Clergy: Entry-Level vs Senior Salary (2024)

How does Clergy salary grow from entry-level to senior? National salary progression based on 50 states with BLS data.

135% career growth potential

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • National averages across 50 states • Updated 2026-04-06

Entry-Level (P10)
$36,640
$3,053/mo
Mid-Career (Median)
$56,885
$4,740/mo
Senior (P90)
$86,245
$7,187/mo

Salary Progression: Entry-Level to Senior

The salary range for Clergy spans from $36,640 at entry-level to $86,245 at senior level — a difference of $49,605 per year.

P10
$36K
P25
$46K
Median
$56K
P75
$68K
P90
$86K

Career Growth Premium: +135%

Senior Clergys earn $49,605 more per year than entry-level professionals.

Annual Difference
+$49,605
Monthly Difference
+$4,134
Hourly Difference
+$23.85
Growth Multiple
2.4x

Detailed Salary Breakdown by Experience Level

Complete percentile breakdown showing how Clergy salary increases with experience, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).

Experience Level Percentile Annual Salary Monthly Hourly
Entry-Level P10 $36,640 $3,053 $17.62
Early Career P25 $46,064 $3,839 $22.15
Mid-Career Median $56,885 $4,740 $27.35
Experienced P75 $68,981 $5,748 $33.16
Senior / Expert P90 $86,245 $7,187 $41.46
Key Insight

Clergy shows strong salary progression over a career. Entry-level professionals start around $36,640, while senior-level professionals earn $86,245 — a 135% increase. The biggest salary jump typically occurs between mid-career ($56,885) and experienced level ($68,981), suggesting that specialization and leadership responsibilities are the key drivers of higher pay.

Top States for Senior Clergy Pay

Which states pay the highest senior-level salaries for Clergy? Top 10 states ranked by 90th percentile (senior) pay.

1
$167,080
Entry: $33K
+399%
2
$124,800
Entry: $40K
+205%
3
$122,970
Entry: $38K
+216%
4
$122,620
Entry: $35K
+247%
5
$114,910
Entry: $37K
+210%
6
$106,710
Entry: $42K
+152%
7
$102,130
Entry: $50K
+103%
8
$101,200
Entry: $46K
+116%
9
$98,000
Entry: $36K
+167%
10
$97,840
Entry: $36K
+165%

Ready to Advance Your Clergy Career?

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the entry-level salary for a Clergy?

Entry-level Clergys (10th percentile) earn approximately $36,640 per year, or $3,053 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $46,064. Based on 2024 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.

How much does a senior Clergy make?

Senior Clergys (90th percentile) earn approximately $86,245 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $68,981. This represents a career premium of 135% over entry-level pay.

What is the salary growth potential for a Clergy?

The career salary growth potential for Clergys is 135%. Entry-level professionals start at $36,640, while senior-level can earn up to $86,245 — a difference of $49,605 per year.

Which state pays the highest salary for senior Clergys?

The highest-paying state for senior Clergys is Nevada, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $167,080 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.

How are entry-level and senior Clergy salaries determined?

We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.

Related Salary Pages

About This Data

Salary percentile data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. National averages are computed across 50 states and the District of Columbia. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. Actual salaries vary based on location, employer, experience, education, and certifications.

Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS

Explore More

Explore
All Salaries by State Entry-Level vs Senior Salary Hourly Wages Employment Outlook Job Comparisons Salary Statistics