Clergy salary
From 428 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 21-2011: Clergy
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 47% of Clergy filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Roman Catholic Archdiocese Of Los Angeles. 15 filings (4% of the total), median $55,120.
- Median up 25% since FY2020. From $47,662 in FY2020 to $59,342 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Clergy H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 428 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Clergy jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 21-2011, Clergy). The median base salary is $55,120, 55% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $46,883 and $70,243. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 47% of filings. Los Angeles, CA has the most filings (31), and Roman Catholic Archdiocese Of Los Angeles is the employer that files the most (15).
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Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with certified H-1B filings for Clergy jobs, nationally or in one metro area.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Clergy
Employers with the most Clergy filings. Bar: share of all Clergy filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 47% of filings
Mid-level · 25% of filings
Senior · 13% of filings
Expert · 14% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $46,842 | 202 |
| Level II · Qualified | $59,721 | 108 |
| Level III · Experienced | $71,500 | 55 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $80,000 | 61 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Clergy pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 7 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $55,120 | 31 |
| New York, NY | $52,978 | 30 |
| Dallas, TX | $57,003 | 20 |
| Washington, DC | $62,400 | 13 |
| Houston, TX | $42,619 | 12 |
| Chicago, IL | $48,714 | 11 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $59,342 | 11 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Clergy does
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.
Typical tasks
- Pray and promote spirituality.
- Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks.
- Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
- Organize and lead regular religious services.
- Instruct people who seek conversion to a particular faith.
- Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
O*NET occupation: Clergy (21-2011.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Clergy), the median annual wage was $60,810 in May 2025, with 57,200 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $55,120, 9% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,569 | $37,860 |
| 25th percentile | $46,883 | $48,260 |
| Median | $55,120 | $60,810 |
| 75th percentile | $70,243 | $76,640 |
| 90th percentile | $85,863 | $98,890 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,569 |
| 25th | $46,883 |
| 50th (median) | $55,120 |
| 75th | $70,243 |
| 90th | $85,863 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $47,662 | $37,856 | $57,804 | 24 |
| FY2021 | $47,008 | $37,745 | $53,800 | 32 |
| FY2022 | $47,422 | $38,313 | $57,738 | 70 |
| FY2023 | $47,000 | $38,688 | $60,000 | 53 |
| FY2024 | $49,113 | $39,453 | $58,242 | 154 |
| FY2025 | $55,078 | $45,864 | $67,615 | 247 |
| FY2026 | $59,342 | $48,963 | $75,650 | 181 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Clergy make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Clergy jobs is $55,120 (428 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $46,883 and $70,243.
What does an entry-level Clergy earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $46,842. Level I accounts for 47% of Clergy filings.
Do H-1B Clergys earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($55,120) is 9% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($60,810, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.