Clergy Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Bachelor's and master's degrees are available in Theology and Religious Studies.
Training and Education
Expect to get a master's degree for this occupation. The share of employees with a bachelor's degree or higher is 75%. About 17% of clergy got additional education after high school, but did not have to get a college degree. There was no need to go beyond high school for 9% of workers.
Job Overview
Clergy lead worship and offer spiritual and moral guidance and other types of assistance. They perform religious ceremonies such as weddings, birth, funerals and coming of age rituals. They also work with community leaders on nonreligious issues such as fundraising activities. Clergy professionals include ministers, pastors, priests, imams and rabbis.
Job Requirements
Each religion has requirements and processes for appointing members of the clergy. Most clergy have, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree and many have a master's degree in Theology or Religious Studies. Clergy also thoroughly study the relevant sacred texts. They need to be very knowledgeable of the beliefs and rites of their group.
Nature of Work
- Instruct people that seek conversion to a particular faith
- Read from sacred text to the congregation
- Organize and lead religious services
- Administer religious ordnances or rites
- Provide counseling to groups and individuals regarding their spiritual, personal and emotional needs
Area Job Conditions
Salem (Oregon), Corvallis (Oregon), and Eugene (Oregon) boast the most employees for their size population. Austin (Texas), Albuquerque (New Mexico), and Las Vegas (Nevada) have the fewest.
The highest salaries for clergy are in and around Santa Barbara (California), New Haven (Connecticut), and San Francisco (California). The lowest-paying areas are Lansing (Michigan), Bakersfield (California), and Gary (Indiana).
Part-Time and Self Employment
It is estimated that 10% of clergy work less than full time.
Career Videos
Clergy by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $44,000 | 150 | +2% |
| Mobile | $40,000 | 40 | -21% |
| Montgomery | $36,000 | 40 | -15% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $39,000 | 70 | +46% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $40,000 | 510 | -4% |
| Tucson | $47,000 | 90 | -11% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $43,000 | 60 | -41% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield | $46,000 | 70 | -8% |
| Fresno | $57,000 | 90 | -4% |
| Los Angeles | $71,000 | 940 | -23% |
| Modesto | $48,000 | 50 | +13% |
| Oakland | $53,000 | 220 | -27% |
| Oxnard | $61,000 | 70 | -20% |
| Riverside | $62,000 | 600 | +66% |
| Sacramento | $53,000 | 190 | -27% |
| San Diego | $52,000 | 400 | +2% |
| San Francisco | $62,000 | 520 | +75% |
| San Jose | $50,000 | 210 | -22% |
| San Luis Obispo | $50,000 | 40 | +56% |
| Santa Ana | $64,000 | 420 | -4% |
| Santa Barbara | $71,000 | 30 | -38% |
| Santa Cruz | $60,000 | 80 | +234% |
| Santa Rosa | $57,000 | 30 | -40% |
| Stockton | $56,000 | 70 | +15% |
| Visalia | $50,000 | 60 | +57% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $37,000 | 60 | -19% |
| Denver | $50,000 | 290 | -23% |
| Fort Collins | $44,000 | 30 | -15% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $54,000 | 60 | -53% |
| Hartford | $46,000 | 110 | -36% |
| New Haven | $58,000 | 120 | +50% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $54,000 | 40 | -58% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $47,000 | 660 | -10% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $38,000 | 60 | +7% |
| Deltona | $35,000 | 60 | +37% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $43,000 | 220 | +5% |
| Jacksonville | $50,000 | 110 | -39% |
| Lakeland | $42,000 | 70 | +28% |
| Miami | $54,000 | 290 | -1% |
| Ocala | $41,000 | 30 | +24% |
| Orlando | $46,000 | 240 | -21% |
| Palm Bay | $40,000 | 60 | +5% |
| Pensacola | $42,000 | 120 | +183% |
| Port St Lucie | $41,000 | 40 | +19% |
| Sarasota | $47,000 | 70 | -3% |
| Tallahassee | $39,000 | 60 | +30% |
| Tampa | $40,000 | 330 | -4% |
| West Palm Beach | $49,000 | 240 | +56% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $52,000 | 300 | -57% |
| Columbus | $40,000 | 40 | +29% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $43,000 | 550 | +321% |
Idaho
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | $47,000 | 50 | -35% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $45,000 | 1,190 | +5% |
| Peoria | $42,000 | 30 | -39% |
| Rockford | $39,000 | 40 | +0% |
| Springfield | $39,000 | 40 | +33% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $54,000 | 60 | +22% |
| Fort Wayne | $39,000 | 60 | +1% |
| Gary | $32,000 | 170 | +115% |
| Indianapolis | $48,000 | 280 | +4% |
| South Bend | $44,000 | 30 | -18% |
