Clergy pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,800 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,830 or more. The middle half of clergy in Washington earn between $48,010 and $79,220.
- $38K10th
- $48K25th
- $61KMedian
- $79K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,080 | $5,590 | $32.25 |
| Median | $61,170 | $5,098 | $29.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,010 | $4,001 | $23.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,220 | $6,602 | $38.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Clergy in Washington earn 7% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($71,770) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $60,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $67,080 | $61,170 | $37,800 | $100,830 | 850 |
| Washington, D.C. | $71,770 | $64,800 | $40,600 | $99,270 | 310 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $67,080, a single filer in Washington takes home about $53,107 a year, or $4,426 a month and $2,043 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $53,838 | $4,486 |
| Working in DC | $53,107 | $4,426 |
| Working in MD | $53,046 | $4,421 |
| Working in VA | $52,978 | $4,415 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for clergy? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $67,080 buys what about $61,607 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$71,200
- Baltimore, MD$60,010
- Charlottesville, VA$61,330
- York, PA$50,500
- Richmond, VA$59,760
- Harrisburg, PA$56,110
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 Washington: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in Washington?
$32.25 an hour on average, and $29.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,800 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,010, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in Washington?
About $53,107 a year ($4,426 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,080.
Do clergy earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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