21 Series · SOC 21-2011
Clergy Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $60,810
- Median / year
- $98,890
- Top 10% earn
- +1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 57,200
- US workers
Clergy earn a median of $60,810 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $60,810, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $37,860 (10th percentile) to $98,890 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 57,200 US workers. Washington pays the most ($80,830), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Clergy earn a median of $60,810, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 49% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Community and Social Service, it ranks #7 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 1% by 2033.
- $60,810
- Median annual wage
- Top 51%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #7 of 17
- in Community and Social Service
- 2.6×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Washington at $80,830. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Clergy (SOC 21-2011) pays a national median of $60,810 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $37,860 at the 10th percentile to $98,890 at the 90th, with a mean of $66,860 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 57,200 Americans work in this occupation across 52 reporting states and 292 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 23,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.3 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Washington pays the highest state median at $80,830, which is +33% above the national figure. The top metro is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $84,050 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 57,200 jobs Median $60,810/yr
Median Salary
$60,810
per year
Median Hourly
$29.24/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$66,860
average
Employment
57,200
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Clergy pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$60,810 Bottom 49% higher than 49% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 21-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Clergy; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 21-series occupations with growth data, Clergy sits on the slower-growing side at +1% growth and $60,810 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+1%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
23,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.3/100K
Injury Rate
0.5/100
Danger Index
2.2/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Clergy roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Speaking 4.8
Active Listening 4.3
Social Perceptiveness 4.1
Instructing 4.0
Service Orientation 4.0
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Writing 3.9
Persuasion 3.9
Judgment and Decision Making 3.9
Time Management 3.9
Knowledge Areas
Philosophy and Theology 4.7
English Language 4.2
Administration and Management 4.1
Customer and Personal Service 4.0
Education and Training 3.8
Therapy and Counseling 3.8
Communications and Media 3.7
Psychology 3.7
Sociology and Anthropology 3.6
Personnel and Human Resources 3.5
Key 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.
- ▸ Prepare people for participation in religious ceremonies.
- ▸ Visit people in homes, hospitals, or prisons to provide them with comfort and support.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$37,860
25th Percentile
$48,260
Median
$60,810
75th Percentile
$76,640
90th Percentile
$98,890
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 52 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $80,830 | +33% above national |
| 2 | California | $77,710 | +28% above national |
| 3 | Nevada | $73,910 | +22% above national |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $72,190 | +19% above national |
| 5 | New Jersey | $65,500 | +8% above national |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $65,200 | +7% above national |
| 7 | Vermont | $64,950 | +7% above national |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $64,800 | +7% above national |
| 9 | Maine | $64,340 | +6% above national |
| 10 | New Mexico | $64,100 | +5% above national |
| 11 | Colorado | $63,700 | +5% above national |
| 12 | Connecticut | $63,470 | +4% above national |
| 13 | Delaware | $63,260 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Oregon | $63,140 | +4% above national |
| 15 | Arizona | $61,900 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Illinois | $61,820 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Maryland | $61,620 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Wyoming | $61,590 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Minnesota | $61,230 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Hawaii | $61,050 | same as national |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $60,950 | same as national |
| 22 | North Dakota | $60,680 | same as national |
| 23 | Iowa | $60,630 | same as national |
| 24 | Georgia | $60,530 | same as national |
| 25 | South Dakota | $59,860 | 2% below national |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $59,660 | 2% below national |
| 27 | North Carolina | $59,600 | 2% below national |
| 28 | Idaho | $59,570 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Montana | $59,550 | 2% below national |
| 30 | Texas | $59,480 | 2% below national |
| 31 | Ohio | $59,160 | 3% below national |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $59,110 | 3% below national |
| 33 | Indiana | $59,020 | 3% below national |
| 34 | Kentucky | $58,920 | 3% below national |
| 35 | Missouri | $58,740 | 3% below national |
| 36 | New York | $58,580 | 4% below national |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $58,300 | 4% below national |
| 38 | Nebraska | $57,520 | 5% below national |
| 39 | Tennessee | $57,260 | 6% below national |
| 40 | Florida | $56,940 | 6% below national |
| 41 | South Carolina | $56,630 | 7% below national |
| 42 | Michigan | $56,490 | 7% below national |
