How much does a religious worker make?

US Religious Workers, All Other

Answer: A typical religious worker in the United States makes $45,280 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Yearly pay of a typical person doing this job in the US

$45,280

Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 16,000 people work in this job. About the same as the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).

Lower earner

$31,200

10th from the bottom of 100

Typical person

$45,280

Right in the middle (median)

Higher earner

$93,900

10th from the top of 100

If 100 people had this job

Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-right

Hover over a person to see their yearly pay

How many earn more than $45,000 a year?

51 of 100
more than half

Religious worker pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)

Religious worker pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread) — Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lower earner (10th from bottom)	Typical person (median)	Higher earner (10th from top)	People in this job
$31,200	$45,280	$93,900	about 16,000

States where religious workers earn the most (median, May 2025)
State	Typical person (median)	People in this job
Washington	$62,620	about 790
Arizona	$50,750	about 530
Georgia	$49,200	about 630
Illinois	$47,070	about 600
Michigan	$46,960	about 810

Why does pay differ?

In the United States, pay can differ with experience, education or faith-group credentials, the employer, and the location. Duties and hours can matter too: a hospital, prison, or community role may involve different work.

What if you lived in a different state?

Pay varies a lot by state in the US

Whole US$45,280

Washington$62,620

Arizona$50,750

Georgia$49,200

Illinois$47,070

Michigan$46,960

Florida$38,490

Oregon$36,830

Pennsylvania$34,580

Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.

What does a religious worker do?

All religious workers not listed separately.

What's a typical day like?

Some religious workers prepare lessons or services, then teach a group or offer guidance to people who ask for help. In a hospital, a chaplain may visit patients and join nurses and social workers on care rounds.

How to get this job

This U.S. job group has no single path; training depends on the role, faith group, and employer. Federal prison chaplains, for example, need a bachelor's degree, graduate religious studies, ministry experience, and faith-group endorsement.

Did you know?

Some U.S. military chaplains also support service members who say they have no religion.

Earn more in the same field

Community and Social Service jobs that pay a bit more

Sources and data

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine

Pages used for the text

Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY