Clergy pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,320 or more. The middle half of clergy in Charleston earn between $36,680 and $59,320.
- $37K10th
- $37K25th
- $51KMedian
- $59K75th
- $59K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,930 | $3,994 | $23.04 |
| Median | $50,520 | $4,210 | $24.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,680 | $3,057 | $17.63 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,320 | $4,943 | $28.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Clergy in Charleston earn 6% less than the West Virginia average ($51,130) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $60,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $47,930 | $50,520 | $36,600 | $59,320 | 50 |
| West Virginia | $51,130 | $48,460 | $36,600 | $63,770 | 290 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $47,930, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $39,335 a year, or $3,278 a month and $1,513 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for clergy? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $47,930 buys what about $54,026 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 3rd of 4 West Virginia metro areas for this job; Morgantown pays the most ($59,450).
- Morgantown$59,450
- Huntington$55,990
- Charleston$47,930
- Wheeling$40,870
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 Charleston: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in Charleston?
$23.05 an hour on average, and $24.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,680, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in Charleston?
About $39,335 a year ($3,278 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,930.
Do clergy earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.4%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.19, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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