Clergy Compensation Packages in GOA

Theodore Kalmoukos

BOSTON – A newly-assigned priest who has just graduated from the Seminary should make an annual salary of $49,128 – $66,528 plus extras such as insurance, an automobile, a house (or an allowance for one) retirement contributions, seminars expenses, and many more. A priest with 35 years of ministry and more will earn $113,856 – $120,144, according to the Clergy Compensation Plan for 2012. The priests’ salaries are the biggest expense of the Parishes’ annual budget along with the annual monetary allocation they pay to the Archdiocese for the so called “Ministries”. According to the official Clergy Compensation Plan for 2012, a priest with service of up to five years can expect to earn $49,128 – $66,528; 6-10 years $68,528 – $74,136; 11-15 years $74,136 - $84,960; 16-20 years $84,960 - $94,440; 21-25 years $94,440 - $101,136; 26-30 years $101,136 - $107,616; 31-35 years $107,616 - $113,856; and over 35 years $113.856 - $120,144.

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September 29, 2011

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1. Dionysios Markopoulos wrote on October 04, 2011 11:52 AM	There is no point in comparing the United States to Greece. As a professional, I think the priest's salaries are low. Even the high scale is low compared to the professional marketplace. I pay most of my executives well over 150K to 200K plus all their benefits which include car leases, gas, tolls, insurance, end of year bonuses, contribution to 401k plans etc. I do not pay housing or utilities like many parishes pay. The fact is most of our priests are professionals with at least one graduate degree, most are married and they either have or will have kids. Kids are expensive. Kids either go or will go to college. College is expensive. The priest who does so much for our parishes and our people should be able to live like a human being. He should be able to raise his kids and send them to college. We live in the United States. This is an expensive country to live in. This is an expensive country to have parishes in. That's the reality. Let's deal with it. As to the parishes paying into the archdiocese, it's only a maximum of 15%. That's fair and reasonable. I would be pleased indeed if I were only taxed 15%! Now what the archdiocese does with that money is another matter? Can they be more efficient? Probably. Almost every organization can be more efficient.

2. Philip Vorgias wrote on October 04, 2011 1:28 PM	I agree with Dionysios that the pay scale for Priests is hardly excessive for a professional who usually works long hours. We don't need men who go into the Priesthood to think they have to assume a life of privation-especially as our Priests are allowed to marry and have families (which is a positive thing, unless you think the Roman Catholic Church is doing the right thing with celibacy!). They need to be compensated so they can live comfortably and support their families without concern. As for the GOCA attracting Priests from other denominations, great! That means we'll get the best and the brightest wanting to join our ranks. We want that.

3. Dino Panayiotarakos wrote on October 07, 2011 10:12 AM	Dear Mr. Kalmoukos, Your opening sentence incorrectly states the facts. The annual salary you write about does not exclude a housing allowance. The figures you state are actually the range for Salary and Housing Allowance. Furthermore, you state one of the extras to be retirement contributions. The retirement contributions paid by the parishes should not be considered benefits to the priest as this payment is not priest specific. Pease be more careful.
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