Clergy Salary in California
Clergy in California earn a median annual wage of $77,710 —27.8% above the national median of $60,810. That ranks CA #2 of 50 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment concentration (1.06×) is close to the national average.
Highest-paying states for clergy
All 50 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $80,830 | $38.86 | 1,060 | 0.81 |
| 2 | California | $77,710 | $37.36 | 7,110 | 1.06 |
| 3 | Nevada | $73,910 | $35.53 | 210 | 0.37 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $72,190 | $34.71 | 840 | 0.63 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $65,500 | $31.49 | 1,460 | 0.93 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $65,200 | $31.35 | 100 | 0.39 |
| 7 | Vermont | $64,950 | $31.23 | 50 | 0.41 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $64,800 | $31.15 | 310 | 1.21 |
| 9 | Maine | $64,340 | $30.93 | 160 | 0.68 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $64,100 | $30.82 | 270 | 0.83 |
Related occupations in California
Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.
| Occupation | California median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,250 | $59,350 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $51,090 | $45,930 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $65,200 | $59,550 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $86,500 | $64,330 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $89,660 | $67,880 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $79,000 | $60,280 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do clergy make in California?
The median annual wage for clergy in California is $77,710, or $37.36 per hour. That is 27.8% above the national median of $60,810.
What is the entry-level clergy salary in California?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $42,690 per year ($20.53/hour). The 25th percentile is $61,310.
How many people work as clergy in California?
About 7,110 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is California a good state for clergy?
California ranks #2 of 50 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.06x) is close to the national average.
Which state pays clergy the most?
Washington has the highest median wage at $80,830 per year, followed by California ($77,710) and Nevada ($73,910).