| 43 | Alaska | $55,780 | 8% below national |
| 44 | Virginia | $55,430 | 9% below national |
| 45 | Louisiana | $54,140 | 11% below national |
| 46 | Mississippi | $52,450 | 14% below national |
| 47 | Kansas | $52,130 | 14% below national |
| 48 | Alabama | $50,180 | 17% below national |
| 49 | Arkansas | $49,070 | 19% below national |
| 50 | West Virginia | $48,460 | 20% below national |
| 51 | Guam | $37,460 | 38% below national |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $28,880 | 53% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 292 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $84,050 | +38% above national |
| 2 | Bozeman, MT | $81,770 | +34% above national |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $81,750 | +34% above national |
| 4 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $81,280 | +34% above national |
| 5 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $80,760 | +33% above national |
| 6 | Vallejo, CA | $79,590 | +31% above national |
| 7 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $79,100 | +30% above national |
| 8 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,330 | +29% above national |
| 9 | Salem, OR | $78,220 | +29% above national |
| 10 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $77,510 | +27% above national |
| 11 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $77,450 | +27% above national |
| 12 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $77,420 | +27% above national |
| 13 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $77,050 | +27% above national |
| 14 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $77,030 | +27% above national |
| 15 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,720 | +26% above national |
| 16 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $76,280 | +25% above national |
| 17 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $75,020 | +23% above national |
| 18 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $74,800 | +23% above national |
| 19 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $74,580 | +23% above national |
| 20 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $73,770 | +21% above national |
| 21 | Salinas, CA | $73,770 | +21% above national |
| 22 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $73,160 | +20% above national |
| 23 | Worcester, MA | $72,300 | +19% above national |
| 24 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $71,710 | +18% above national |
| 25 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $71,210 | +17% above national |
| 26 | Corvallis, OR | $71,130 | +17% above national |
| 27 | Fresno, CA | $71,130 | +17% above national |
| 28 | Billings, MT | $70,660 | +16% above national |
| 29 | Waco, TX | $70,300 | +16% above national |
| 30 | Albuquerque, NM | $70,160 | +15% above national |
| 31 | Grants Pass, OR | $69,990 | +15% above national |
| 32 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $69,940 | +15% above national |
| 33 | Springfield, MA | $69,900 | +15% above national |
| 34 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $69,280 | +14% above national |
| 35 | Boulder, CO | $68,800 | +13% above national |
| 36 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $67,640 | +11% above national |
| 37 | St. Cloud, MN | $66,280 | +9% above national |
| 38 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $65,790 | +8% above national |
| 39 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $65,710 | +8% above national |
| 40 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $65,690 | +8% above national |
| 41 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $65,670 | +8% above national |
| 42 | Modesto, CA | $65,360 | +7% above national |
| 43 | New Haven, CT | $65,290 | +7% above national |
| 44 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $65,150 | +7% above national |
| 45 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $64,810 | +7% above national |
| 46 | Redding, CA | $64,640 | +6% above national |
| 47 | Visalia, CA | $64,240 | +6% above national |
| 48 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $64,060 | +5% above national |
| 49 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $63,990 | +5% above national |
| 50 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $63,430 | +4% above national |
| 51 | Rochester, MN | $63,430 | +4% above national |
| 52 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $63,190 | +4% above national |
| 53 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $63,070 | +4% above national |
| 54 | Boise City, ID | $63,040 | +4% above national |
| 55 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $63,000 | +4% above national |
| 56 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $62,950 | +4% above national |
| 57 | Elmira, NY | $62,780 | +3% above national |
| 58 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $62,760 | +3% above national |
| 59 | Fargo, ND-MN | $62,730 | +3% above national |
| 60 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $62,710 | +3% above national |
| 61 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $62,670 | +3% above national |
| 62 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $62,610 | +3% above national |
| 63 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $62,590 | +3% above national |
| 64 | Albany, OR | $62,540 | +3% above national |
| 65 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $62,540 | +3% above national |
| 66 | Tucson, AZ | $62,400 | +3% above national |
| 67 | Charlottesville, VA | $62,370 | +3% above national |
| 68 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $62,020 | +2% above national |
| 69 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $61,970 | +2% above national |
| 70 | Medford, OR | $61,860 | +2% above national |
| 71 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $61,860 | +2% above national |
| 72 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,820 | +2% above national |
| 73 | Green Bay, WI | $61,820 | +2% above national |
