Clergy salary in Texas
Clergy in Texas earn a median of $59,480 a year ($28.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,180 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,940 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $60,810. Texas ranks 30th of 50 states for clergy pay. There are 0.23 clergy per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $62,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for clergy in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,220 | $17.89 |
| 25th percentile | $49,850 | $23.97 |
| Median | $59,480 | $28.60 |
| 75th percentile | $69,780 | $33.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,940 | $40.84 |
| Average (mean) | $62,430 | $30.02 |
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 | $4,956.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,478.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,287.69 |
| Weekly | $1,143.85 |
| Hourly | $28.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Clergy salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Waco, TX | $70,300 | 40 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $62,760 | 270 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $62,670 | 220 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $61,010 | 670 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $60,380 | 50 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $60,040 | 920 |
| Amarillo, TX | $59,910 | 30 |
| San Angelo, TX | $59,870 | 40 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $59,740 | 30 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $59,200 | 50 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $58,210 | 70 |
| Lubbock, TX | $57,820 | 30 |
| El Paso, TX | $56,450 | 60 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $55,950 | 80 |
| Tyler, TX | $50,800 | 50 |
| Abilene, TX | $47,380 | 30 |
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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Religious Workers, All Other | $36,420 | $17.51 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $75,420 | $36.26 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $67,900 | $32.64 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $55,680 | $26.77 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $45,860 | $22.05 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $62,630 | $30.11 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $69,990 | $33.65 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists | $52,880 | $25.43 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Health Education Specialist | $59,340 | $28.53 |
| Community Health Worker | $48,720 | $23.42 |
| Social Workers, All Other | $84,240 | $40.50 |
| Counselors, All Other | $54,450 | $26.18 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for clergy in Texas is $59,480 a year, or $28.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid clergy make in Texas?
The top 10% of clergy in Texas earn at least $84,940 a year. The top 25% earn $69,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for clergy in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,220 a year, and a quarter of clergy earn $49,850 or less.
How many clergy work in Texas?
About 3,180 clergy are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.