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Field of degree: Theology

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Theology field of degree. Employment: 400,980. Median annual wage: $50,000.

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Table 1. Theology degree, 2023
Data	Theology	All fields
Employment	400,980	63,725,710
Median wage	50,000	70,000
Percent employed part time	18	15
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	60	62
Percent with an advanced degree	46	38
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

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Chart 1. Types of theology, 2023
Theology major	Major share
Theology And Religious Vocations	100%
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a theology degree, by occupational group, 2023.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a theology degree, by occupational group, 2023
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Community and social service occupations	30%
Management occupations	13
Educational instruction and library occupations	10
Office and administrative support occupations	6
Business and financial operations occupations	6
Other	35
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a theology degree.

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Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a theology degree
Occupation	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2023	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2023	Percent growth, projected 2024–34	Typical entry-level education
Clergy	25%	48%	1%	Bachelor's degree
Elementary school teachers, except special education	4	49	-2	Bachelor's degree
Managers, all other	3	21	4	Bachelor's degree
Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary	2	56	-2	Master's degree
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers	2	2	4	Postsecondary nondegree award
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	2	74	17	Doctoral or professional degree
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	1	56	-2	Bachelor's degree
Chief executives	1	32	4	Bachelor's degree
Substitute teachers, short-term	1	23	2	Bachelor's degree
Directors, religious activities and education	1	26	2	Bachelor's degree
Note: Occupational profiles may comprise multiple SOC occupations, which may have differing education categories. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (projected growth, entry-level education) and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (degree holders, advanced degrees).

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Field of degree: Theology,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/theology/theology-field-of-degree.htm (visited October 13, 2025).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025