| 74 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $61,730 | +2% above national |
| 75 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $61,640 | +1% above national |
| 76 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $61,640 | +1% above national |
| 77 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $61,630 | +1% above national |
| 78 | Helena, MT | $61,520 | +1% above national |
| 79 | Rockford, IL | $61,510 | +1% above national |
| 80 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $61,430 | +1% above national |
| 81 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $61,410 | +1% above national |
| 82 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $61,390 | +1% above national |
| 83 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $61,350 | +1% above national |
| 84 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $61,170 | +1% above national |
| 85 | Winston-Salem, NC | $61,160 | +1% above national |
| 86 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $61,060 | same as national |
| 87 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $61,030 | same as national |
| 88 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $61,010 | same as national |
| 89 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $60,970 | same as national |
| 90 | Oklahoma City, OK | $60,910 | same as national |
| 91 | Madison, WI | $60,900 | same as national |
| 92 | Columbus, OH | $60,820 | same as national |
| 93 | Akron, OH | $60,810 | same as national |
| 94 | Asheville, NC | $60,790 | same as national |
| 95 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $60,760 | same as national |
| 96 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $60,740 | same as national |
| 97 | Missoula, MT | $60,730 | same as national |
| 98 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $60,720 | same as national |
| 99 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $60,690 | same as national |
| 100 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,540 | same as national |
| 101 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $60,520 | same as national |
| 102 | Utica-Rome, NY | $60,460 | 1% below national |
| 103 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $60,380 | 1% below national |
| 104 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $60,380 | 1% below national |
| 105 | Fort Wayne, IN | $60,360 | 1% below national |
| 106 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $60,340 | 1% below national |
| 107 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,290 | 1% below national |
| 108 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $60,230 | 1% below national |
| 109 | Richmond, VA | $60,190 | 1% below national |
| 110 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $60,170 | 1% below national |
| 111 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $60,130 | 1% below national |
| 112 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $60,100 | 1% below national |
| 113 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $60,040 | 1% below national |
| 114 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $59,990 | 1% below national |
| 115 | Amarillo, TX | $59,910 | 1% below national |
| 116 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $59,890 | 2% below national |
| 117 | San Angelo, TX | $59,870 | 2% below national |
| 118 | Bend, OR | $59,850 | 2% below national |
| 119 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $59,810 | 2% below national |
| 120 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $59,800 | 2% below national |
| 121 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $59,780 | 2% below national |
| 122 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $59,760 | 2% below national |
| 123 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $59,740 | 2% below national |
| 124 | Rochester, NY | $59,710 | 2% below national |
| 125 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $59,700 | 2% below national |
| 126 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $59,650 | 2% below national |
| 127 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $59,630 | 2% below national |
| 128 | Colorado Springs, CO | $59,620 | 2% below national |
| 129 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $59,610 | 2% below national |
| 130 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $59,570 | 2% below national |
| 131 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $59,530 | 2% below national |
| 132 | Lancaster, PA | $59,530 | 2% below national |
| 133 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $59,510 | 2% below national |
| 134 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $59,390 | 2% below national |
| 135 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $59,240 | 3% below national |
| 136 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $59,220 | 3% below national |
| 137 | Cleveland, OH | $59,210 | 3% below national |
| 138 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $59,200 | 3% below national |
| 139 | Great Falls, MT | $59,130 | 3% below national |
| 140 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $59,120 | 3% below national |
| 141 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $59,110 | 3% below national |
| 142 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $59,040 | 3% below national |
| 143 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $59,000 | 3% below national |
| 144 | Tulsa, OK | $59,000 | 3% below national |
| 145 | Reading, PA | $58,950 | 3% below national |
| 146 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $58,940 | 3% below national |
| 147 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $58,850 | 3% below national |
| 148 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $58,820 | 3% below national |
| 149 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $58,780 | 3% below national |
| 150 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $58,770 | 3% below national |
