# Clergy

> Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. Provide spiritual and moral guidance and assistance to members.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clergy
- SOC code: 21-2011.00
- Career family: Community and social service
- Median annual pay: $60,810 (10th percentile $37,860, 90th percentile $98,890)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.4%
- Openings a year: 19,200
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code SEA)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 18 |
| Investigative (I) | 18 |
| Artistic (A) | 41 |
| Social (S) | 82 |
| Enterprising (E) | 53 |
| Conventional (C) | 32 |

## What you'd do

- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 84/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 83/100)
- Getting Information (importance 80/100)
- Developing and Building Teams (importance 76/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 74/100)
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others (importance 70/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 69/100)
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates (importance 69/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 67/100)
- Developing Objectives and Strategies (importance 65/100)

## Skills

Speaking, Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making, Persuasion, Reading Comprehension, Time Management, Writing

## Knowledge

Philosophy and Theology, English Language, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Therapy and Counseling, Communications and Media, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, Personnel and Human Resources

## Also called

Administrator Pastor, Bishop, Brother, Campus Minister, Campus Pastor, Cantor, Catechist, Catholic Priest, Chancellor, Chaplain

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5115) (CIP 5115, 969 colleges)
- [Theological and Ministerial Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3906) (CIP 3906, 359 colleges)
- [Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/3907) (CIP 3907, 235 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $70,054 | $76,395 | $13,021 |
| [James Madison University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/james-madison-university-1324) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $38,321 | $67,033 | $19,500 |
| [Texas A & M University-College Station](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-college-station-2694) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $39,804 | $66,865 | $16,500 |
| [Worcester State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/worcester-state-university-3304) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $42,384 | $63,505 | $20,500 |
| [Western Connecticut State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-connecticut-state-university-3226) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $42,085 | $63,218 | $27,000 |
| [Metropolitan State University-Minnesota](https://www.collegesref.com/college/metropolitan-state-university-minnesota-1666) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $59,286 | $60,780 | $22,609 |
| [Davenport University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/davenport-university-770) | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $50,641 | $58,907 | $27,001 |
| [Colorado Christian University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/colorado-christian-university-637) | Theological and Ministerial Studies | not reported | $58,775 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Directors, Religious Activities and Education](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/directors-religious-activities-and-education): $52,100 median pay
- [Child, Family, and School Social Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/child-family-and-school-social-workers): $59,550 median pay
- [Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/educational-guidance-and-career-counselors-and-advisors): $64,330 median pay
- [Social and Human Service Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-and-human-service-assistants): $45,930 median pay
- [Social and Community Service Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-and-community-service-managers): $80,390 median pay
- [Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/philosophy-and-religion-teachers-postsecondary): $80,260 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.