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Community and Social Service

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.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Clergy
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Median pay

$60,820
Median annual pay for Clergy.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

1%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

23,000
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

262,000
Estimated U.S. employment for Clergy in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

+2,600
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Bachelor's degree
Typical additional preparation: Moderate-term on-the-job training.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Speaking
  2. 2Active Listening
  3. 3Reading Comprehension
  4. 4Writing
  5. 5Active Learning
  6. 6Critical Thinking

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Philosophy and Theology
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Administration and Management
  4. 4Customer and Personal Service
  5. 5Education and Training
  6. 6Therapy and Counseling

Abilities

  1. 1Speech Clarity
  2. 2Oral Expression
  3. 3Oral Comprehension
  4. 4Deductive Reasoning
  5. 5Inductive Reasoning
  6. 6Problem Sensitivity

Career interests

  1. 1Social
  2. 2Enterprising
  3. 3Artistic
  4. 4Conventional
  5. 5Investigative
  6. 6Realistic

Work styles

  1. 1Cooperation
  2. 2Empathy
  3. 3Dependability
  4. 4Integrity
  5. 5Sincerity
  6. 6Humility

Work activities

  1. 1Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  2. 2Assisting and Caring for Others
  3. 3Getting Information
  4. 4Developing and Building Teams
  5. 5Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  6. 6Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others

Work context

  1. 1E-Mail
  2. 2Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  3. 3Telephone Conversations
  4. 4Contact With Others
  5. 5Freedom to Make Decisions
  6. 6Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals

Representative tasks

  • Pray and promote spirituality.
  • Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks.
  • Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
  • Organize and lead regular religious services.
  • Instruct people who seek conversion to a particular faith.
  • Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching.
  • Counsel individuals or groups concerning their spiritual, emotional, or personal needs.
  • Administer religious rites or ordinances.

Software and tools

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Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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