While they might lead thousands upon thousands in worship, catholic priests are often met with relatively low salaries, especially when compared to other religious leaders. A large part of this has to do with doctrine. Catholic priest take a series of vows when entering this service. Chastity is one of the better known, but priests also take a vow of poverty; they’re expect to do more with less. And unlike rabbis or protestant ministers, priests do not have families to support, so the need for money isn't the same.
In 2011, clergy averaged $48,490 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Because high salaries of more experienced clergy can skew this figure, median wage is often a better reflection of earnings. The median wage -- or midpoint salary -- for clergy was $44,140 a year. Half of all clergy earned this wage or less in a year. Neither figure, however, accounts for different pay among religions. A Catholic priest is paid a different scale than a rabbi, for example.
A survey conducted by the National Association of Church Business Administration found that Catholic priests earned some of the lowest wages for clergy in the United States. As of 2008, a Catholic priest can expect a median wage of $33,100 a year, while a Catholic music minister made $42,700 a year. By comparison, a Protestant minister earned an annual salary of $48,100, while a Protestant music minister earned an annual salary of $53,700 for that same year.
As with any vocation, location affects salaries, and priests are no exception. In Los Angeles, for example, a Catholic priest averages $57,593 a year, reports the Economic Research Institute. Those in New York City also make more than most, averaging $45,125 a year, while an Atlanta-based priest can expect a salary of $40,149 a year. The same, however, can’t be said for Catholic priests in Dallas, Texas, where salaries average out at $33,279 a year.
The BLS projects an 18 percent employment growth for all clergy member from 2010 to 2020. This is slightly faster than the anticipated 14 percent employment growth for all U.S. occupations. As the population continues to grow, churches must hire clergy to conduct worship services and provide religious guidance to their congregations.
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