Clergy salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,860 | $18.20 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $60,810 | $29.24 |
| Mean (average) | $66,860 | $32.15 |
| 90th percentile | $98,890 | $47.54 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Clergy pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $50,180 | $38,480 | $71,650 | 850 | 1.1 |
| Alaska | $55,780 | $35,910 | $76,820 | 150 | 1.23 |
| Arizona | $61,900 | $44,440 | $102,290 | 1,070 | 0.9 |
| Arkansas | $49,070 | $30,070 | $78,850 | 350 | 0.72 |
| California | $77,710 | $42,690 | $157,030 | 7,110 | 1.06 |
| Colorado | $63,700 | $50,750 | $82,410 | 440 | 0.41 |
| Connecticut | $63,470 | $44,390 | $100,460 | 900 | 1.44 |
| Delaware | $63,260 | $51,270 | $78,150 | 120 | 0.67 |
| District of Columbia | $64,800 | $40,600 | $99,270 | 310 | 1.21 |
| Florida | $56,940 | $35,950 | $88,560 | 3,560 | 0.97 |
| Georgia | $60,530 | $35,260 | $85,530 | 1,380 | 0.77 |
| Guam | $37,460 | $19,240 | $75,480 | 30 | 1.33 |
| Hawaii | $61,050 | $46,710 | $90,270 | 720 | 3.13 |
| Idaho | $59,570 | $32,310 | $77,740 | 150 | 0.46 |
| Illinois | $61,820 | $36,760 | $86,390 | 2,200 | 0.98 |
| Indiana | $59,020 | $37,860 | $77,670 | 1,060 | 0.9 |
| Iowa | $60,630 | $46,920 | $73,340 | 370 | 0.64 |
| Kansas | $52,130 | $29,060 | $68,250 | 450 | 0.85 |
| Kentucky | $58,920 | $40,640 | $80,630 | 410 | 0.55 |
| Louisiana | $54,140 | $31,270 | $75,490 | 400 | 0.56 |
| Maine | $64,340 | $47,390 | $74,030 | 160 | 0.68 |
| Maryland | $61,620 | $36,450 | $104,330 | 670 | 0.66 |
| Massachusetts | $72,190 | $51,600 | $98,650 | 840 | 0.63 |
| Michigan | $56,490 | $36,730 | $74,470 | 1,880 | 1.16 |
| Minnesota | $61,230 | $38,350 | $79,000 | 1,160 | 1.07 |
| Mississippi | $52,450 | $35,030 | $85,810 | 250 | 0.59 |
| Missouri | $58,740 | $44,260 | $77,940 | 920 | 0.86 |
| Montana | $59,550 | $35,050 | $96,460 | 680 | 3.62 |
| Nebraska | $57,520 | $45,920 | $67,230 | 270 | 0.71 |
| Nevada | $73,910 | $51,070 | $82,810 | 210 | 0.37 |
| New Hampshire | $65,200 | $51,480 | $81,160 | 100 | 0.39 |
| New Jersey | $65,500 | $39,540 | $93,780 | 1,460 | 0.93 |
| New Mexico | $64,100 | $47,050 | $85,280 | 270 | 0.83 |
| New York | $58,580 | $38,780 | $129,200 | 7,790 | 2.19 |
| North Carolina | $59,600 | $39,880 | $82,350 | 1,430 | 0.79 |
| North Dakota | $60,680 | $35,740 | $86,840 | 120 | 0.76 |
| Ohio | $59,160 | $36,910 | $79,180 | 2,020 | 0.99 |
| Oklahoma | $59,110 | $40,150 | $79,860 | 510 | 0.82 |
| Oregon | $63,140 | $37,970 | $99,960 | 3,850 | 5.33 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,300 | $31,580 | $81,360 | 2,150 | 0.96 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,880 | $22,800 | $41,490 | 290 | 0.85 |
| Rhode Island | $59,660 | $34,180 | $88,420 | 230 | 1.27 |
| South Carolina | $56,630 | $42,110 | $79,950 | 450 | 0.53 |
| South Dakota | $59,860 | $37,890 | $75,500 | 140 | 0.84 |
| Tennessee | $57,260 | $41,600 | $73,920 | 710 | 0.59 |
| Texas | $59,480 | $37,220 | $84,940 | 3,180 | 0.61 |
| Vermont | $64,950 | $54,390 | $80,540 | 50 | 0.41 |
| Virginia | $55,430 | $32,710 | $81,680 | 1,220 | 0.81 |
| Washington | $80,830 | $45,630 | $108,200 | 1,060 | 0.81 |
| West Virginia | $48,460 | $36,600 | $63,770 | 290 | 1.12 |
| Wisconsin | $60,950 | $47,320 | $80,770 | 770 | 0.71 |
| Wyoming | $61,590 | $40,910 | $78,850 | 40 | 0.42 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for clergy
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 19,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 5.7%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for clergy
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Theology/Theological Studies CIP 39.0601
- Divinity/Ministry CIP 39.0602
- Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies CIP 39.0604
- Rabbinical Studies CIP 39.0605
- Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other CIP 39.0699
- Pastoral Studies/Counseling CIP 39.0701
- Youth Ministry CIP 39.0702
- Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies CIP 39.0706
- Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling CIP 51.1506
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Pray and promote spirituality.
- Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks.
- Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
- Organize and lead regular religious services.
- Instruct people who seek conversion to a particular faith.
- Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching.
- Counsel individuals or groups concerning their spiritual, emotional, or personal needs.
- Administer religious rites or ordinances.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Email software
- Event scheduling software
- GroupMe
- Membership databases
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Service Orientation, Persuasion, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management.
Common job titles: Bishop, Chaplain, Children's Minister, Imam, Minister, Pastor, Priest, Rabbi, Rector, Worship Pastor.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do clergy make?
The national median annual wage for clergy was $60,810 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,860 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $98,890. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do clergy need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is clergy a growing career?
BLS projects employment of clergy to change +2.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 19,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay clergy the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($80,830), California ($77,710), Nevada ($73,910). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.