Prevailing Wage for Clergy
Prevailing wage for Clergy (SOC 21-2011) is set by DOL across four experience levels, from entry-level ministers and chaplains to senior bishops and lead pastors. The floor differs significantly by metropolitan area, so a qualifying offer in one city may fall short in another. Checking the correct level and worksite location is the starting point for any sponsored position.
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Entry-level clergy with limited independent responsibility, typically newer to formal ministry roles or joining a congregation for the first time. Work is performed under close supervision with defined duties and minimal discretionary authority over programs or staff.
The most common filing level for sponsored clergy positions. Workers have practical experience in pastoral or chaplaincy roles, exercise independent judgment on routine spiritual functions, and require only general oversight rather than close supervision.
Experienced clergy with a track record of leading congregations, programs, or institutional chaplaincy departments. Roles at this level involve significant independent authority, mentoring junior ministers, and managing broader religious programming with minimal oversight.
Fully competent senior clergy, such as a lead bishop or executive pastor, setting theological direction, overseeing multiple ministers or campuses, and taking primary responsibility for an organization's religious mission and community outreach strategy.
Prevailing Wage for Clergy by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Clergy and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your filing level matches your actual role
Many sponsored chaplain and pastor positions are filed at Level 2, but a candidate leading a congregation independently or overseeing other ministers may qualify under Level 3. Filing at the wrong level understates the required wage floor and can create compliance exposure at LCA review.
Watch for compensation excluded from the prevailing wage calculation
Housing allowances are common in clergy compensation packages. DOL's prevailing wage floor applies to the base cash wage, and housing stipends typically do not count toward meeting it. Confirm your offer's cash salary alone clears the applicable level before accepting.
Prioritize metro areas with higher clergy wage floors
Clergy prevailing wages vary sharply by location. California metros and Hartford post significantly higher floors than Appalachian or Puerto Rico markets. If you have geographic flexibility, targeting high-floor metros can meaningfully improve your negotiating baseline and sponsorship viability.
Use Migrate Mate to identify employers with clergy sponsorship history
Religious organizations and hospital chaplaincy programs both sponsor clergy, but sponsorship frequency varies widely. Migrate Mate shows which specific employers have sponsored clergy roles before, letting you focus outreach on organizations with a demonstrated track record rather than guessing.
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Find Jobs for ClergyPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 21-2011.00 alongside Clergy, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Bishop Prevailing Wage
Bishop Prevailing Wage
Bishop positions fall under SOC 21-2011.00 (Clergy). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Chaplain Prevailing Wage
Chaplain Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Chaplain for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-2011.00 (Clergy). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Children's Minister Prevailing Wage
Children's Minister Prevailing Wage
Children's Minister is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-2011.00 (Clergy). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Imam Prevailing Wage
Imam Prevailing Wage
Imam positions fall under SOC 21-2011.00 (Clergy). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Minister Prevailing Wage
Minister Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Minister for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-2011.00 (Clergy). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pastor Prevailing Wage
Pastor Prevailing Wage
Pastor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-2011.00 (Clergy). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Priest Prevailing Wage
Priest Prevailing Wage
Priest positions fall under SOC 21-2011.00 (Clergy). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Rabbi Prevailing Wage
Rabbi Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Rabbi for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 21-2011.00 (Clergy). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Rector Prevailing Wage
Rector Prevailing Wage
Rector is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 21-2011.00 (Clergy). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Worship Pastor Prevailing Wage
Worship Pastor Prevailing Wage
Worship Pastor positions fall under SOC 21-2011.00 (Clergy). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for clergy positions?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For clergy, OFLC assigns a wage to one of four experience levels based on regional survey results. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored minister or chaplain must offer at least the wage corresponding to the correct level and worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to me?
Level 1 covers entry-level clergy working under close supervision with limited autonomy. Level 2 applies to practitioners with independent judgment in routine pastoral duties and is the most common filing level. Level 3 reflects experienced clergy leading programs or departments. Level 4 covers senior roles with organization-wide authority. Your level should match your actual job duties, not just your title, so review the employer's LCA filing to confirm they selected the right one.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same clergy role vary so much between cities?
OFLC derives wages from regional labor market surveys, which reflect local cost of living, employer concentration, and demand for religious professionals. Under the worksite-on-LCA rule, the wage floor is tied to the metropolitan area where the work is actually performed, not the employer's headquarters. A pastor position in San Jose faces a substantially higher floor than an identical role in Charleston because the underlying BLS survey data for those labor markets differs.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored clergy role?
For H-1B and PERM-based green card filings, the employer must attest on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage. An offer below the floor means the LCA cannot lawfully be certified. If DOL audits and finds the wage was understated, the employer faces back-pay liability and potential debarment. You should not accept a sponsored offer where the cash salary falls below the applicable wage level for your worksite.
How can I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific clergy location?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current prevailing wage for clergy by SOC code 21-2011 and metropolitan area, returning all four level amounts for that location. You can also check O*NET for occupational context. To see which employers have historically sponsored clergy and what locations they hire in, Migrate Mate filters visa-sponsored job listings by role and location so you can benchmark real offers against the DOL floor.
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