Clergy
Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. Provide spiritual and moral guidance and assistance to members.
AI Impact Summary
Clergy faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 28/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 27% of all analyzed occupations. Of 21 analyzed tasks, 3 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Memorization is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Clergy skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
21 tasks analyzed
Pray and promote spirituality.
Read from sacred texts such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks.
Organize and lead regular religious services.
Plan or lead religious education programs.
Instruct people who seek conversion to a particular faith.
Counsel individuals or groups concerning their spiritual, emotional, or personal needs.
Administer religious rites or ordinances.
Devise ways in which congregational membership can be expanded.
Visit people in homes, hospitals, or prisons to provide them with comfort and support.
Conduct special ceremonies, such as weddings, funerals, or confirmations.
Study and interpret religious laws, doctrines, or traditions.
Train leaders of church, community, or youth groups.
Respond to requests for assistance during emergencies or crises.
Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching.
Prepare people for participation in religious ceremonies.
Collaborate with committees or individuals to address financial or administrative issues pertaining to congregations.
Refer people to community support services, psychologists, or doctors.
Participate in fundraising activities to support congregational activities or facilities.
Perform administrative duties, such as overseeing building management, ordering supplies, contracting for services or repairs, or supervising the work of staff members or volunteers.
Organize or engage in interfaith, community, civic, educational, or recreational activities sponsored by or related to religious programs.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pray and promote spirituality. | 60.77Observed | 39.3% | 4% | |
| Read from sacred texts such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran. | 57.23Observed | 72.1% | 2% | |
| Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks. | 59.38Observed | 50.8% | 10% | |
| Organize and lead regular religious services. | 63.9Observed | 40.6% | 10% | |
| Plan or lead religious education programs. | 64.35Observed | 40.7% | 5% | |
| Instruct people who seek conversion to a particular faith. | 65.62Observed | 41.3% | 3% | |
| Counsel individuals or groups concerning their spiritual, emotional, or personal needs. | 68.47Observed | 42.4% | 10% | |
| Administer religious rites or ordinances. | 32Estimated | 62.0% | 4% | |
| Devise ways in which congregational membership can be expanded. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 3% | |
| Visit people in homes, hospitals, or prisons to provide them with comfort and support. | 0Estimated | 15.0% | 6% | |
| Conduct special ceremonies, such as weddings, funerals, or confirmations. | 0Estimated | 15.0% | 5% | |
| Study and interpret religious laws, doctrines, or traditions. | 66.67Observed | 53.7% | 8% | |
| Train leaders of church, community, or youth groups. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 4% | |
| Respond to requests for assistance during emergencies or crises. | 5Estimated | 17.0% | 4% | |
| Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching. | 59.17Observed | 38.7% | 4% | |
| Prepare people for participation in religious ceremonies. | 58.45Observed | 38.4% | 3% | |
| Collaborate with committees or individuals to address financial or administrative issues pertaining to congregations. | 47.05Observed | 33.8% | 3% | |
| Refer people to community support services, psychologists, or doctors. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 2% | |
| Participate in fundraising activities to support congregational activities or facilities. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 2% | |
| Perform administrative duties, such as overseeing building management, ordering supplies, contracting for services or repairs, or supervising the work of staff members or volunteers. | 87Estimated | 84.0% | 5% | |
| Organize or engage in interfaith, community, civic, educational, or recreational activities sponsored by or related to religious programs. | 56.43Observed | 37.6% | 3% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 35.5%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$60,820
per year
Mean Wage
$67,160
per year
Employment
58K
workers
Wage Range
$37,140 - $99,720
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsEducational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors
23%Median salary: $65,140
Higher risk than 14% of other occupations
Social and Community Service Managers
25%Median salary: $78,240
Higher risk than 19% of other occupations
Mental Health Counselors
27%Higher risk than 24% of other occupations
Education Administrators, Postsecondary
28%Median salary: $103,960
Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Directors, Religious Activities and Education
31%Median salary: $54,840
Higher risk than 44% of other occupations
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
31%Median salary: $77,800
Higher risk than 46% of other occupations
Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School
31%Median salary: $104,070
Higher risk than 47% of other occupations
Counseling Psychologists
32%Higher risk than 50% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Clergy professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
High reliance on Memorization is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Instructing
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change