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Clergy

$60,820
median pay per year
full range coming in the next data update

What the job actually is

Lead worship, offer spiritual guidance, perform ceremonies, and support a congregation through life's milestones.

Where you work

Churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples

The hours

Weekends, evenings, and on-call needs

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$60,820
per year
What most earn
range coming soon
Openings a year
~23,000
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+1%
Little change
Working in the U.S.
262,000
people, nationwide

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.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Bachelor's degree

Training path: Ordination and training.

License or certification

Ordination comes from a religious body, not a state license.

What it takes

Public speakingCounselingEmpathyCommunity leadership

The honest take

A calling first and a job second — leading a congregation's worship, guidance, and community care.

Standard Occupational Classification 21-2011. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.