Clergy pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $177,820 or more. The middle half of clergy in Los Angeles earn between $76,290 and $136,350.
- $57K10th
- $76K25th
- $84KMedian
- $136K75th
- $178K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50.00 |
| Median | $84,050 | $7,004 | $40.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,290 | $6,358 | $36.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $136,350 | $11,362 | $65.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Clergy in Los Angeles earn 19% more than the California average ($87,150) and 56% more than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is +38% against the U.S. median of $60,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $104,000 | $84,050 | $56,750 | $177,820 | n/a |
| California | $87,150 | $77,710 | $42,690 | $157,030 | 7,110 |
| United States | $66,860 | $60,810 | $37,860 | $98,890 | 57,200 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Clergy salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $104,000, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $76,414 a year, or $6,368 a month and $2,939 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for clergy? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $104,000 buys what about $91,577 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 1st of 19 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Los Angeles$104,000
- Santa Rosa$85,300
- San Francisco$80,410
- Santa Maria$79,270
- Riverside$78,400
- San Jose$77,970
- San Diego$77,750
- Vallejo$75,860
- Sacramento$75,780
- Stockton$74,000
Highest-paying cities for clergy
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($104,000).
- Los Angeles, CA$104,000
- Santa Rosa, CA$85,300
- Seattle, WA$85,010
- Bozeman, MT$83,660
- San Francisco, CA$80,410
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Clergy salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in Los Angeles?
$50.00 an hour on average, and $40.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $76,414 a year ($6,368 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $104,000. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do clergy earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 56% more than the U.S. average for this job ($66,860).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 21-2011; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
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