Clergy
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 it pays
Clergy earn a median of $29.24/hr — about $61,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $18.20/hr; the top 10% earn $47.54/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Clergy earn a median of $29.24/hr — about $61,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $18.20/hr; the top 10% earn $47.54/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Pray and promote spirituality.
- Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks.
- Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
- Organize and lead regular religious services.
- Instruct people who seek conversion to a particular faith.
- Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
The feel of the work
You're around people constantly; it rewards working independently. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 5.7% of clergy are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are people-focused, take-charge and creative.
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Quick questions
- How much does a clergy make?
- The median pay is $29.24 per hour — roughly $61,000 a year, with the real range running from about $18.20/hr (10th percentile) to $47.54/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a clergy?
- The typical entry-level education is: Bachelor's degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
- What does a clergy actually do all day?
- Pray and promote spirituality. Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks. Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.