Comment by sonnyblarney | Hacker News Reader

Comment by sonnyblarney | Hacker News Reader

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For some data points:

"When it comes to clergy, new Catholic priests, which includes bishops, can expect a salary somewhere in the mid-$20,000 range, with median salaries varying slightly depending on geography. The highest median salary for a new priest is in the Midwest, at $29,856, while the lowest median salary, $24,960, is found in the Central region, which spans from Minnesota to Texas. The maximum salary for priests ranges from $29,744 in the West region to $44,417 in the Midwest."

Now this is Catholicism, so it's going to be regimented, along with mainline protestant ministries.

But even for the more 'American flavours' of Christianity, I suggest the average income is probably lower.

I'd consider these hustlers about the same level of the vast number of people who hustle products on their Instagram accounts which is to say some do very well, most don't.

Oddly, I'm not sure how much authenticity and revenue correlate for this, or any other field of service. It's the 'marketers' that tend to win.

[1] https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/08/11/how-much-do...

but everything included, so that is basically 35k, tax free, or in a lower tax bracket since so much of the compensation is non monetary, purely disposable.

edit, this says the median is 45k https://work.chron.com/much-catholic-priests-paid-12915.html

Bear in mind that while church organizations don't pay taxes, individual employees (including priests) do still pay income tax.

Clergy pay income tax.

Also, even if they didn't - they are not making a lot of money.

On average, it's peanuts.

This notion of 'rich minister' is not 'a thing' - it's exceedingly less common than in any other line of business.

It can be a very rich club, and its members are all expenses paid tax free, with a lower tax bracket for 10s of thousands of disposable income.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wealthiest_organizatio...

LDS net worth 67 billion, vatican, 30 billion etc. etc.

Obviously there are extremes on the other end, but for those with 45k disposable income, who can make investments and own land, no "vow of poverty" should be assumed either.

the bureau of labor statistics lists the mean salary for clergy as $50k, with a range of $25k to $80k as well.

https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes212011.htm

The LDS and Catholic Church asset values aren't really helpful, the clergy don't have a piece of that. There are a small number of admins, surely, who get to live in some nice buildings, but that's about it.

Again, $45K is not 'tax free'.

A 25-80K salary range is fairly meagre for the United States.

You're making my point for me: this is not a career for those who're aspiring to make a ton of money.

Many churches have traditionally provided housing for their clergy, which makes this pay rate seem somewhat more reasonable.

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