Religious Workers, All Other
Religious Workers, All Other (SOC 21-2099) earn a median $45,280 a year ($21.77 an hour) in the United States, with 15,760 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What religious workers, all other do
Religious workers, all other, is the residual category for people who perform religious or spiritual duties but are not clergy and are not directors of religious activities and education. It covers a wide range of roles within different faiths, and titles reported to O*NET include cantor, Buddhist monk, Bible teacher, and Bible reader. Depending on the faith and the role, these workers may lead music in worship, as a cantor does, teach scripture, as a Bible teacher does, or live as part of a monastic community, as a Buddhist monk does. Because the category is a catch-all and the roles are shaped by the practices of each faith, the tasks, the education involved, and the pay vary widely, and the data used for this page do not give a single set of tasks or a single education level for the group. The group differs from clergy, who conduct worship and perform ordained functions, and from directors of religious activities and education, who coordinate educational programs. Bible worker and Christian Science healer are also on the O*NET list.
Also called: Bible Teacher, Cantor, Buddhist Monk, Bible Worker, Bible Reader.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $15.00 | $16.98 | $21.77 | $29.04 | $45.14 | $25.90 | 15,760 |
| Annual | $31,200 | $35,310 | $45,280 | $60,390 | $93,900 | $53,870 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where religious workers, all other earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $18.17 | $21.31 | $30.11 | $35.03 | $35.03 | $28.92 | 790 | 0.22 | 2.19 |
| Annual | $37,800 | $44,320 | $62,620 | $72,850 | $72,850 | $60,140 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $16.09 | $17.02 | $24.59 | $51.22 | $70.23 | $33.54 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $33,470 | $35,390 | $51,150 | $106,550 | $146,070 | $69,760 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $16.65 | $23.40 | $24.40 | $29.76 | $37.62 | $27.16 | 530 | 0.16 | 1.60 |
| Annual | $34,640 | $48,670 | $50,750 | $61,900 | $78,240 | $56,490 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $15.81 | $17.63 | $24.25 | $32.23 | $45.20 | $28.64 | 250 | 0.09 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $32,880 | $36,680 | $50,440 | $67,040 | $94,010 | $59,580 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $14.68 | $19.43 | $23.65 | $33.36 | $33.36 | $25.34 | 630 | 0.13 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $30,530 | $40,400 | $49,200 | $69,390 | $69,390 | $52,700 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $17.25 | $17.73 | $21.85 | $32.18 | $46.84 | $27.06 | 1,390 | 0.08 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $35,880 | $36,870 | $45,440 | $66,940 | $97,430 | $56,290 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $9.32 | $10.47 | $16.63 | $22.11 | $27.94 | $18.16 | 940 | 0.16 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $19,390 | $21,780 | $34,580 | $45,990 | $58,110 | $37,770 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $16.89 | $17.70 | $22.58 | $26.15 | $36.17 | $23.35 | 810 | 0.19 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $35,140 | $36,820 | $46,960 | $54,390 | $75,240 | $48,560 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $18.17 | $21.31 | $30.11 | $35.03 | $35.03 | $28.92 | 790 | 0.22 | 2.19 |
| Annual | $37,800 | $44,320 | $62,620 | $72,850 | $72,850 | $60,140 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $13.70 | $15.60 | $18.50 | $22.36 | $28.99 | $21.11 | 750 | 0.08 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $28,500 | $32,450 | $38,490 | $46,500 | $60,300 | $43,920 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $19.58 | $24.50 | $41.51 | $50.57 | $66.61 | $40.27 | 280 | 0.12 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $40,720 | $50,960 | $86,330 | $105,180 | $138,550 | $83,750 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $24.25 | $24.25 | $36.28 | $49.29 | $87.55 | $42.39 | 60 | 0.03 | 0.34 |
| Annual | $50,440 | $50,440 | $75,460 | $102,520 | $182,100 | $88,170 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $18.81 | $21.31 | $30.11 | $35.03 | $35.03 | $29.17 | 720 | 0.35 | 3.43 |
| Annual | $39,120 | $44,320 | $62,620 | $72,850 | $72,850 | $60,670 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $16.65 | $23.40 | $29.63 | $29.76 | $37.62 | $27.45 | 450 | 0.19 | 1.89 |
| Annual | $34,640 | $48,670 | $61,640 | $61,900 | $78,240 | $57,090 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $17.18 | $23.50 | $24.79 | $33.36 | $33.36 | $27.22 | 470 | 0.16 | 1.59 |
| Annual | $35,730 | $48,880 | $51,550 | $69,390 | $69,390 | $56,610 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $18.81 | $21.31 | $30.11 | $35.03 | $35.03 | $29.17 | 720 | 0.35 | 3.43 |
