California Median
$77,710
per year
Hourly Rate
$37.36
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+28% vs US median
US median $60,810
State Rank
#2 of 50
7,110 employed here
How much does a Clergy make in California?
Clergies in California take home a median of $77,710 annually — roughly $37.36 an hour — which runs 28% above the national median of $60,810.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $42,690 while the top 10% make $157,030 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,310 and $97,640 a year.
Clergy salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,690 | $20.52 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $61,310 | $29.48 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $77,710 | $37.36 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $97,640 | $46.94 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,030 | $75.50 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 50 states and territories for Clergy pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Clergy salary in other states
Washington $80,830Nevada $73,910Massachusetts $72,190New Jersey $65,500New Hampshire $65,200Vermont $64,950District of Columbia $64,800Maine $64,340New Mexico $64,100Colorado $63,700Connecticut $63,470Delaware $63,260Oregon $63,140Arizona $61,900Illinois $61,820Maryland $61,620Wyoming $61,590Minnesota $61,230Hawaii $61,050Wisconsin $60,950North Dakota $60,680Iowa $60,630Georgia $60,530South Dakota $59,860Rhode Island $59,660North Carolina $59,600Idaho $59,570Montana $59,550Texas $59,480Ohio $59,160Oklahoma $59,110Indiana $59,020Kentucky $58,920Missouri $58,740New York $58,580Pennsylvania $58,300Nebraska $57,520Tennessee $57,260Florida $56,940South Carolina $56,630Michigan $56,490Alaska $55,780Virginia $55,430Louisiana $54,140Mississippi $52,450Kansas $52,130Alabama $50,180Arkansas $49,070West Virginia $48,460
Working as a Clergy in California
Nationally, about 57,000 people work as Clergies in the United States. A master's degree (usually 5 to 6 years of college) is typically required.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($77,710) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Clergy make in California?
The median Clergy salary in California is $77,710 per year, or about $37.36 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $42,690 at the entry level to $157,030 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Clergies about 28% more than the national median of $60,810. California ranks 2nd out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Clergies?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $77,710 a year. About 7,110 Clergies are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Clergy salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.