All About Clergy
Career Description Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. Provide spiritual and moral guidance and assistance to members.
What Do Clergy Do On a Daily Basis?
- Organize or engage in interfaith, community, civic, educational, or recreational activities sponsored by or related to religious programs.
- Plan or lead religious education programs.
- Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching.
- Refer people to community support services, psychologists, or doctors.
- Organize and lead regular religious services.
- Prepare people for participation in religious ceremonies.
Featured schools near , edit
Qualities of a Clergy
These are the skills Clergy say are the most useful in their careers:
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Types of Clergy Jobs
- Pastor
- Hospice Chaplain
- Worship Pastor
- Chancellor
- Pope
Clergy Job Outlook
There were about 243,900 jobs for Clergy in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 19,900 new jobs for Clergy by 2026. There will be an estimated 29,200 positions for Clergy per year.
The states with the most job growth for Clergy are Colorado, Idaho, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Wyoming, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Clergy Average Salary
The average yearly salary of a Clergy ranges between $26,160 and $85,040.
Clergy who work in California, Washington, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Clergy in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $47,140 |
Alaska | $52,810 |
Arizona | $53,290 |
Arkansas | $44,660 |
California | $67,140 |
Colorado | $55,690 |
Connecticut | $59,250 |
Delaware | $56,150 |
District of Columbia | $61,500 |
Florida | $51,570 |
Georgia | $56,270 |
Hawaii | $47,360 |
Idaho | $45,230 |
Illinois | $51,190 |
Indiana | $48,130 |
Iowa | $49,540 |
Kansas | $45,390 |
Kentucky | $48,910 |
Louisiana | $52,950 |
Maine | $54,300 |
Maryland | $52,020 |
Massachusetts | $60,600 |
Michigan | $41,040 |
Minnesota | $47,580 |
Mississippi | $46,470 |
Missouri | $49,900 |
Montana | $49,620 |
Nebraska | $45,050 |
Nevada | $52,370 |
New Hampshire | $57,390 |
New Jersey | $59,180 |
New Mexico | $52,350 |
New York | $57,550 |
North Carolina | $48,540 |
North Dakota | $48,020 |
Ohio | $46,570 |
Oklahoma | $48,140 |
Oregon | $52,040 |
Pennsylvania | $49,920 |
Rhode Island | $54,300 |
South Carolina | $56,050 |
South Dakota | $48,420 |
Tennessee | $49,080 |
Texas | $54,370 |
Vermont | $46,940 |
Virginia | $43,640 |
Washington | $62,240 |
West Virginia | $40,910 |
Wisconsin | $49,690 |
Wyoming | $57,740 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Clergy
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Clergy:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Event scheduling software
Becoming a Clergy
Education needed to be a Clergy:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Clergy?
References:
Image Credit: Jonund via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
More about our data sources and methodologies.