| Terre Haute | $58,000 | 30 | +63% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $43,000 | 30 | -24% |
| Davenport | $40,000 | 40 | -26% |
| Des Moines | $44,000 | 80 | -18% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $50,000 | 30 | -3% |
| Wichita | $44,000 | 40 | -53% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $51,000 | 40 | -43% |
| Louisville | $47,000 | 110 | -39% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $37,000 | 70 | -37% |
| New Orleans | $39,000 | 110 | -30% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $42,000 | 220 | -44% |
| Hagerstown | $48,000 | 40 | +49% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $54,000 | 320 | -39% |
| Springfield | $52,000 | 70 | -20% |
| Worcester | $54,000 | 40 | -46% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $68,000 | 70 | +46% |
| Detroit | $46,000 | 300 | +50% |
| Grand Rapids | $36,000 | 170 | +52% |
| Kalamazoo | $39,000 | 50 | +30% |
| Lansing | $33,000 | 90 | +56% |
| Niles | $38,000 | 40 | +160% |
| Saginaw | $45,000 | 80 | +256% |
| Warren | $41,000 | 540 | +67% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $46,000 | 50 | +36% |
| Minneapolis | $42,000 | 430 | -20% |
| Rochester | 30 | +5% | |
| St Cloud | $49,000 | 40 | +51% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $47,000 | 210 | -31% |
| St Louis | $46,000 | 320 | -20% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | $41,000 | 50 | +438% |
| Missoula | $44,000 | 100 | +626% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $45,000 | 50 | +9% |
| Omaha | $45,000 | 130 | -7% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $61,000 | 60 | -76% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden | $50,000 | 100 | -36% |
| Edison | $59,000 | 200 | -35% |
| Newark | $47,000 | 220 | -27% |
| Trenton | $58,000 | 80 | +21% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $28,000 | 80 | -30% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $50,000 | 520 | +288% |
| Binghamton | $54,000 | 100 | +216% |
| Buffalo | $47,000 | 760 | +361% |
| Elmira | $44,000 | 40 | +312% |
| Glens Falls | $44,000 | 50 | +263% |
| Ithaca | $38,000 | 30 | +185% |
| Kingston | $45,000 | 50 | +210% |
| Nassau | $55,000 | 940 | +147% |
| New York | $58,000 | 4,600 | +193% |
| Poughkeepsie | $53,000 | 210 | +191% |
| Rochester | $55,000 | 560 | +271% |
| Syracuse | $46,000 | 330 | +257% |
| Utica | $56,000 | 110 | +211% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville | $49,000 | 70 | +37% |
| Charlotte | $48,000 | 160 | -38% |
| Durham | $46,000 | 70 | -14% |
| Greensboro | $33,000 | 60 | -43% |
| Raleigh | $46,000 | 90 | -42% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | $41,000 | 50 | -47% |
| Canton | $39,000 | 40 | -17% |
| Cincinnati | $39,000 | 310 | +2% |
| Cleveland | $46,000 | 160 | -48% |
| Columbus | $50,000 | 160 | -42% |
| Dayton | $48,000 | 170 | +50% |
| Toledo | $36,000 | 150 | +73% |
| Youngstown | $49,000 | 80 | +21% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $42,000 | 230 | +33% |
| Tulsa | $40,000 | 80 | -37% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bend | $46,000 | 120 | +609% |
| Corvallis | $46,000 | 90 | +1260% |
| Eugene | $52,000 | 390 | +873% |
| Medford | $44,000 | 270 | +1177% |
| Portland | $57,000 | 1,480 | +382% |
| Salem | $51,000 | 330 | +673% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | $42,000 | 140 | +37% |
| Harrisburg | $39,000 | 90 | -5% |
| Lancaster | $41,000 | 80 | +16% |
| Philadelphia | $45,000 | 620 | +8% |
| Pittsburgh | $34,000 | 300 | -13% |
| Scranton | $43,000 | 80 | +4% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $43,000 | 190 | +14% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $46,000 | 70 | -17% |
| Columbia | $42,000 | 180 | +74% |
| Greenville | $38,000 | 80 | -9% |
South Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $41,000 | 60 | +51% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $44,000 | 60 | -10% |
| Knoxville | $43,000 | 80 | -19% |
| Memphis | $47,000 | 140 | -24% |
| Nashville | $48,000 | 90 | -59% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene | $30,000 | 30 | +77% |
| Austin | $49,000 | 100 | -58% |
| Dallas | $41,000 | 290 | -54% |
| Fort Worth | $42,000 | 210 | -19% |
| Houston | $45,000 | 320 | -60% |
| San Antonio | $47,000 | 150 | -43% |
| Tyler | $45,000 | 30 | +20% |
| Waco | $53,000 | 50 | +80% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $42,000 | 120 | -34% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $38,000 | 220 | +20% |
| Roanoke | $46,000 | 60 | +34% |
| Virginia Beach | $45,000 | 140 | -38% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennewick | $63,000 | 40 | +43% |
| Seattle | $54,000 | 200 | -53% |
| Spokane | $54,000 | 40 | -33% |
| Tacoma | $54,000 | 60 | -23% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay | $50,000 | 50 | +3% |
| Madison | $44,000 | 40 | -60% |
| Milwaukee | $48,000 | 150 | -40% |