Clergy salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Clergy in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $61,630 a year ($29.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,790 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $60,810. Pay here is 21% lower than the California statewide median of $77,710. There are 0.58 clergy per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $65,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for clergy in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| 25th percentile | $42,980 | $20.66 |
| Median | $61,630 | $29.63 |
| 75th percentile | $81,240 | $39.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,790 | $47.50 |
| Average (mean) | $65,290 | $31.39 |
Half of clergy earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,135.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,567.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,370.38 |
| Weekly | $1,185.19 |
| Hourly | $29.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,630 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Clergy salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $84,050 | n/a |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $81,280 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $80,760 | 70 |
| Vallejo, CA | $79,590 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,330 | 450 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $77,510 | 330 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $77,450 | 560 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $77,050 | 110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $76,720 | 310 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $75,020 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $74,580 | 1,130 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $73,770 | 90 |
| Salinas, CA | $73,770 | 60 |
| Fresno, CA | $71,130 | 280 |
| Modesto, CA | $65,360 | 90 |
| Redding, CA | $64,640 | 40 |
| Visalia, CA | $64,240 | 50 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $62,610 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for clergy
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $80,830 |
| California | $77,710 |
| Nevada | $73,910 |
| Massachusetts | $72,190 |
| New Jersey | $65,500 |
| New Hampshire | $65,200 |
| Vermont | $64,950 |
| District of Columbia | $64,800 |
| Maine | $64,340 |
| New Mexico | $64,100 |
See Clergy pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $56,870 | $27.34 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $74,990 | $36.05 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $58,790 | $28.27 |
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $61,960 | $29.79 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants | $54,870 | $26.38 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $70,910 | $34.09 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $57,950 | $27.86 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $89,430 | $43.00 |
| Community Health Worker | $59,470 | $28.59 |
| Health Education Specialist | $78,640 | $37.81 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | $62,680 | $30.13 |
| Counselors, All Other | $48,620 | $23.38 |
More: Community and Social Service Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 21-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a clergy make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for clergy in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $61,630 a year, or $29.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $98,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid clergy make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of clergy in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $98,790 a year. The top 25% earn $81,240 or more.
What is the starting pay for clergy in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,320 a year, and a quarter of clergy earn $42,980 or less.
How many clergy work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 60 clergy are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.