

  • The degree to which a job allows for personal well-being, family commitments, and community involvement such as in the Church.

    Why do we think work-life balance matters?: As Christians, we are called to steward our health, relationships, and time. Jobs that offer good work-life balance help maintain a sustainable lifestyle that enables us to serve others.

  • Please note that each person may prioritise the criteria differently based on their, strengths, and individual circumstances. These rankings aim to provide a holistic perspective, but we encourage readers to prayerfully consider their own path.

    Also remember - no job will perfectly score high on all criteria! Identifying the trade-offs you are willing to make is crucial in finding a fulfilling and impactful career.

More Resources for Your Career Journey