What is a Clergy?

Job Description & Duties 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.

Clergy Responsibilities

• Read from sacred texts such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
• Organize and lead regular religious services.
• Study and interpret religious laws, doctrines, or traditions.
• Visit people in homes, hospitals, or prisons to provide them with comfort and support.
• Plan or lead religious education programs.
• Organize or engage in interfaith, community, civic, educational, or recreational activities sponsored by or related to religious programs.

What a Clergy Should Know

Below is a list of the skills most Clergy say are important on the job.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Related Job Titles

• Worship Leader
• Chaplain
• Marriage Counselor Minister
• Cantor
• Worship Pastor

Clergy Employment Estimates

There were about 243,900 jobs for Clergy in 2016 (in the United States).

New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.2% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 19,900 new jobs for Clergy by 2026. The BLS estimates 29,200 yearly job openings in this field per year.

The states with the most job growth for Clergy are Texas, New York, and Florida.

Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Wyoming, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Average Clergy Salary

The typical yearly salary for Clergy is somewhere between $26,160 and $85,040. A Clergy median salary is $48,990.

How much do Clergy make in different U.S. states?

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$67,140
Washington	$62,240
District of Columbia	$61,500
Massachusetts	$60,600
Connecticut	$59,250
New Jersey	$59,180
Wyoming	$57,740
New York	$57,550
New Hampshire	$57,390
Georgia	$56,270
Delaware	$56,150
South Carolina	$56,050
Colorado	$55,690
Texas	$54,370
Rhode Island	$54,300
Maine	$54,300
Arizona	$53,290
Louisiana	$52,950
Alaska	$52,810
Nevada	$52,370
New Mexico	$52,350
Oregon	$52,040
Maryland	$52,020
Florida	$51,570
Illinois	$51,190
Pennsylvania	$49,920
Missouri	$49,900
Wisconsin	$49,690
Montana	$49,620
Iowa	$49,540
Tennessee	$49,080
Kentucky	$48,910
North Carolina	$48,540
South Dakota	$48,420
Oklahoma	$48,140
Indiana	$48,130
North Dakota	$48,020
Minnesota	$47,580
Hawaii	$47,360
Alabama	$47,140
Vermont	$46,940
Ohio	$46,570
Mississippi	$46,470
Kansas	$45,390
Idaho	$45,230
Nebraska	$45,050
Arkansas	$44,660
Virginia	$43,640
Michigan	$41,040
West Virginia	$40,910

What Tools do Clergy Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Clergy may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Facebook
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint

How do I Become a Clergy?

Individuals working as Clergy have obtained the following education levels:

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Clergy Work

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons