Clergy Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for clergy in the U.S. is $60,810 ($29.24 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $60,810
- Mean annual wage
- $66,860
- Median hourly wage
- $29.24
- Employment
- 57,200
57,200 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,860 | $18.20 |
| 25th percentile | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| Median (50th) | $60,810 | $29.24 |
| 75th percentile | $76,640 | $36.85 |
| 90th percentile | $98,890 | $47.54 |
Highest-paying states for clergy
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $80,830 | 1,060 |
| California | $77,710 | 7,110 |
| Nevada | $73,910 | 210 |
| Massachusetts | $72,190 | 840 |
| New Jersey | $65,500 | 1,460 |
| New Hampshire | $65,200 | 100 |
| Vermont | $64,950 | 50 |
| District of Columbia | $64,800 | 310 |
| Maine | $64,340 | 160 |
| New Mexico | $64,100 | 270 |
Lowest-paying states
- West Virginia: $48,460 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $49,070 median annual wage
- Alabama: $50,180 median annual wage
- Kansas: $52,130 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $52,450 median annual wage
About this occupation
Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. Provide spiritual and moral guidance and assistance to members.
Typical tasks
- Prepare people for participation in religious ceremonies.
- Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching.
- Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
- Counsel individuals or groups concerning their spiritual, emotional, or personal needs.
- Participate in fundraising activities to support congregational activities or facilities.
- Organize or engage in interfaith, community, civic, educational, or recreational activities sponsored by or related to religious programs.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 2.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 6.8% |
| Some college, no degree | 10.2% |
| Associate's degree | 4.8% |
| Bachelor's degree | 26.3% |
| Master's degree | 34.4% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 15.3% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.