What is it like to be a worship leader in North America today?
In 2025, the Worship Leader Research (WLR) team surveyed worship leaders across North America about who they are, how they serve, the songs they choose and write, and how they are doing. Building on our earlier work — which mapped the dominant sources behind today’s most-sung worship songs and surveyed worship leaders’ attitudes toward that landscape — this study turns the lens from the songs to the people who choose them. The survey was open to anyone who self-identified as a worship leader, defined as someone who plans, leads, and selects music for worship in one or more congregations at least monthly, regardless of title or pay. After screening for eligibility and filtering for response quality, 3,384 responses were included, making it the largest multi-denominational survey of worship leaders to date. What follows summarizes the findings across five areas: demographics and training, vocation and congregation, the worship role, songwriting and original content, and mental health.
Methodology
The Worship Leader Survey (2025) was a self-selected survey shared on Worship Leader Research’s social media platforms and among each team member’s varied networks. Respondents were asked to participate if they self-identified as a worship leader. We defined a “worship leader” as “anyone who plans, leads, and selects music for worship in one or more congregations at least monthly.” This definition did not include job title or employment status (volunteer, part-time, or full-time). Participants also had to confirm they were over 18 and lived in North America. We received 3786 completed responses. Although these parameters were set, a handful of participants indicated in the comment sections that they did not live in North America. Of the remaining responses, 3384 received a reCAPTCHA score of 0.8 or higher. This score indicates a higher likelihood that the submission is from a real person. 1613 responses had a 1.0 score. The total number of eligible responses was 3384. Participants were allowed to skip any questions that they wished. Some questions were shown only after certain responses. (For example, participants were asked whether they use original songs in their church. Only those who answered “No” were shown the question asking why they do not use original songs.)
Demographics, Training, and Background
This section of the survey asked demographic questions about a person’s background and training, including a question about worship-related training and one about their current study at a seminary.
Gender, Race
Gender
All Race Responses
(Multi-select answers combined as Multi Racial)
Total People Who Selected a Particular Race
(Multi-select answers divided between individual responses)
Age
Age by Generation
Training and Education
Most worship leaders are educated, but rarely trained for the role itself. Formal pastoral preparation is the exception
Highest Degree Earned
Are you currently enrolled in a seminary, divinity school, or another formal pastoral training program?
Highest Worship Training
The gender of our respondents was nearly split between men and women. Regarding age, our participants were predominantly Millennials. The response rate among those aged 45 and above was significantly lower than that of younger generations. Worship leaders are most likely to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree; however, that degree is not likely to be worship-related.
Vocation and Congregation
Most worship leaders readily describe their churches, but are silent on denominational identity. This question drew the fewest answers in the entire survey.
This section asked questions about the church, including the type of church where the worship leader works or serves, as well as the worship leader’s specific role. From the results, we can draw insights into denominations, church size, position title, and the time spent, both weekly and in total years, as a worship leader.
The Churches
Single or Multiple Congregations
Congregation Size
Total Congregation Size Across Campuses
Denomination
Most participants indicated they work at a single church. The question about the total congregation size, however, led to some inconsistencies. Eighty responses from multi-site churches indicated that the population across campuses was lower than that of a single site. One hundred and five multi-site respondents gave the same number for both questions, suggesting it is one congregation rather than two. Most participants indicated serving a church of 50-99 or 200-499 congregants. Additionally, the majority of respondents serve at churches with fewer than 500 members. The denomination question received the fewest responses of any survey question. About 78% of participants did not select an answer, even though we instructed participants without a denominational affiliation to select “unaffiliated.”
Current Position
Full- or Part-Time
Paid or Unpaid
Weekly Hours on Worship-Related Activities
Grouped by 5s
Years Served as a Worship Leader
Grouped by 5s
Most respondents selected “worship leader” as their current position. The most common number of hours centered around 20 (24%) and 30 (24%) hours spent each week on worship-related activities, indicating that the rest of their full-time roles are devoted to non-worship-related tasks. The most common number of non-consecutive years served also centered on two numbers: 10 years (29%) and 20 years (25%).
Worship Role
Contemporary songs are commonplace, but authority over which songs are selected is not, with results split between sole deciders and a team approach.
Beyond Sunday morning, the role is a steady stream of decisions — about songs, instruments, and process — and a quieter question of whether any of it is landing. This section focused on what worship leaders do. It also covered how decisions are made, the types of songs used in worship, and what instruments are used regularly. We also revised the questions from our 2023 survey for comparative purposes. The last question asked how new songs are evaluated.
Decision Making
Are you the main/sole individual who makes decisions about musical worship services?
