Clergy pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,430 a year or less, while the top 10% make $72,050 or more. The middle half of clergy in Lexington earn between $49,700 and $65,530.
- $37K10th
- $50K25th
- $59KMedian
- $66K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,050 | $5,004 | $28.87 |
| Median | $59,220 | $4,935 | $28.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,700 | $4,142 | $23.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,530 | $5,461 | $31.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Clergy in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($58,370) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $60,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $60,050 | $59,220 | $37,430 | $72,050 | 90 |
| Kentucky | $58,370 | $58,920 | $40,640 | $80,630 | 410 |
| United States | $66,860 | $60,810 | $37,860 | $98,890 | 57,200 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Clergy salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $60,050, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $46,795 a year, or $3,900 a month and $1,800 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for clergy? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $60,050 buys what about $64,647 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 1st of 2 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Lexington$60,050
- Louisville$57,580
Highest-paying cities for clergy
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($104,000).
- Los Angeles, CA$104,000
- Santa Rosa, CA$85,300
- Seattle, WA$85,010
- Bozeman, MT$83,660
- San Francisco, CA$80,410
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Clergy salary in Lexington: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in Lexington?
$28.87 an hour on average, and $28.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,430 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in Lexington?
About $46,795 a year ($3,900 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,050. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do clergy earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,860).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 21-2011; area Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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