Clergy pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,980 or more. The middle half of clergy in Charleston earn between $49,480 and $73,440.
- $42K10th
- $49K25th
- $60KMedian
- $73K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,630 | $5,136 | $29.63 |
| Median | $59,570 | $4,964 | $28.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,480 | $4,123 | $23.79 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,440 | $6,120 | $35.31 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Clergy in Charleston earn 5% more than the South Carolina average ($58,590) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $60,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $61,630 | $59,570 | $42,380 | $86,980 | 60 |
| South Carolina | $58,590 | $56,630 | $42,110 | $79,950 | 450 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $61,630, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $49,929 a year, or $4,161 a month and $1,920 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for clergy? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $61,630 buys what about $61,043 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$61,630
- Columbia$59,610
- Greenville$58,090
- Spartanburg$54,980
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 Charleston: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in Charleston?
$29.63 an hour on average, and $28.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in Charleston?
About $49,929 a year ($4,161 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,630.
Do clergy earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
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