Clergy Career, Salary and Skills
Clergy have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $60,810 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 57,200. Wage data is published for 273 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
21-2011.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Master's Degree
Experience
Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
National salary and employment
Median annual
$60,810
Hourly median
$29.24
Employment
57,200
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.75 | 4.75 |
| Active Listening | 4.25 | 4.62 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.12 | 5.00 |
| Instructing | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Service Orientation | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Writing | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.75 |
| Persuasion | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Time Management | 3.88 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- Study and interpret religious laws, doctrines, or traditions.
- 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.
- Plan or lead religious education programs.
Technology
- Email software
- Event scheduling software
- GroupMe
- Membership databases
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Web browser software
Clergy salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Clergy Salary in NYMedian $58,580 · Employment 7,790
- Clergy Salary in CAMedian $77,710 · Employment 7,110
- Clergy Salary in New York, NYMedian $61,860 · Employment 6,110
- Clergy Salary in ORMedian $63,140 · Employment 3,850
- Clergy Salary in FLMedian $56,940 · Employment 3,560
- Clergy Salary in TXMedian $59,480 · Employment 3,180
- Clergy Salary in ILMedian $61,820 · Employment 2,200
- Clergy Salary in PAMedian $58,300 · Employment 2,150
- Clergy Salary in OHMedian $59,160 · Employment 2,020
- Clergy Salary in MIMedian $56,490 · Employment 1,880
- Clergy Salary in Portland, ORMedian $65,710 · Employment 1,750
- Clergy Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $61,820 · Employment 1,690
Related careers
- Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsNational median $100,580
- Health Education SpecialistsNational median $64,070
- Mental Health CounselorsNational median not published
- Social Work Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $77,570
- Rehabilitation CounselorsNational median $46,850
- Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral ArrangersNational median $55,010
- Education Teachers, PostsecondaryNational median $75,350
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryNational median $105,870
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.