Clergy in California

Get the information you need to know about working as a Clergy.

You’re in luck! Jobs for Clergy in California are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.

• Projected employment for Clergy in California is growing faster than average.

• Clergy in California earn higher salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.

What Major Will Prepare You For a Clergy Career?

• Theology & Religious Vocations
• Theological & Ministerial Studies
• Theology
• Divinity/Ministry
• Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies
• Rabbinical Studies
• Other Theological & Ministerial Studies
• Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries
• Pastoral Studies/Counseling
• Youth Ministry
• Urban Ministry
• Health Professions
• Mental & Social Health Services
• Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling

How Many Clergy Work in California?

In 2018, there were 5,620 Clergy working in the state.

There were 5,080 Clergy employed in this state in 2017.

That’s growth of 540 jobs between 2017 and 2018.

The typical state has 525 Clergy working in it, which means California has more Clergy than average.

Job Projections for California

Jobs for Clergy in this state are growing at a rate of 8.8% which is faster than the nationwide estimated projection of 8.2%.

California Annual Job Openings

The BLS is projecting 1,640 annual Clergy job openings in California, and 14,800 total jobs in the year 2026.

Nationwide, the prediction is 29,200 annual jobs and 263,800 total jobs in 2026.

What do Clergy Make in California?

In 2018 wages for Clergy ranged from $29,130 to $111,120 with $61,990 being the median annual salary.

Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $14 to $53.42. The median hourly rate was $29.81.

Workers in this field were paid a median of $27.14 an hour in 2017.

The hourly rate grew by $2.67.

The median salary in California is higher than the nationwide median salary.

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Top California Metros for Clergy

The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Clergy.

Metro	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	2,160	$69,920
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	830	$60,440
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	540	$56,350
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA	430	$61,020
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	250	$58,610
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA	210	$59,180
Stockton-Lodi, CA	120	$35,610
Fresno, CA	110	$56,930
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	80	$81,810
Modesto, CA	70	$38,480
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA	70	$57,990
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	70	$62,030
Visalia-Porterville, CA	70	$43,710
Bakersfield, CA	60	$61,270
Salinas, CA	50	$60,000
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	40	$64,490
Santa Rosa, CA	40	$59,770
Redding, CA	30	$57,020
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA	30	$66,140

Top States for Clergy Employment

The table below shows the states where most Clergy work.

State	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
New York	7,320	$49,700
California	5,620	$61,990
Oregon	4,430	$48,340
Texas	2,720	$50,220
Michigan	2,700	$40,470
Florida	2,580	$46,410
Pennsylvania	2,250	$45,260
Illinois	1,920	$48,120
Ohio	1,750	$44,970
Virginia	1,360	$38,990
Minnesota	1,310	$47,220
New Jersey	1,260	$58,300
North Carolina	1,070	$47,760
Indiana	840	$46,220
Missouri	820	$47,730
Maryland	790	$50,450
Montana	710	$47,000
South Carolina	710	$49,780
Georgia	700	$53,030
Tennessee	670	$47,190

Below are the states where Clergy get paid the most:

State	Annual Median Salary
California	$61,990
Washington	$61,330
Massachusetts	$59,620
New Jersey	$58,300
Wyoming	$57,240
Connecticut	$57,200
New Hampshire	$57,200
District of Columbia	$56,990
Alaska	$56,150
Colorado	$54,580

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• Image Credit: By Jonund under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.