Clergy

Definition

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.

source: OOH; about this section

Significant Points

2004 employment: 422,000
Projected 2004-14 employment change: About as fast as average
Most significant source of postsecondary education or training: Master's degree

source: OOH; about this section

More Additional Information

Also see:

Archbishop, Bishop, Chaplain, Clergymen, Imam, Nun, Priest, Rabbi, Wikipedia

Clergy, Career Prospects in Virginia

Quick Stats

Clergy

2004 employment: 422,000
2014 projected employment: 474,000
Change — numeric: 52,000; percent: 12.4%
2004 median annual earnings: $36,690; earnings group: high
2004 self-employed: 0.3%
2004 part-time employment: low
2004 unemployment: very low
Typical education and training: Master's degree
Educational attainment — high school: 10.6%; some college: 14.0%; bachelor's degree: 75.4%

source: Employment Matrix; about this section

Earnings Graph

National Average and Percentile Annual Earnings, May 2005

Metropolitan area and State estimates.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Area and Industry Statistics

May 2005 Mean Annual Earnings and Employment, wage and salary workers

Clergy
— National
U.S.:	$41,700
— by State
AL:	$37,590
AK:	$35,990
AZ:	$36,650
AR:	$40,220
CA:	$47,970
CO:	$44,660
CT:	$46,180
DE:	$46,610
DC:	$63,870
FL:	$38,360
GA:	$41,460
HI:	$41,240
ID:	$30,890
IL:	$39,220
IN:	$38,090
IA:	$38,440
KS:	$38,710
KY:	$38,990
LA:	$33,100
ME:	$47,730
MD:	$35,550
MA:	$43,840
MI:	$33,620
MN:	$42,350
MS:	$31,780
MO:	$37,060
MT:	$29,520
NE:	$38,720
NV:	$55,080
NH:	$42,370
NJ:	$50,160
NM:	$36,150
NY:	$44,300
NC:	$41,320
ND:	$37,050
OH:	$35,220
OK:	$34,460
OR:	$45,900
PA:	$31,840
RI:	$46,880
SC:	$31,020
SD:	$37,720
TN:	$38,480
TX:	$39,390
VT:	$41,230
VA:	$34,750
WA:	$44,840
WV:	n.a.
WI:	$41,920
PR:	$27,300
— by NAICS Industry Sector
54	$40,530
55	$39,930
56	$41,210
61	$37,050
62	$39,920
81	$42,050
92	$49,910
Also see State and Metropolitan Area and industry estimates of employment and percentile earnings for clergy.

Width of bars indicates mean annual wages; color of bars indicates employment.

source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about this section

Demographics

Clergy

Employed persons, 2004

Employed persons: 403,000	Percent of total
	Women	Men	Black	Asian	Hispanic
	15.0%	85.0%	11.6%	5.1%	6.0%

Full-time wage and salary workers, 2004
Employment Median weekly earnings
$ W/M ratio
Women
(emp.) (earn.) 47,000 n.a. -
Men
(emp.) (earn.) 304,000 $795
All workers
(emp.) (earn.) 351,000 $771

source: Current Population Survey; about this section

Census Statistics

1999 employment and earnings distribution, year-round full-time workers

Clergy

	Percentile earnings distribution
	10th	25th	50th	75th	90th
All workers employment: 285,580 average earnings: $34,000	$15,000	$22,000	$31,000	$42,000	$56,000
Men employment: 254,040 average earnings: $34,000	$15,000	$22,000	$31,000	$43,000	$57,000
Women employment: 31,540 average earnings: $30,000	$14,000	$21,000	$28,000	$38,000	$48,000

source: Bureau of the Census; about this section

Fatalities

2004 Fatal occupational injuries by occupation and event or exposure

Occupation	Fatalities: Event or exposure
Occupation	Total	Tran.	Viol.	Cont.	Falls	Expo.	Fires
Clergy	12	5	4	-	-	-	-

source: Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities Program; about this section

In the News

Recent posts from the Clergy archive of the ocouha weblog:

Characters

On television

Geraldine Grainger, The Vicar of Dibley

Also see Clergy in the 2004-05 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook
Visit the ocouha weblog
See the Occupational Outlook Handbook in print.

	Employment	Median weekly earnings
	Employment	$	W/M ratio
Women (emp.) (earn.)	47,000	n.a.	-
Men (emp.) (earn.)	304,000	$795	-
All workers (emp.) (earn.)	351,000	$771