How to Become a Clergy / Minister
Lead a congregation in worship, teaching and care, and support people through the hardest moments of their lives. It typically requires a bachelor's degree (master of divinity common), with a median salary of $60,810 per year and slower than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$60,810/yr
Middle half
$48,260 to $76,640
Job growth
Slower than average
Openings / yr
23,000
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Public Speaking
- Counseling
- Leadership
- Writing
Related careers
- Social Worker$59,550 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Clergy / Minister make?
The median pay for a Clergy / Minister is $60,810 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $48,260 and $76,640 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Clergy / Minister?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree (master of divinity common). Common majors are Religious Studies and Theology and Philosophy.
Is Clergy / Minister a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is slower than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 23,000 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Clergy / Minister use most?
Common skills for this role are Public Speaking, Counseling, Leadership, and Writing.
Planning to become a Clergy / Minister?
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).