Clergy
SOC 21-2011 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Clergy is $58,920, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $63,720, and an estimated 56,640 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +13.4% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -3.6% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 1% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Clergy has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $58,920 | $58,920 | 56,640 |
| 2022 | $55,550 | $57,837 | 53,140 |
| 2021 | $49,720 | $55,909 | 50,790 |
| 2020 | $51,940 | $61,150 | 52,260 |
Nominal change
+13.4%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-3.6%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+1%
About average
Employment 2024
262,000
Projected 2034
264,600
Annual Openings
23,000
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Clergy earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $58,920. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $75,060 | +27.4% | 6,360 |
| Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $75,050 | +27.4% | 160 |
| Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $73,360 | +24.5% | 30 |
| New Jersey | $72,350 | +22.8% | 1,390 |
| Washington | $70,820 | +20.2% | 880 |
| Massachusetts | $68,080 | +15.5% | 770 |
| Nevada | $66,370 | +12.6% | 160 |
| Hawaii | $64,430 | +9.4% | 480 |
| Arizona | $64,020 | +8.7% | 1,400 |
| New Hampshire | $64,020 | +8.7% | 90 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$35,400
25th Pct
$45,540
Median
$58,920
75th Pct
$74,620
90th Pct
$96,600
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSF Healthcare System | IL | 2 | $40,410 |
| Emory University | GA | 2 | $63,495 |
| Fathers of St. Charles | MO | 1 | $31,836 |
| Dallas County Hospital District | TX | 1 | $57,500 |
| SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY | CT | 1 | $57,500 |
| ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PATERSON | NJ | 1 | $35,000 |
| Catholic Diocese of Youngstown | OH | 1 | $36,712 |
| Rohnert Park Chinese Christian Church | CA | 1 | $75,774 |
| Center Church Lake County NFP | IL | 1 | $45,000 |
| Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston | TX | 1 | $37,419 |
| Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus | OH | 1 | $43,218 |
| Illinois Conference of Seventh-day Adventists | IL | 1 | $69,552 |
| Royal Wine Corp | CA | 1 | $55,400 |
| St. John's Church | NY | 1 | $106,212 |
| EPARCHY OF OUR LADY OF LEBANON OF LOS ANGELES | OK | 1 | $37,565 |
| THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF VICTORIA IN TEXAS | TX | 1 | $34,000 |
| Saint Anselm College | NH | 1 | $47,000 |
| Full Gospel San Francisco Church | CA | 1 | $47,691 |
| Lawrence University of Wisconsin | WI | 1 | $53,951 |
| Arkansas-Louisiana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists | LA | 1 | $73,464 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Community & Social Service
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.