Clergy: Career Overview
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.
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The Daily Work of Clergy Do?
Typical responsibilities of clergy cover:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective clergy rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Administrator Pastor
- Bishop
- Brother
- Campus Minister
- Campus Pastor
- Cantor
- Catechist
- Catholic Priest
How Many Clergy Are There?
There are roughly 34,209 clergy working in the United States today. Employment is projected to decline by -3.3% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Clergy Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $49,854 |
| Hourly median | $23.97 |
| 10th percentile | $29,141 |
| 25th percentile | $39,497 |
| 75th percentile | $60,211 |
| 90th percentile | $70,567 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Clergy Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $77,850 |
| Washington | $77,530 |
| Virgin Islands | $75,600 |
| Nevada | $70,150 |
| Massachusetts | $67,830 |
| Vermont | $66,860 |
| New Hampshire | $66,670 |
| Georgia | $65,510 |
| Minnesota | $65,350 |
| Connecticut | $65,040 |
| District of Columbia | $64,990 |
| Hawaii | $64,010 |
| Colorado | $63,980 |
| Wyoming | $63,860 |
| New Jersey | $63,530 |
| Oregon | $63,370 |
| Maine | $63,180 |
| Wisconsin | $62,770 |
| Arizona | $62,380 |
| Rhode Island | $62,340 |
| Idaho | $61,420 |
| Delaware | $61,250 |
| Illinois | $60,290 |
| Missouri | $59,980 |
| Texas | $59,550 |
| North Carolina | $59,530 |
| Florida | $59,430 |
| Iowa | $59,270 |
| Ohio | $59,220 |
| South Carolina | $59,170 |
| New York | $58,980 |
| Montana | $58,970 |
| Kentucky | $58,610 |
| North Dakota | $58,140 |
| Maryland | $58,030 |
| Kansas | $57,610 |
| Indiana | $57,580 |
| New Mexico | $57,490 |
| Louisiana | $57,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,540 |
| Oklahoma | $56,480 |
| Virginia | $56,170 |
| South Dakota | $55,080 |
| Alaska | $55,040 |
| Michigan | $54,160 |
| Nebraska | $53,550 |
| Tennessee | $51,580 |
| Arkansas | $51,240 |
| Mississippi | $50,500 |
| Alabama | $50,050 |
| West Virginia | $36,600 |
| Guam | $34,440 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,770 |
Where Clergy Earn the Most
Pay for clergy differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $71,742 | 21.5% | 2.69 |
| New England | $65,866 | 3.7% | 0.91 |
| Rocky Mountains | $61,021 | 2.5% | 2.42 |
| Plains States | $60,579 | 5.0% | 0.74 |
| Southwest | $59,979 | 7.6% | 0.71 |
| Middle Atlantic | $59,002 | 24.7% | 2.00 |
| Great Lakes | $58,337 | 14.9% | 1.09 |
| Southeast | $57,364 | 19.6% | 0.81 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Clergy
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $92,860 | 290 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $83,550 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $83,210 | 870 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | CA | $80,370 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $79,590 | 510 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $78,790 | 2,100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $78,280 | 440 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | CA | $77,370 | 70 |
Which Industries Hire Clergy
The largest employers of clergy are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 27,840 | $58,550 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 21,830 | $62,500 |
| Educational Services | 3,820 | $56,450 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 760 | $64,120 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 230 | $59,190 |
| Manufacturing | 140 | $70,290 |
| Information | 130 | $61,520 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 40 | $80,460 |
Clergy work in the following industries:
Software Clergy Use
- Web page creation and editing software: Facebook (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for clergy tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Freedom to Make Decisions
How to Become Clergy
Most clergy positions require a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Primary-Short)
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (Supplemental)
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors (Primary-Short)
- Marriage and Family Therapists (Primary-Long)
- Mental Health Counselors (Supplemental)
- Rehabilitation Counselors (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Future clergy typically earn programs in:
Theology and Religious Vocations
8 programs across 2 majors
Health Professions and Related Programs
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 21-2011.00 (Clergy).
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