| 151 | Ithaca, NY | $58,750 | 3% below national |
| 152 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $58,660 | 4% below national |
| 153 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $58,610 | 4% below national |
| 154 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $58,470 | 4% below national |
| 155 | Evansville, IN | $58,430 | 4% below national |
| 156 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $58,400 | 4% below national |
| 157 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $58,290 | 4% below national |
| 158 | Anchorage, AK | $58,280 | 4% below national |
| 159 | Toledo, OH | $58,260 | 4% below national |
| 160 | Corpus Christi, TX | $58,210 | 4% below national |
| 161 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $58,210 | 4% below national |
| 162 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $58,210 | 4% below national |
| 163 | Omaha, NE-IA | $58,170 | 4% below national |
| 164 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $58,050 | 5% below national |
| 165 | Columbia, SC | $57,990 | 5% below national |
| 166 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $57,900 | 5% below national |
| 167 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $57,850 | 5% below national |
| 168 | Lubbock, TX | $57,820 | 5% below national |
| 169 | Morgantown, WV | $57,810 | 5% below national |
| 170 | Lincoln, NE | $57,790 | 5% below national |
| 171 | Pittsburgh, PA | $57,720 | 5% below national |
| 172 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $57,710 | 5% below national |
| 173 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $57,580 | 5% below national |
| 174 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $57,480 | 5% below national |
| 175 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $57,430 | 6% below national |
| 176 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $57,380 | 6% below national |
| 177 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $57,320 | 6% below national |
| 178 | Columbus, GA-AL | $57,210 | 6% below national |
| 179 | Wilmington, NC | $57,190 | 6% below national |
| 180 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $57,160 | 6% below national |
| 181 | Knoxville, TN | $57,140 | 6% below national |
| 182 | Jackson, MS | $57,110 | 6% below national |
| 183 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $57,060 | 6% below national |
| 184 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $56,970 | 6% below national |
| 185 | Baton Rouge, LA | $56,810 | 7% below national |
| 186 | Bay City, MI | $56,810 | 7% below national |
| 187 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $56,810 | 7% below national |
| 188 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $56,760 | 7% below national |
| 189 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $56,490 | 7% below national |
| 190 | El Paso, TX | $56,450 | 7% below national |
| 191 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $56,420 | 7% below national |
| 192 | Spartanburg, SC | $56,400 | 7% below national |
| 193 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $56,360 | 7% below national |
| 194 | Jacksonville, FL | $56,330 | 7% below national |
| 195 | Gainesville, FL | $56,270 | 7% below national |
| 196 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $56,240 | 8% below national |
| 197 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $56,100 | 8% below national |
| 198 | Peoria, IL | $56,080 | 8% below national |
| 199 | Saginaw, MI | $55,970 | 8% below national |
| 200 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $55,950 | 8% below national |
| 201 | Fayetteville, NC | $55,540 | 9% below national |
| 202 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $55,540 | 9% below national |
| 203 | Kingston, NY | $55,380 | 9% below national |
| 204 | Columbia, MO | $55,280 | 9% below national |
| 205 | Greenville, NC | $55,280 | 9% below national |
| 206 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $55,110 | 9% below national |
| 207 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $55,070 | 9% below national |
| 208 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $55,000 | 10% below national |
| 209 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $54,990 | 10% below national |
| 210 | Jackson, MI | $54,870 | 10% below national |
| 211 | Wichita, KS | $54,870 | 10% below national |
| 212 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $54,840 | 10% below national |
| 213 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $54,610 | 10% below national |
| 214 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $54,600 | 10% below national |
| 215 | Huntsville, AL | $54,550 | 10% below national |
| 216 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $54,360 | 11% below national |
| 217 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $54,350 | 11% below national |
| 218 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $54,140 | 11% below national |
| 219 | Ann Arbor, MI | $54,000 | 11% below national |
| 220 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $53,870 | 11% below national |
| 221 | Duluth, MN-WI | $53,770 | 12% below national |
| 222 | Savannah, GA | $53,650 | 12% below national |
| 223 | Traverse City, MI | $53,640 | 12% below national |
| 224 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $53,540 | 12% below national |
| 225 | Johnson City, TN | $53,390 | 12% below national |
| 226 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $53,340 | 12% below national |
| 227 | Roanoke, VA | $53,130 | 13% below national |
| 228 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $53,040 | 13% below national |
| 229 | Bloomington, IL | $52,650 | 13% below national |
| 230 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $52,420 | 14% below national |
| 231 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $52,410 | 14% below national |
| 232 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $52,220 | 14% below national |
| 233 | Birmingham, AL | $52,190 | 14% below national |
| 234 | Topeka, KS | $52,170 | 14% below national |
