Clergy pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $67,640 or more. The middle half of clergy in Knoxville earn between $49,450 and $62,660.
- $44K10th
- $49K25th
- $57KMedian
- $63K75th
- $68K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,570 | $4,714 | $27.20 |
| Median | $57,140 | $4,762 | $27.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,450 | $4,121 | $23.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,660 | $5,222 | $30.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Clergy pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Clergy in Knoxville earn 3% less than the Tennessee average ($58,550) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($66,860). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $60,810.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $56,570 | $57,140 | $44,090 | $67,640 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $58,550 | $57,260 | $41,600 | $73,920 | 710 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $56,570, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $47,634 a year, or $3,970 a month and $1,832 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for clergy? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $56,570 buys what about $61,111 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Clergy salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 5th of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($61,050).
- Nashville$61,050
- Johnson City$60,350
- Memphis$60,220
- Chattanooga$59,050
- Knoxville$56,570
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 Knoxville: questions
How much do clergy make an hour in Knoxville?
$27.20 an hour on average, and $27.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level clergy salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the clergy take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $47,634 a year ($3,970 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,570. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do clergy earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.37, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.37).
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