Clergy pay range in Madison
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,850 or more. The middle half of clergy in Madison earn between $58,740 and $71,690.
- $51K10th
- $59K25th
- $61KMedian
- $72K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,890 | $5,574 | $32.16 |
| Median | $60,900 | $5,075 | $29.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,740 | $4,895 | $28.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $71,690 | $5,974 | $34.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in Madison vs. Wisconsin and the U.S.
Clergy in Madison earn 5% more than the Wisconsin average ($63,730) and about the same as 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | $66,890 | $60,900 | $50,960 | $78,850 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $63,730 | $60,950 | $47,320 | $80,770 | 770 |
| 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 Madison
On the average salary of $66,890, a single filer in Madison takes home about $53,425 a year, or $4,452 a month and $2,055 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Madison a good place for clergy? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Madison area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.3), so the average $66,890 buys what about $68,755 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Madison ($58,080). A typical home costs $452,769, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in other Wisconsin cities
Madison ranks 1st of 4 Wisconsin 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 Madison: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in Madison?
$32.16 an hour on average, and $29.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in Madison?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in Madison?
About $53,425 a year ($4,452 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,890.
Do clergy earn more in Madison 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 Madison, WI (31540). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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