Clergy Salary
Clergy earn a median $60,810 a year nationally. Community and Social Service Occupations
U.S. median
$60,810
$29.24 per hour
Range
$37,860 – $98,890
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
57,200
across the U.S.
Clergy take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$51,041
per year · effective tax rate 16.1%
$4,253Monthly
$2,127Twice a month
$1,963Every 2 weeks
$24.54Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,117
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,770
- Medicare (1.45%)$882
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$51,041
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,860 | $18.20 | $32,601 |
| 25th percentile | $48,260 | $23.20 | $40,957 |
| Median (50th) | $60,810 | $29.24 | $51,041 |
| 75th percentile | $76,640 | $36.85 | $62,746 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,890 | $47.54 | $78,399 |
Best cities for clergy (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $81,750 | $66,341 | $59,695 | 740 |
| 2 | Riverside, CA | $78,330 | $59,862 | $56,239 | 450 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $77,450 | $59,325 | $53,023 | 560 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $60,820 | $50,159 | $52,539 | 450 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $73,160 | $56,860 | $52,519 | 620 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $61,010 | $51,202 | $51,913 | 670 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $65,150 | $51,770 | $51,740 | 720 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $60,290 | $48,727 | $51,244 | 440 |
| 9 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,430 | $51,199 | $49,924 | 950 |
| 10 | San Francisco, CA | $74,580 | $57,573 | $49,798 | 1,130 |
| 11 | Phoenix, AZ | $63,000 | $51,434 | $49,783 | 890 |
| 12 | Tampa, FL | $59,610 | $50,077 | $49,635 | 550 |
| 13 | Rochester, NY | $59,710 | $47,530 | $48,982 | 470 |
| 14 | Dallas, TX | $60,040 | $50,422 | $48,911 | 920 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $64,060 | $50,820 | $48,482 | 770 |
| 16 | Orlando, FL | $57,850 | $48,662 | $47,982 | 480 |
| 17 | Detroit, MI | $59,890 | $48,007 | $47,864 | 600 |
| 18 | Portland, OR | $65,710 | $50,058 | $47,484 | 1,750 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $61,820 | $48,937 | $47,239 | 1,690 |
| 20 | Buffalo, NY | $55,070 | $44,052 | $45,962 | 600 |
| 21 | Washington, DC | $61,170 | $48,801 | $44,819 | 850 |
| 22 | New York, NY | $61,860 | $49,141 | $43,657 | 6,110 |
| 23 | Miami, FL | $58,470 | $49,161 | $43,065 | 990 |
| 24 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $60,540 | $47,753 | $43,036 | 540 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Seattle, WA — $81,750
- Riverside, CA — $78,330
- San Diego, CA — $77,450
- San Francisco, CA — $74,580
- Boston, MA — $73,160
- Portland, OR — $65,710
- Atlanta, GA — $65,150
- Minneapolis, MN — $64,060
- Philadelphia, PA — $63,430
- Phoenix, AZ — $63,000
- New York, NY — $61,860
- Chicago, IL — $61,820
- Washington, DC — $61,170
- Houston, TX — $61,010
- Columbus, OH — $60,820
Clergy salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $80,830 | $65,694 | $45,630 – $108,200 | 1,060 |
| California | $77,710 | $59,484 | $42,690 – $157,030 | 7,110 |
| Nevada | $73,910 | $60,826 | $51,070 – $82,810 | 210 |
