Clergy salary in New York
Clergy in New York earn a median of $58,580 a year ($28.16 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $129,200 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $60,810. New York ranks 36th of 50 states for clergy pay. There are 0.80 clergy per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $73,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for clergy in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,780 | $18.64 |
| 25th percentile | $47,330 | $22.76 |
| Median | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| 75th percentile | $81,450 | $39.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,200 | $62.12 |
| Average (mean) | $73,790 | $35.48 |
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 | $4,881.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,440.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,253.08 |
| Weekly | $1,126.54 |
| Hourly | $28.16 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Clergy salary in cities in New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Elmira, NY | $62,780 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $61,860 | 6,110 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | $60,460 | 100 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $60,340 | 290 |
| Rochester, NY | $59,710 | 470 |
| Ithaca, NY | $58,750 | 40 |
| Kingston, NY | $55,380 | 60 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $55,070 | 600 |
| Binghamton, NY | $51,990 | 110 |
| Glens Falls, NY | $49,800 | 60 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $49,160 | 360 |
| Syracuse, NY | $48,770 | 280 |
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 New York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $49,990 | $24.04 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $51,150 | $24.59 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $65,100 | $31.30 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,450 | $28.58 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $71,610 | $34.43 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $73,070 | $35.13 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $66,580 | $32.01 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $79,380 | $38.16 |
| Community Health Worker | $58,130 | $27.95 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $80,350 | $38.63 |
| Health Education Specialist | $62,560 | $30.08 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $47,960 | $23.06 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $84,010 | $40.39 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 New York?
The median salary for clergy in New York is $58,580 a year, or $28.16 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $129,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid clergy make in New York?
The top 10% of clergy in New York earn at least $129,200 a year. The top 25% earn $81,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for clergy in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,780 a year, and a quarter of clergy earn $47,330 or less.
How many clergy work in New York?
About 7,790 clergy are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.