Lead worship, offer spiritual guidance, perform ceremonies, and support a congregation through life's milestones.
You may also see this posted as: Minister, Pastor, Priest, Rector, Bishop, Chaplain.
Churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples
Weekends, evenings, and on-call needs
Social
helping, teaching, caring for, or supporting other people
Enterprising
leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action
Artistic
creating, designing, performing, or working without a rigid script
O*NET job zone 5 of 5
Extensive preparation—often graduate education and significant experience—is common.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 5.7% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Bachelor's degree
Training path: Ordination and training.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
Ordination comes from a religious body, not a state license.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
A calling first and a job second — leading a congregation's worship, guidance, and community care.
Run the Reality Check — build the life you want and see the salary it takes, then compare it to this one.
Browse verified internships, fellowships, and programs — many paid — that lead into fields like this.
Free resume templates, interview practice, and getting-hired guides in the Careers kit.
Standard Occupational Classification 21-2011. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.