Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Religious workers, all other, represent a broad category of roles that support religious organizations and communities in varied ways. Nationally, this occupation employs about 88,000 people and offers a median annual salary of $45,120. Typical entry into this field requires a bachelor’s degree, paired with a versatile skill set that includes speaking and listening, interpersonal strengths, leadership, writing, and critical and analytical thinking. Career opportunities are spread across the country, with some states and metro areas offering higher salaries or stronger overall opportunity scores. Projected employment growth of 0.6% and an estimated 11,000 annual openings suggest ongoing movement in and out of these roles. For people drawn to religious settings who can combine creativity, adaptability, and project management with strong people skills, this career path can provide a way to use both analytical and relational abilities in a mission-focused environment.
The national median annual salary for religious workers, all other, is $45,120, providing a useful baseline for evaluating earning potential. Pay can vary significantly by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $37,860 in Maryland to $62,620 in Washington. Colorado and Virginia fall in the mid-$40,000 to high-$40,000 range, while California is close to the national median at $45,440. At the metro level, differences are even more pronounced. The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro shows a median salary of $86,330, compared with $41,410 in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA also offer salaries above the national median. These figures highlight how choosing a location can meaningfully influence potential earnings within this occupation.
Religious workers, all other, have national employment of about 88,000, with projected growth of 0.6%. This modest projected increase suggests that, overall, the number of positions is expected to remain relatively stable with slight expansion. The estimate of 11,000 annual openings indicates that job opportunities will arise not only from new positions but also from turnover, retirements, and people moving to other careers. Growth of 0.6% appears consistently across the highlighted states and metro areas, signaling a fairly uniform projection rather than strong regional differences in growth rates. For job seekers and career changers, this combination of stable employment levels and steady annual openings suggests that positions continue to become available on a regular basis. Candidates who meet the education expectations and possess the listed skills may find ongoing opportunities to enter or advance in the field over time.
Location choices can significantly shape the experience of religious workers, all other, especially when considering salary levels, employment counts, and opportunity scores. Among states, California stands out with an opportunity score of 67.38, employment of 1,390, and a median salary of $45,440, indicating both a sizeable workforce and conditions that score well overall. Washington combines a high median salary of $62,620 with 790 employed and an opportunity score of 56.29. Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland offer smaller employment bases but still appear among the top states by opportunity score. At the metro level, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area has the highest listed opportunity score at 77.42, while San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers the highest median salary at $86,330. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA also show strong opportunity scores above 60. These variations suggest that comparing both pay and opportunity score by region is important when targeting locations.
For religious workers, all other, the typical education requirement is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education supports the diverse skill set associated with the occupation. Key skills include speaking and listening, interpersonal abilities, writing and reading, and critical and analytical thinking, all of which are commonly developed in bachelor’s programs. Additional strengths such as leadership, project management, creativity and innovation, adaptability, and problem solving and decision making are also important. Together, these skills point to work that involves communication, coordination, and thoughtful judgment in religious contexts. Customer service is another highlighted skill, underlining the importance of effectively supporting and interacting with people. Individuals considering this field should plan for an educational pathway that builds strong communication, analytical, and leadership capabilities, and be prepared to apply those abilities in settings where interpersonal relationships and adaptable thinking are central to success.
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