Goals
Responses were almost evenly divided between making decisions alone and making them with a group. Some respondents said pastors were involved, either by giving input or being fully part of the process. Others said decisions are made as a group of worship leaders or a planning team. Participants selected their three primary goals for choosing songs. Out of seven possible options, three emerged at the top of the chart: “helping the congregation encounter God,” “engaging the congregation in the service,” and “presenting the Gospel truth.”
Implementation
Types of Songs
Instrumentation
Contemporary worship songs were selected most often (98%), followed by band-accompanied hymns (83%). About 66% selected hymns with piano or organ accompaniment. Around 64% of respondents said they use both contemporary worship songs and hymns with piano or organ accompaniment. This suggests nearly two-thirds of the respondents work in blended settings or lead multiple services with different musical styles. Most respondents indicated using a typical band setup. Notably, the bass guitar was selected significantly less than other rhythm-section instruments. “Tracks (e.g., Ableton, Playback, etc.)” are used by 63% of churches, regardless of size. Some might assume smaller churches cannot afford technology to use multi-track playback; however, the survey showed some small churches do use tracks. In fact, 65% of churches with 100 people or fewer selected that with their instruments. Six respondents reported using only “tracks (e.g., Ableton, Playback, etc.),” which may mean they sing along to pre-recorded music without live instruments.
Views on Worship Artists & Industry
While worship leaders report that the artist behind a song doesn’t influence their choice, their selections suggest a tension between practice and preference.
How do worship leaders feel about the recording artists that write and produce the songs they sing? What about the industry around them? In this section of the survey, we explore these attitudes and beliefs.
How do you feel about the quantity of new songs promoted for congregational use?
When considering a song for congregational use, how important is the song’s association with an artist or church to your decision?
How similar do you wish your congregation’s worship style was to the “Big 4” brands (Bethel, Elevation, Hillsong, Passion)?
Overall, the answers to these questions were similar to those in our first survey. Most respondents indicated that the quantity of songs is “just right.” A slight generational difference emerged, with older generations more likely to say there are “slightly too many” songs and younger generations leaning toward “slightly too few.” When it comes to the importance of the artist, 70% said it was “not at all important” or only “slightly important.” Meanwhile, more respondents, when compared to our 2023 survey, wished they had a worship culture like the Big 4, with a majority expressing a moderate desire.
Artists
When selecting new songs for worship, how likely are you to use a song released by…
Share of responses per artist. Hover a legend category to isolate it across all artists. Non-responses excluded.
Visualizing the trend
When selecting new songs for worship, how likely are you to use a song released by…
Diverging from the centre line (midpoint of “Neither”): less likely to the left, more likely to the right. Hover a legend category to isolate it across all artists. Non-responses excluded.
Though Phil Wickham’s popularity among respondents has decreased in comparison to our 2023 survey, Wickham remained the most popular solo artist, ahead of Brooke Ligertwood, Brandon Lake, and Cody Carnes. The Big 4, except for Passion, were the most likely to be chosen. About 12% of participants reported not knowing who Passion is. The least-known artist overall was the “Getty-affiliated artist,” with 14% not recognizing the name.
Artist Motivation
Most Common Pairings of Perceived Motivations
Perceived Motivations for Writing New Congregational Songs (Combined Totals)
Previously, in the 2023 survey, most people believed the primary motivations for songwriters were industry-related, such as commercial opportunities or contractual obligations. In this survey, respondents were more optimistic. The most common answers were “addressing the needs of the congregation” and “divine inspiration.” These were also the most common pairing overall.
Finding Songs
If you encountered a new worship song through each source, how likely would you be to use it?
Hover a legend category to isolate it across all panels. Non-responses excluded.
Visualizing the trend
If you encountered a new worship song through each source, how likely would you be to use it?
Diverging from the centre line (midpoint of “Neither”): less likely to the left, more likely to the right. Hover a legend category to isolate it across all sources. Non-responses excluded.
Live events were still the most influential way people discover new songs, while digital ads were the least common source. In this survey, radio ranked much higher than before, even outpacing streaming services and YouTube. This change may mean more radio stations are playing worship songs that worship leaders are looking for, rather than mainly playing more presentational CCM songs.
Evaluating Congregational Response
Evaluating Congregational Response to New Songs
For this question, participants could select as many options as they considered necessary. About 42% of respondents selected the same three: “verbal or written congregant feedback,” “observing engagement during worship,” and “worship team discussion.”
Songwriting and Original Content
Among those who write, original songs are in regular rotation, but they stop short of claiming those songs land better than the mainstream.
