Clergy Salary in California

Ranked #1 of 50 · CA

30.3% above U.S. average
Mean annual salary $87,150 ≈ $42/hr
Median annual salary $77,710
Employment 7,110

Salary Distribution (10th–90th percentile)

P10 $42,690P25 $61,310 Median $77,710P75 $97,640P90 $157,030

About 80% of clergys in California earn between $42,690 and $157,030. The blue band is the middle 50% (P25–P75); the dot marks the median.

Compared to the U.S.

California
$87,150
U.S. average
$66,860

The mean clergy salary in California is $87,150, about 30.3% above the U.S. average ($66,860). That works out to roughly $42/hr at 2,080 hours per year.

Metro Areas in California

Metro areaMedianMeanEmployment
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $84,050 $104,000
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $81,280 $79,270 70
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $80,760 $85,300 70
Vallejo, CA $79,590 $75,860 60
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area $79,100 $78,250 30
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $78,330 $78,400 450
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $77,510 $77,970 330
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $77,450 $77,750 560

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do clergy make in California?

The median clergy salary in California is $77,710 per year (mean $87,150), and about 80% earn between $42,690 and $157,030.

How much do clergy make per hour in California?

Roughly $42 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $87,150 and 2,080 work hours per year.

Is California a high-paying state for clergy?

California ranks #1 of 50 states for clergy pay. Its mean salary of $87,150 is about 30.3% above the U.S. average of $66,860.

Which metro areas in California pay clergy the most?

The highest-paying metro areas in California for clergy are Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($84,050), Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($81,280), Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA ($80,760), by median annual wage.

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