The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts average employment growth for clergy in general through 2033. There is a shortage of priests in the Roman Catholic Church, however, with the number of priests having declined by nearly 20 percent since 2005 because of retirement and those leaving the profession for other reasons. Opportunities for positions in the priesthood are increasing and will probably continue to do so for the foreseeable future. In 2024, there were 23,510 diocesan priests and 10,064 religious priests serving the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Both numbers showed a decline from 2020. In 1965, there were 59,426 priests, and the U.S. population was much lower than it is today. Priests are needed in all areas of the country, but the greatest need is in metropolitan areas that have large Catholic populations and in communities near Catholic educational institutions.
- Active and Contemplative Religious Sisters and Brothers
- Archakas
- Buddhist Priests and Contemplatives
- Cantors
- Directors of Corporate Sponsorship
- Directors of Fund-Raising
- Directors of Volunteers
- Eastern Orthodox Priests
- Environmental Education Program Directors
- Environmental Lobbyists
- Fund-Raisers
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Historic Preservationists
- Imams
- Land Acquisition Professionals
- Land Trust or Preserve Managers
- Librarians
- Lobbyists
- Museum Attendants
- Museum Directors and Curators
- Museum Technicians
- Muslim Religious Scholars
- National Park Service Employees
- Nonprofit Social Service Directors
- Park Rangers
- Proposal Managers
- Protestant Ministers
- Public Interest Lawyers
- Public Opinion Researchers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Purohits
- Rabbis
- Social Workers
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors