Clergy Salary in Boston, MA
Clergy in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $73,160 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,860 take-home, or $4,738 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median clergy salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,265
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,536
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,061
- Massachusetts income tax$3,438
- Take-home pay$56,860
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Clergy pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,000 | $25.00 | $41,582 | $3,465 |
| 25th percentile | $62,210 | $29.91 | $49,275 | $4,106 |
| Median (50th) | $73,160 | $35.17 | $56,860 | $4,738 |
| 75th percentile | $78,530 | $37.75 | $60,369 | $5,031 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,070 | $47.63 | $73,792 | $6,149 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,160 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median clergy's $56,860 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,519 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Clergy jobs are less concentrated in Boston, MA than nationally (location quotient 0.62), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for clergy, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #5 of 24 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $81,750 | $66,341 | $59,695 |
| 2 | Riverside, CA | $78,330 | $59,862 | $56,239 |
| 3 | San Diego, CA | $77,450 | $59,325 | $53,023 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $60,820 | $50,159 | $52,539 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $73,160 | $56,860 | $52,519 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $61,010 | $51,202 | $51,913 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $65,150 | $51,770 | $51,740 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $60,290 | $48,727 | $51,244 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 24 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a clergy make in Boston, MA?
The median clergy salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $73,160 a year, or about $35.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,210 and $78,530.
What is a clergy’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $73,160 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $56,860 a year ($4,738 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,438 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a clergy?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $60,810. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,519 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #5 of 24 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a clergy afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 48% of a median clergy’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist — $98,100
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $80,760
- Healthcare Social Worker — $78,410
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $77,420
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker — $63,830
- Health Education Specialist — $62,260
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $62,130
- Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other — $59,890
- Community Health Worker — $56,920
- Social and Human Service Assistant — $47,530
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $47,440