Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for priests in the United States
Priest job and salary trends over time
Priest jobs over time
Priest job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 622 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 640 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 651 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 624 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 611 | 0.00% |
Average priest salary over time
Priest salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $44,712 | $21.50 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $43,387 | $20.86 | +2.9% |
| 2023 | $42,173 | $20.28 | +4.0% |
| 2022 | $40,546 | $19.49 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $39,375 | $18.93 | +3.4% |
Priest jobs by state
Most common states for priests
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 10 | 0% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 6 | 0% |
| 3 | California | 39,536,653 | 5 | 0% |
| 4 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 5 | 0% |
| 5 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 5 | 0% |
| 6 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 0 | 0% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 0 | 0% |
| 8 | Vermont | 623,657 | 0 | 0% |
| 9 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 0 | 0% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 0 | 0% |
| 11 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 0 | 0% |
| 12 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 0 | 0% |
| 13 | New York | 19,849,399 | 0 | 0% |
| 14 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 0 | 0% |
| 15 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 0 | 0% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 0 | 0% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 0 | 0% |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 0 | 0% |
| 19 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 0 | 0% |
| 20 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 0 | 0% |
Most common cities for priests
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Towson | 1 | 2% | $55,129 |
| 2 | Redding | 1 | 1% | $73,196 |
Priest job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of priest experts
Judson University
Pacific Christian College of Ministry and Biblical Studies
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Southern Methodist University
What Priest skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rev. Elliott Anderson: The best way to maximize your salary in pastoral ministries is to not focus on it. Find a job in ministry you love and allow the financial returns to follow a strong work ethic, a recognition and acceptance of your current role, and a consideration of further ones that have more earning potential, but only as they fit the man or woman you are and want to be. One of the biggest mistakes in ministry is leaving a job we love and are effective in to simply earn more money in a different role that we don't like, that doesn't fit our spiritual gifts or experience, and where we quickly lose our joy in the faith and our joy in our pastoral roles.
What will help Priests increase their earning potential?
Rev. Elliott Anderson: Listening. We must return to men and women of faith who are exceptional listeners with steady eye contact, nonverbal acceptance, open posture, warm and welcoming smiles and sincere holistic empathy. And after we set the baseline of foundational engagement, we must be active listeners which includes validation and affirmation of the person regardless of our views of their strengths, weaknesses, successes, failures, gifts, and sin. Too many Pastors, like to hear our own understanding of wisdom which often blocks the one we are ministering to from gaining the wisdom for themselves. Listening is a skill we can develop and even master, but very few people, even within the listening professions, like Pastors and Ministers, learn to do it well or intentionally focus on becoming an outstanding listener.
Dr. Robbie Phillips
Professor of Biblical Studies, Chair, Undergraduate Ministry ProgramPacific Christian College of Ministry and Biblical Studies
What soft skills should all Priests possess?
Dr. Robbie Phillips: This would be dominated by relational skills, interpersonal communication skills, general people skills, and conflict resolution.
Leah Thomas Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care and Contextual EducationAnabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
Church and Ministry
What soft skills should all Priests possess?
Leah Thomas Ph.D.: In my students, I encourage the development of soft skills such as deep listening, empathy, authenticity, flexibility, integrity, trustworthiness, and a collaborative leadership style. These skills exist alongside commitments to ongoing spiritual formation, self and theological reflection and reflexivity, ongoing education and supervision, and care of the self's physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual parts.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Priests to find work opportunities?
Dr. Jill DeTemple Ph.D.: 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.