How Much Does a Pastor Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$60,810
Pastors in the U.S. earn a median of $60,810 a year, or $29.24 an hour. Half of pastors earn more than $60,810 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $98,890.
Pay percentiles for pastors
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18.20 | $37,860 |
| 25th | $23.20 | $48,260 |
| 50th (median) | $29.24 | $60,810 |
| 75th | $36.85 | $76,640 |
| 90th | $47.54 | $98,890 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Clergy (SOC 21-2011). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for pastors
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $80,830 | $38.86 | +33% |
| California | $77,710 | $37.36 | +28% |
| Nevada | $73,910 | $35.53 | +22% |
| Massachusetts | $72,190 | $34.71 | +19% |
| New Jersey | $65,500 | $31.49 | +8% |
| New Hampshire | $65,200 | $31.35 | +7% |
| Vermont | $64,950 | $31.23 | +7% |
| District of Columbia | $64,800 | $31.15 | +7% |
| Maine | $64,340 | $30.93 | +6% |
| New Mexico | $64,100 | $30.82 | +5% |
| United States | $60,810 | $29.24 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many pastors are there?
BLS counts about 57,200 pastors employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Clergy”. The most jobs are in New York (7,790), California (7,110) and Oregon (3,850).
The mean (average) annual wage is $66,860, higher than the median of $60,810.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,068
- Biweekly
- $2,339
- Weekly
- $1,169
- Daily (8 hours)
- $234
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pastors make an hour?
The median hourly wage for pastors is $29.24. The middle 50% earn between $23.20 and $36.85 an hour.
Which state pays pastors the most?
Washington has the highest median wage for pastors at $80,830, +33% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for pastors?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of pastors earn less than $37,860 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.