Clergy pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,760 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,680 or more. The middle half of clergy in Nashville earn between $50,470 and $65,890.
- $38K10th
- $50K25th
- $61KMedian
- $66K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,050 | $5,088 | $29.35 |
| Median | $60,720 | $5,060 | $29.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,470 | $4,206 | $24.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,890 | $5,491 | $31.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Clergy in Nashville earn 4% more than the Tennessee average ($58,550) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $60,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $61,050 | $60,720 | $37,760 | $79,680 | 220 |
| Tennessee | $58,550 | $57,260 | $41,600 | $73,920 | 710 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $61,050, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $51,234 a year, or $4,269 a month and $1,971 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for clergy? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $61,050 buys what about $63,371 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 1st of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Nashville$61,050
- Johnson City$60,350
- Memphis$60,220
- Chattanooga$59,050
- Knoxville$56,570
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 Nashville: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in Nashville?
$29.35 an hour on average, and $29.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,760 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in Nashville?
About $51,234 a year ($4,269 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,050. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do clergy earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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