Clergy salary in California
Clergy in California earn a median of $77,710 a year ($37.36 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,110 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,030 for the top 10%. That is 28% higher than the national median of $60,810. California ranks 2nd of 50 states for clergy pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.39 clergy per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $87,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for clergy in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,690 | $20.53 |
| 25th percentile | $61,310 | $29.48 |
| Median | $77,710 | $37.36 |
| 75th percentile | $97,640 | $46.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,030 | $75.49 |
| Average (mean) | $87,150 | $41.90 |
Half of clergy earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,475.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,237.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,988.85 |
| Weekly | $1,494.42 |
| Hourly | $37.36 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Clergy salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $84,050 | n/a |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $81,280 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $80,760 | 70 |
| Vallejo, CA | $79,590 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,330 | 450 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $77,510 | 330 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $77,450 | 560 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $77,050 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,720 | 310 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $75,020 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $74,580 | 1,130 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $73,770 | 90 |
| Salinas, CA | $73,770 | 60 |
| Fresno, CA | $71,130 | 280 |
| Modesto, CA | $65,360 | 90 |
| Redding, CA | $64,640 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $64,240 | 50 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $62,610 | 80 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $61,630 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for clergy
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $80,830 |
| California | $77,710 |
| Nevada | $73,910 |
| Massachusetts | $72,190 |
| New Jersey | $65,500 |
| New Hampshire | $65,200 |
| Vermont | $64,950 |
| District of Columbia | $64,800 |
| Maine | $64,340 |
| New Mexico | $64,100 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $45,440 | $21.85 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,250 | $28.48 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $65,200 | $31.35 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $51,090 | $24.56 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $86,500 | $41.59 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $67,300 | $32.35 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $89,660 | $43.11 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $58,770 | $28.26 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $103,640 | $49.83 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $44,480 | $21.38 |
| Health Education Specialist | $63,610 | $30.58 |
| Counselors, All Other | $48,850 | $23.49 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a clergy make in California?
The median salary for clergy in California is $77,710 a year, or $37.36 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid clergy make in California?
The top 10% of clergy in California earn at least $157,030 a year. The top 25% earn $97,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for clergy in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,690 a year, and a quarter of clergy earn $61,310 or less.
How many clergy work in California?
About 7,110 clergy are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.