Clergy: pay and what the work involves

Occupation 2463 · Professional occupations

Clergy

Members of the clergy provide spiritual motivation and guidance, conduct worship according to the form of service of a particular faith/denomination and perform related functions associated with religious beliefs and practices.

How people enter it

Entrants typically possess a degree or equivalent qualification. Candidates for the clergy according to the Christian faith must pass a selection procedure and attend theological college where training includes theological instruction and practical pastoral experience. Training can last up to six years depending upon age, experience and denomination. Entry routes for other religious professionals will vary according to the particular faith concerned.

What the work involves

prepares and delivers sermons and talks and leads congregation in worship
interprets doctrines and instructs intending clergy members in religious principles and practices
provides and arranges the provision of religious instruction to congregation members
performs marriages, funerals, baptisms and other special religious rites
provides pastoral care to members of the congregation in their homes and in hospitals and counsels those in need of spiritual or moral guidance
undertakes administration and social duties as required

Also called

Chaplain · Clergyman · Minister of religion · Nun · Pastor · Priest · Vicar

What it pays

Measure	Hours	Basis	Period	Value	Source
2463 : Clergy	None	None	2026-03	32,500.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2463 : Clergy	None	None	2026-03	34,900.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2463 : Clergy	None	None	2026-03	39,600.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2463 : Clergy	None	None	2026-03	1,400.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2463 : Clergy	None	None	2026-03	4,700.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2463 : Clergy	None	None	2026-03	41,100.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)
2463 : Clergy	None	None	2026-03	2,400.00	ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020)

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

Region	Measure	Hours	Value	Period
East	2463 : Clergy	None	1,900.00	2026-03
East Midlands	2463 : Clergy	None	3,700.00	2026-03
London	2463 : Clergy	None	7,700.00	2026-03
North East	2463 : Clergy	None	600.00	2026-03
North West	2463 : Clergy	None	3,500.00	2026-03
Northern Ireland	2463 : Clergy	None	1,400.00	2026-03
Scotland	2463 : Clergy	None	4,700.00	2026-03
South East	2463 : Clergy	None	5,700.00	2026-03
South West	2463 : Clergy	None	3,900.00	2026-03
Wales	2463 : Clergy	None	2,400.00	2026-03
West Midlands	2463 : Clergy	None	1,700.00	2026-03
Yorkshire and The Humber	2463 : Clergy	None	3,800.00	2026-03

Common questions

Does pay for clergy vary by region?

ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 12 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.

Where do these pay figures come from?

The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.

Classified alongside this

Probation officers · Social workers · Welfare professionals n.e.c. · Youth work professionals