What does a Clergy salary really buy you in Washington?
Washington is 9.8% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Washington's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 109.8, meaning prices are 9.8% higher the national average. A Clergy earning $77,530 in Washington has the equivalent purchasing power of $70,610 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Washington's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $47,090 | $42,887 | $-4,202 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $58,640 | $53,406 | $-5,233 |
| Median (P50) | $77,530 | $70,610 | $-6,919 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $96,710 | $88,078 | $-8,631 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $116,830 | $106,402 | $-10,427 |
While $77,530 sounds high, Washington's elevated cost of living erases 9% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $70,610. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
Where does Clergy salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Washington ranks #2 out of 49 states for Clergy after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Clergy in Washington earns a median salary of $77,530 per year. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (RPP=109.8), the real purchasing power is $70,610 — a -8.9% difference.
Washington's cost of living is 9.8% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Washington is 109.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Clergy in Washington: $77,530 x (100 / 109.8) = $70,610. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Clergy's nominal salary of $77,530 in Washington has 8.9% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $70,610. However, Washington may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.