Some worship leaders write their own songs; many do not. Both groups have clear reasons. This section focused on songwriting practices in local churches. If participants said they use original songs in worship, they answered additional questions about how often those songs are used, their value, whether they were evaluated for theological accuracy, and why they write them. Those who indicated that they do not write songs were asked to share their reasons for not.
Pressure and Reasons for Writing or Not Writing
How much pressure do you feel to write new worship songs for your congregation?
Have you or anyone in your congregation written songs for worship at your church?
Reasons Churches Write Original Worship Songs
Reasons Churches Don’t Use Original Worship Songs
Those who write worship songs reported 14% more “moderate pressure” and about 6% more “significant pressure” than those who did not write songs. The main reasons for not writing songs were congregations’ preference for familiar songs, concerns about song quality, and insufficient time to learn new songs. Those who do write songs said their main reasons are “to fulfill a Biblical calling” and “to communicate theological truths.”
Use of Original Songs
Using original songs — filter by how often they’re used
Click a slice of the pie (or its legend) to see how the other three measures shift for that group. Click it again, or “Show all,” to reset. Based on the 1,751 respondents whose congregations use original songs.
How often are original songs used?
How important are original songs to the church’s identity?
How much time is spent assessing theological content?
Do congregants find original songs more effective than mainstream?
Among those who write songs, almost 75% include their original songs within church worship at least once a month. About 61% said these original songs are somewhat or very important for shaping the church’s identity. Nearly half give moderate or significant attention to the theology, and most considered the theological content at least a little.
Mental Health
While high in reported purpose, Worship Leaders report a higher likelihood of low-grade depressive symptoms, but are hesitant to seek professional support.
The role’s demands don’t stop at song selection and scheduling; they reach into how worship leaders are doing day to day. This section included questions about worship leaders’ mental health, such as how often they felt joy, purpose, or depression. They were also asked about ways they support their mental health, like seeing a professional or practicing self-care. There were questions about work-specific challenges to their mental health and how much support they feel from their congregation.
Questions About Mental State
Worship leader mental health
Overall mental health over the past year
Sense of joy or contentment (past two weeks)
Deep sense of purpose or fulfillment (past two weeks)
Little interest, feeling down or depressed (past two weeks)
Job Satisfaction
How personally satisfied are you with your work as a worship leader?
Worship leaders shared that their mental health was average or good, and most feel moderately or very satisfied with their jobs. However, most said they experienced “joy” for only “several days” over a two-week period, which is the second-lowest option. Also, 34% reported little interest in their work or feeling down, depressed, or hopeless for “several days” in the two weeks leading up to their survey completion.
Practices
Do you currently meet regularly with any of the following people?
How effective has meeting regularly with these people been?
Effectiveness of Self-Care
Do you currently engage in additional self-care practices?
How effective are your self-care practices?
Of the 2,933 who engage in self-care practices
Few worship leaders talk to someone about their mental health, but many practice self-care. Of those, 72% said these practices are moderately effective, and 13% find them very or extremely effective.
Challenges and Support
Greatest sources of mental health challenges in leading worship
How much support and care do you feel from your congregation?
The most common challenges were “pressure to meet congregational expectations” and “balancing ministry and personal life.” The next biggest challenge was “high workload and limited resources.” Despite these challenges, 50% said they get moderate support from their congregation, while 45% reported “quite a bit” or “a lot” of support. In total, 95% of worship leaders feel at least moderately supported by their congregations.
Conclusion
With more than 3,300 respondents, this is the largest multi-denominational survey of worship leaders to date, shifting the focus from songs to the people choosing them. Several findings reward a closer look. Worship leaders are settled, full-time curators who report trusting peers and live experiences over charts or advertising, and who now generously credit songwriters with congregational need and divine inspiration over the commercial motives assumed in 2023. Two tensions stand out. First, most call a song’s artist association unimportant, yet clear favourites persist in the choices made. We first identified this phenomenon in 2023, and it persists today. Second, this is a group high in purpose yet marked by low-grade depressive symptoms, and notably slow to seek professional support. They are, in short, well-resourced on the platform and under-resourced behind it. We explored that specific paradox in a dedicated article on worship leader mental health, and we will continue to unpack other implications from this study in subsequent articles, beginning with a piece on the role original songwriting plays in local churches.
We must also face the fact that this survey’s reach is its main limitation. Respondents clearly skew White and Millennial, highlighting the need for further study of variations influenced by race and age. Our continued aim is to surface the real needs, challenges, and attitudes of the people who lead the church in song week after week, and to move others in the Church to support them well.
To Cite This Report
Baker, Shannan, Elias Dummer, Marc Jolicoeur, Adam Perez, and Mike Tapper. Worship Leader Survey Report. June 2026. https://worshipleaderresearch.com/2025-worship-leader-survey-report.