| 235 | Springfield, MO | $52,130 | 14% below national |
| 236 | Springfield, IL | $52,070 | 14% below national |
| 237 | Binghamton, NY | $51,990 | 15% below national |
| 238 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $51,790 | 15% below national |
| 239 | Hattiesburg, MS | $51,670 | 15% below national |
| 240 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $51,670 | 15% below national |
| 241 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $51,540 | 15% below national |
| 242 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $51,320 | 16% below national |
| 243 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $50,900 | 16% below national |
| 244 | Montgomery, AL | $50,860 | 16% below national |
| 245 | Altoona, PA | $50,830 | 16% below national |
| 246 | Tyler, TX | $50,800 | 16% below national |
| 247 | Lebanon, PA | $50,560 | 17% below national |
| 248 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $50,540 | 17% below national |
| 249 | Charleston, WV | $50,520 | 17% below national |
| 250 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $50,500 | 17% below national |
| 251 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $50,410 | 17% below national |
| 252 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $50,330 | 17% below national |
| 253 | York-Hanover, PA | $50,200 | 17% below national |
| 254 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $49,980 | 18% below national |
| 255 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $49,960 | 18% below national |
| 256 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $49,890 | 18% below national |
| 257 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $49,880 | 18% below national |
| 258 | Mobile, AL | $49,850 | 18% below national |
| 259 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $49,850 | 18% below national |
| 260 | Glens Falls, NY | $49,800 | 18% below national |
| 261 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $49,800 | 18% below national |
| 262 | Flint, MI | $49,460 | 19% below national |
| 263 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,420 | 19% below national |
| 264 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $49,410 | 19% below national |
| 265 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $49,330 | 19% below national |
| 266 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $49,160 | 19% below national |
| 267 | Syracuse, NY | $48,770 | 20% below national |
| 268 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $47,750 | 21% below national |
| 269 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $47,600 | 22% below national |
| 270 | Tallahassee, FL | $47,580 | 22% below national |
| 271 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $47,430 | 22% below national |
| 272 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $47,390 | 22% below national |
| 273 | Abilene, TX | $47,380 | 22% below national |
| 274 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $46,860 | 23% below national |
| 275 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $46,400 | 24% below national |
| 276 | Lafayette, LA | $45,760 | 25% below national |
| 277 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $45,590 | 25% below national |
| 278 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $45,570 | 25% below national |
| 279 | Midland, MI | $45,450 | 25% below national |
| 280 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $45,270 | 26% below national |
| 281 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $44,410 | 27% below national |
| 282 | Ocala, FL | $44,280 | 27% below national |
| 283 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $44,280 | 27% below national |
| 284 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $44,280 | 27% below national |
| 285 | Erie, PA | $44,040 | 28% below national |
| 286 | Lynchburg, VA | $43,990 | 28% below national |
| 287 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $43,650 | 28% below national |
| 288 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $41,910 | 31% below national |
| 289 | Johnstown, PA | $41,760 | 31% below national |
| 290 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $37,390 | 39% below national |
| 291 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $36,160 | 41% below national |
| 292 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $29,580 | 51% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 21 (community and social service) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Clergy make? ▼
The median annual salary for Clergy is $60,810 ($29.24/hour). The salary range spans from $37,860 at the 10th percentile to $98,890 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Clergy the most? ▼
Washington pays the highest median salary for Clergy at $80,830/year, which is +33% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Clergy? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Clergy is Bachelor's degree. On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
How dangerous is being a Clergy? ▼
Clergy has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.3 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.5 per 100 workers.
Is Clergy a good career? ▼
Employment for Clergy is projected to grow 1% from 2024 to 2034, which is slower than average. About 23,000 openings are projected each year.
How does Clergy pay vary by state? ▼
Clergy salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Washington at $80,830/year, while Alabama pays the least at $50,180/year. BLS data covers 52 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Clergy? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Clergy is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $84,050/year. BLS reports wage data for 292 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Clergy pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $76,640/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Washington leads at $80,830/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.