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Boston Career Explorer

Community and Social Service

Clergy

Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. Provide spiritual and moral guidance and assistance to members.

Also called: Bishop, Chaplain, Children's Minister, Imam, Minister, Pastor

Median pay in Greater Boston
$73,160
$35.17/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
620
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+5.9%
80 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$52,000$62,210$73,160$78,530$99,070

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Pray and promote spirituality.
  • Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks.
  • Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
  • Organize and lead regular religious services.
  • Instruct people who seek conversion to a particular faith.
  • Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure74 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 85
  • Language-model AIOE 94
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 42

Observed AI use today: Some (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure for this job is higher, and observed AI use is at some level. AI tools can help with writing and researching sermons and talks. They do not replace leading worship, praying with people, or giving spiritual guidance, which depend on personal presence and trust.

Likely to change

  • Drafting and researching sermons and talks
  • Preparing teaching materials for converts

Still relies on people

  • Leading worship and prayer in person
  • Offering spiritual guidance and comfort

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

7 programs near Boston (plus 21 graduate)

Related occupations

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