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Best states for a priest
Quoted expert
Dr. Jill DeTemple Ph.D.
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We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for priests in the United States. Priest positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for priests.Our research found that Maine is the best state for priests, while Maine and California are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Maine has a median salary of $77,906 and Maine has the highest median salary among all 50 states for priests.
We figured that the best places for priest jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.Maine is the best state, and South Portland is the city with the highest pay for priests.
10 best states for priests in 2025
1. Maine
Total priest jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $77,906 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 0
2. Rhode Island
Total priest jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $73,098 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location Quotient: 0
3. California
Total priest jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $76,280 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 1.4
4. Vermont
Total priest jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $69,479 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000 Location Quotient: 0
5. New Hampshire
Total priest jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $66,382 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 0
6. Delaware
Total priest jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $67,741 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 0
7. Connecticut
Total priest jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $66,322 Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 0
8. Massachusetts
Total priest jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $62,332 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 5.33
9. West Virginia
Total priest jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $58,157 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $107,000 Location Quotient: 0
10. New York
Total priest jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $62,170 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Location Quotient: 0
Priest jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a priest
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a priest
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $77,906 | $42,000 | 1,335,907 | 0 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $73,098 | $39,000 | 1,059,639 | 0 |
| 3 | California | $76,280 | $42,000 | 39,536,653 | 5 |
| 4 | Vermont | $69,479 | $37,000 | 623,657 | 0 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $66,382 | $35,000 | 1,342,795 | 0 |
| 6 | Delaware | $67,741 | $35,000 | 961,939 | 0 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $66,322 | $35,000 | 3,588,184 | 0 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $62,332 | $33,000 | 6,859,819 | 6 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $58,157 | $31,000 | 1,815,857 | 0 |
| 10 | New York | $62,170 | $32,000 | 19,849,399 | 0 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $63,210 | $33,000 | 693,972 | 0 |
| 12 | Arizona | $53,978 | $30,000 | 7,016,270 | 10 |
| 13 | Nevada | $52,698 | $29,000 | 2,998,039 | 5 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $56,612 | $29,000 | 9,005,644 | 0 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $50,850 | $26,000 | 12,805,537 | 0 |
| 16 | Maryland | $54,231 | $28,000 | 6,052,177 | 0 |
| 17 | Idaho | $46,376 | $29,000 | 1,716,943 | 5 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $46,342 | $27,000 | 5,795,483 | 0 |
| 19 | Michigan | $46,355 | $25,000 | 9,962,311 | 0 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $45,011 | $25,000 | 6,715,984 | 0 |
| 21 | Ohio | $44,745 | $24,000 | 11,658,609 | 0 |
| 22 | Indiana | $44,646 | $25,000 | 6,666,818 | 0 |
| 23 | Washington | $46,044 | $28,000 | 7,405,743 | 2 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $45,316 | $24,000 | 10,273,419 | 0 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $44,946 | $29,000 | 579,315 | 0 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $50,353 | $37,000 | 1,427,538 | 0 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $43,316 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 0 |
| 28 | Virginia | $45,164 | $23,000 | 8,470,020 | 0 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $43,175 | $27,000 | 5,576,606 | 0 |
| 30 | Utah | $42,485 | $26,000 | 3,101,833 | 0 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $40,690 | $23,000 | 2,088,070 | 0 |
| 32 | Texas | $40,861 | $22,000 | 28,304,596 | 0 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $39,566 | $28,000 | 755,393 | 0 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $39,573 | $22,000 | 4,454,189 | 0 |
| 35 | Illinois | $40,787 | $23,000 | 12,802,023 | 0 |
| 36 | Colorado | $42,227 | $27,000 | 5,607,154 | 0 |
| 37 | Oregon | $41,271 | $24,000 | 4,142,776 | 0 |
| 38 | Iowa | $38,603 | $23,000 | 3,145,711 | 0 |
| 39 | Georgia | $38,890 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 0 |
| 40 | Kansas | $38,545 | $23,000 | 2,913,123 | 0 |
| 41 | Alabama | $36,404 | $20,000 | 4,874,747 | 0 |
| 42 | Missouri | $38,115 | $22,000 | 6,113,532 | 0 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $36,914 | $19,000 | 4,684,333 | 0 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $36,645 | $21,000 | 3,930,864 | 0 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $31,781 | $21,000 | 869,666 | 0 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $33,392 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 0 |
| 47 | Florida | $32,699 | $16,000 | 20,984,400 | 2 |
| 48 | Alaska | $27,000 | $22,000 | 739,795 | 0 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $32,503 | $20,000 | 1,920,076 | 0 |
| 50 | Montana | $30,541 | $21,000 | 1,050,493 | 0 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $31,906 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 0 |
Highest paying states for priests
| Rank | State | Avg. Priest Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $77,906 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $73,098 |
| 3 | California | $76,280 |
| 4 | Vermont | $69,479 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $66,382 |
| 6 | Delaware | $67,741 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $66,322 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $62,332 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $58,157 |
| 10 | New York | $62,170 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $63,210 |
| 12 | Arizona | $53,978 |
| 13 | Nevada | $52,698 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $56,612 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $50,850 |
| 16 | Maryland | $54,231 |
| 17 | Idaho | $46,376 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $46,342 |
| 19 | Michigan | $46,355 |
| 20 | Tennessee | $45,011 |
| 21 | Ohio | $44,745 |
| 22 | Indiana | $44,646 |
| 23 | Washington | $46,044 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $45,316 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $44,946 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $50,353 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $43,316 |
| 28 | Virginia | $45,164 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $43,175 |
| 30 | Utah | $42,485 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $40,690 |
| 32 | Texas | $40,861 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $39,566 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $39,573 |
| 35 | Illinois | $40,787 |
| 36 | Colorado | $42,227 |
| 37 | Oregon | $41,271 |
| 38 | Iowa | $38,603 |
| 39 | Georgia | $38,890 |
| 40 | Kansas | $38,545 |
| 41 | Alabama | $36,404 |
| 42 | Missouri | $38,115 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $36,914 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $36,645 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $31,781 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $33,392 |
| 47 | Florida | $32,699 |
| 48 | Alaska | $27,000 |
| 49 | Nebraska | $32,503 |
| 50 | Montana | $30,541 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $31,906 |
Expert opinions on the best states for priests
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for priests to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jill DeTemple Ph.D.
Department Chair, Professor, Southern Methodist University
We're not a field (read here as industry), so this question doesn't exactly pertain. Our graduates end up all over the country and in international work, from Los Angeles to the Rio Grande Valley, to New York, to Chicago, to Ulan Bator.
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Updated January 8, 2025