| Annual | $39,120 | $44,320 | $62,620 | $72,850 | $72,850 | $60,670 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $17.18 | $23.50 | $24.79 | $33.36 | $33.36 | $27.22 | 470 | 0.16 | 1.59 |
| Annual | $35,730 | $48,880 | $51,550 | $69,390 | $69,390 | $56,610 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $17.10 | $18.99 | $24.14 | $29.84 | $44.76 | $26.02 | 450 | 0.10 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $35,560 | $39,490 | $50,210 | $62,060 | $93,090 | $54,130 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $16.65 | $23.40 | $29.63 | $29.76 | $37.62 | $27.45 | 450 | 0.19 | 1.89 |
| Annual | $34,640 | $48,670 | $61,640 | $61,900 | $78,240 | $57,090 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $17.22 | $17.33 | $23.05 | $32.18 | $36.46 | $24.99 | 390 | 0.06 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $35,810 | $36,040 | $47,940 | $66,940 | $75,840 | $51,990 | ||||
Top industries employing religious workers, all other
Religious Organizations employ 87.6% of religious workers, all other nationally (13,800 jobs) at a median $45,030 a year ($21.65 an hour), followed by Elementary and Secondary Schools (1.9%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (1.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Religious Organizations NAICS 813100 | 13,800 | 87.6% | $45,030 | $21.65 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 300 | 1.9% | $40,230 | $19.34 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 260 | 1.6% | $45,000 | $21.63 |
| Home Health Care Services NAICS 621600 | 220 | 1.4% | $66,970 | $32.20 |
| Individual and Family Services NAICS 624100 | 220 | 1.4% | $36,970 | $17.77 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (15,760). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $37,500 for religious workers, all other in May 2021 and $45,280 in May 2025, with employment of 10,490 and 15,760.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $37,500 | $18.03 | 10,490 |
| May 2022 | $39,370 | $18.93 | 10,720 |
| May 2023 | $37,960 | $18.25 | 11,870 |
| May 2024 | $45,120 | $21.69 | 12,170 |
| May 2025 | $45,280 | $21.77 | 15,760 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
29 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $30.11 | $62,620 | $37,800 | $72,850 | 790 | 0.22 | 2.19 |
| 2 | New York profile | $24.59 | $51,150 | $33,470 | $146,070 | ** | ** | ** |
| 3 | Arizona profile | $24.40 | $50,750 | $34,640 | $78,240 | 530 | 0.16 | 1.60 |
| 4 | Colorado profile | $24.25 | $50,440 | $32,880 | $94,010 | 250 | 0.09 | 0.86 |
| 5 | Georgia profile | $23.65 | $49,200 | $30,530 | $69,390 | 630 | 0.13 | 1.27 |
| 6 | Virginia profile | $23.18 | $48,210 | $33,750 | $66,860 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.23 |
| 7 | District of Columbia profile | $22.80 | $47,430 | $36,400 | $103,110 | 110 | 0.16 | 1.60 |
| 8 | Illinois profile | $22.63 | $47,070 | $35,560 | $87,010 | 600 | 0.10 | 0.96 |
| 9 | Michigan profile | $22.58 | $46,960 | $35,140 | $75,240 | 810 | 0.19 | 1.83 |
| 10 | Missouri profile | $22.49 | $46,780 | $28,600 | $64,340 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.27 |
| 11 | California profile | $21.85 | $45,440 | $35,880 | $97,430 | 1,390 | 0.08 | 0.75 |
| 12 | Arkansas profile | $21.52 | $44,760 | $29,340 | $59,330 | 100 | 0.08 | 0.76 |
| 13 | Iowa profile | $21.21 | $44,110 | $23,240 | $60,790 | 230 | 0.15 | 1.43 |
| 14 | Tennessee profile | $21.14 | $43,980 | $35,110 | $77,340 | 130 | 0.04 | 0.38 |
| 15 | New Jersey profile | $20.90 | $43,480 | $32,240 | $76,890 | 560 | 0.13 | 1.28 |
| 16 | Ohio profile | $19.61 | $40,780 | $28,020 | $56,930 | 320 | 0.06 | 0.57 |
| 17 | Connecticut profile | $18.90 | $39,310 | $34,010 | $82,510 | 150 | 0.09 | 0.88 |
| 18 | Florida profile | $18.50 | $38,490 | $28,500 | $60,300 | 750 | 0.08 | 0.74 |
| 19 | Indiana profile | $18.33 | $38,130 | $24,350 | $58,570 | 210 | 0.06 | 0.64 |
| 20 | Maryland profile | $18.20 | $37,860 | $31,200 | $96,490 | 370 | 0.13 | 1.32 |
| 21 | Hawaii profile | $18.14 | $37,730 | $30,670 | $60,630 | 180 | 0.29 | 2.81 |
| 22 | Montana profile | $17.91 | $37,250 | $24,910 | $56,750 | 150 | 0.29 | 2.83 |
| 23 | Mississippi profile | $17.85 | $37,130 | $28,860 | $48,860 | 90 | 0.08 | 0.80 |
| 24 | Oregon profile | $17.71 | $36,830 | $31,010 | $53,610 | 660 | 0.33 | 3.29 |
| 25 | Minnesota profile | $17.62 | $36,660 | $27,460 | $68,800 | 280 | 0.10 | 0.95 |
| 26 | Texas profile | $17.51 | $36,420 | $28,080 | $59,080 | 440 | 0.03 | 0.31 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania profile | $16.63 | $34,580 | $19,390 | $58,110 | 940 | 0.16 | 1.53 |
| 28 | Kentucky profile | $16.39 | $34,090 | $23,390 | $50,360 | ** | ** | ** |
| – | Oklahoma profile | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.03 | 0.28 |
Part of Community and Social Service Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 21-2099 Religious Workers, All Other.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 21-2099, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 21-2099.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.