Clergy pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $99,070 or more. The middle half of clergy in Boston earn between $62,210 and $78,530.
- $52K10th
- $62K25th
- $73KMedian
- $79K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $74,500 | $6,208 | $35.82 |
| Median | $73,160 | $6,097 | $35.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,210 | $5,184 | $29.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,530 | $6,544 | $37.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Clergy in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($73,510) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is +20% against the U.S. median of $60,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $74,500 | $73,160 | $52,000 | $99,070 | 620 |
| Massachusetts | $73,510 | $72,190 | $51,600 | $98,650 | 840 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $74,500, a single filer in Boston takes home about $57,836 a year, or $4,820 a month and $2,224 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $61,241 | $5,103 |
| Working in MA | $57,836 | $4,820 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for clergy? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $74,500 buys what about $68,812 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 10.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 3 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$74,500
- Worcester$73,170
- Springfield$65,560
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 Boston: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in Boston?
$35.82 an hour on average, and $35.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in Boston?
About $57,836 a year ($4,820 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,500. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do clergy earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.62, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.62).
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