Clergy pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,400 or more. The middle half of clergy in Chicago earn between $50,030 and $76,130.
- $37K10th
- $50K25th
- $62KMedian
- $76K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,640 | $5,303 | $30.60 |
| Median | $61,820 | $5,152 | $29.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,030 | $4,169 | $24.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,130 | $6,344 | $36.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Clergy in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($62,490) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $60,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $63,640 | $61,820 | $36,870 | $85,400 | 1,690 |
| Illinois | $62,490 | $61,820 | $36,760 | $86,390 | 2,200 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $63,640, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $50,306 a year, or $4,192 a month and $1,935 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $51,436 | $4,286 |
| Working in IL | $50,306 | $4,192 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for clergy? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $63,640 buys what about $61,432 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 6 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$63,640
- Rockford$60,480
- Champaign$58,520
- Bloomington$57,760
- Peoria$57,330
- Springfield$56,990
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 Chicago: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in Chicago?
$30.59 an hour on average, and $29.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in Chicago?
About $50,306 a year ($4,192 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,640.
Do clergy earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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