| Massachusetts | $72,190 | $56,226 | $51,600 – $98,650 | 840 |
| New Jersey | $65,500 | $52,738 | $39,540 – $93,780 | 1,460 |
| New Hampshire | $65,200 | $54,568 | $51,480 – $81,160 | 100 |
| Vermont | $64,950 | $52,541 | $54,390 – $80,540 | 50 |
| District of Columbia | $64,800 | $51,481 | $40,600 – $99,270 | 310 |
| Maine | $64,340 | $50,716 | $47,390 – $74,030 | 160 |
| New Mexico | $64,100 | $51,837 | $47,050 – $85,280 | 270 |
| Colorado | $63,700 | $51,269 | $50,750 – $82,410 | 440 |
| Connecticut | $63,470 | $51,247 | $44,390 – $100,460 | 900 |
| Delaware | $63,260 | $50,175 | $51,270 – $78,150 | 120 |
| Oregon | $63,140 | $48,218 | $37,970 – $99,960 | 3,850 |
| Arizona | $61,900 | $50,578 | $44,440 – $102,290 | 1,070 |
| Illinois | $61,820 | $48,937 | $36,760 – $86,390 | 2,200 |
| Maryland | $61,620 | $49,128 | $36,450 – $104,330 | 670 |
| Wyoming | $61,590 | $51,668 | $40,910 – $78,850 | 40 |
| Minnesota | $61,230 | $48,738 | $38,350 – $79,000 | 1,160 |
| Hawaii | $61,050 | $48,124 | $46,710 – $90,270 | 720 |
| Wisconsin | $60,950 | $49,253 | $47,320 – $80,770 | 770 |
| North Dakota | $60,680 | $50,936 | $35,740 – $86,840 | 120 |
| Iowa | $60,630 | $49,244 | $46,920 – $73,340 | 370 |
| Georgia | $60,530 | $48,297 | $35,260 – $85,530 | 1,380 |
| South Dakota | $59,860 | $50,278 | $37,890 – $75,500 | 140 |
| Rhode Island | $59,660 | $48,496 | $34,180 – $88,420 | 230 |
| North Carolina | $59,600 | $48,199 | $39,880 – $82,350 | 1,430 |
| Idaho | $59,570 | $47,996 | $32,310 – $77,740 | 150 |
| Montana | $59,550 | $47,986 | $35,050 – $96,460 | 680 |
| Texas | $59,480 | $49,972 | $37,220 – $84,940 | 3,180 |
| Ohio | $59,160 | $48,871 | $36,910 – $79,180 | 2,020 |
| Oklahoma | $59,110 | $47,560 | $40,150 – $79,860 | 510 |
| Indiana | $59,020 | $47,891 | $37,860 – $77,670 | 1,060 |
| Kentucky | $58,920 | $47,578 | $40,640 – $80,630 | 410 |
| Missouri | $58,740 | $47,554 | $44,260 – $77,940 | 920 |
| New York | $58,580 | $46,683 | $38,780 – $129,200 | 7,790 |
| Pennsylvania | $58,300 | $47,234 | $31,580 – $81,360 | 2,150 |
| Nebraska | $57,520 | $46,660 | $45,920 – $67,230 | 270 |
| Tennessee | $57,260 | $48,188 | $41,600 – $73,920 | 710 |
| Florida | $56,940 | $47,931 | $35,950 – $88,560 | 3,560 |
| South Carolina | $56,630 | $45,442 | $42,110 – $79,950 | 450 |
| Michigan | $56,490 | $45,420 | $36,730 – $74,470 | 1,880 |
| Alaska | $55,780 | $46,999 | $35,910 – $76,820 | 150 |
| Virginia | $55,430 | $44,345 | $32,710 – $81,680 | 1,220 |
| Louisiana | $54,140 | $44,444 | $31,270 – $75,490 | 400 |
| Mississippi | $52,450 | $42,958 | $35,030 – $85,810 | 250 |
| Kansas | $52,130 | $41,957 | $29,060 – $68,250 | 450 |
| Alabama | $50,180 | $40,256 | $38,480 – $71,650 | 850 |
| Arkansas | $49,070 | $39,907 | $30,070 – $78,850 | 350 |
| West Virginia | $48,460 | $39,665 | $36,600 – $63,770 | 290 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a clergy make?
The national median salary for clergy is $60,810 a year ($29.24 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,860 and the top 10% earn over $98,890. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays clergy the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $80,830. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many clergy are there in the U.S.?
About 57,200 people work as clergy nationwide.