Clergy pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $105,090 or more. The middle half of clergy in Salem earn between $53,570 and $85,150.
- $37K10th
- $54K25th
- $78KMedian
- $85K75th
- $105K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,290 | $6,024 | $34.75 |
| Median | $78,220 | $6,518 | $37.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $53,570 | $4,464 | $25.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $85,150 | $7,096 | $40.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in Salem vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Clergy in Salem earn 6% more than the Oregon average ($68,130) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is +29% against the U.S. median of $60,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $72,290 | $78,220 | $37,140 | $105,090 | 380 |
| Oregon | $68,130 | $63,140 | $37,970 | $99,960 | 3,850 |
| 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 Salem
On the average salary of $72,290, a single filer in Salem takes home about $54,537 a year, or $4,545 a month and $2,098 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for clergy? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $72,290 buys what about $69,745 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 1st of 8 Oregon metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Salem: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in Salem?
$34.76 an hour on average, and $37.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $53,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in Salem?
About $54,537 a year ($4,545 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,290. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do clergy earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 5.55, this job is 5.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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