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Hospital Chaplain Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Catholic Chaplain

Patton, CA ยท On-site

$5.7K - $7.5K/mo

Patton State Hospital, Human Resources Department is accepting applications for at least one (1) Permanent, Part-Time appointment to the Catholic Chaplain classification. This position exists in ...

Board Certified Chaplain through Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), National Association ... Assists local clergy in their hospital visitations.18. Maintains endorsement in good standing by ...

At least one year hospital staff chaplain or military chaplaincy experience. * Experience in managing or responding to crisis situations. * Experience working with faith communities and demonstrates ...

If assigned, provide no more than fifteen hours per week of spiritual care on a designated hospital ... Endorsement of good standing to serve as a chaplain by applicant's religious tradition. * To ...

If assigned, provide no more than fifteen hours per week of spiritual care on a designated hospital ... Endorsement of good standing to serve as a chaplain by applicant's religious tradition. * To ...

Hospice Chaplain

Palm Desert, CA ยท On-site

$37 - $42/hr

Hospice Chaplain Part Time $37-42/hour plus mileage reimbursement Coachella Valley Coverage Area JOB SUMMARY The Hospice Chaplain is responsible for the provision of spiritual care services to ...

Hospice Chaplain

Palm Desert, CA ยท On-site

$37 - $42/hr

Hospice Chaplain Part Time $37-42/hour plus mileage reimbursement Coachella Valley Coverage Area JOB SUMMARY The Hospice Chaplain is responsible for the provision of spiritual care services to ...

Hospice Chaplain

Palm Desert, CA ยท On-site

$32 - $37/hr

We're looking for a compassionate Hospice Chaplain to provide non-denominational spiritual and emotional support to patients and families facing end-of-life care. As a valued member of our ...

Hospice Chaplain

Palm Desert, CA ยท On-site

$37 - $42/hr

Hospice Chaplain Part Time $37-42/hour plus mileage reimbursement Coachella Valley Coverage Area JOB SUMMARY The Hospice Chaplain is responsible for the provision of spiritual care services to ...

A chaplain is a religious or spiritual leader who provides emotional and spiritual support to individuals in various Hospice settings. They offer counseling, perform religious rituals, provide ...

The Chaplain is responsible for the provision of spiritual care services to patients and families/caregivers of Anchor Health LLC, either directly or through coordination of care with other spiritual ...

A chaplain is a religious or spiritual leader who provides emotional and spiritual support to individuals in various Hospice settings. They offer counseling, perform religious rituals, provide ...

The Chaplain is responsible for the provision of spiritual care services to patients and families/caregivers of Anchor Health LLC, either directly or through coordination of care with other spiritual ...

Hospice Chaplain

Sonoma, CA ยท On-site +1

$40 - $50/hr

As a Hospice Chaplain with Madrona Hospice Care, you will provide spiritual care directly and partner with community clergy to ensure every person we serve receives compassionate, personalized ...

Hospice Chaplain

Shasta Lake, CA ยท On-site +1

$40 - $50/hr

As a Hospice Chaplain with Madrona Hospice Care, you will provide spiritual care directly and partner with community clergy to ensure every person we serve receives compassionate, personalized ...

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Hospital Chaplain information

See California salary details

$17

$31

$50

How much do hospital chaplain jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for hospital chaplain in California is $31.53, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.90 and $34.42 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a hospital chaplain?

A hospital chaplain helps meet the spiritual needs of patients, families, and staff in a hospital setting. They minister to people of all faiths, offering a calm demeanor and attentive ear for concerns. As a hospital chaplain, your responsibilities and duties include providing spiritual support to patients facing surgery or dealing with illness or injuries, comforting grieving families, and sometimes counseling hospital staff. You also help patients and families with practical tasks, such as completing medical power-of-attorney documents and making funeral arrangements. Duties vary daily. Hospital chaplains often deal with delicate situations, so they are held to the highest standards of ethics and confidentiality.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a hospital chaplain?

To thrive as a Hospital Chaplain, you need a strong background in theology or pastoral care, often supported by a master's degree in divinity or related field and certification from professional chaplaincy organizations. Familiarity with electronic medical record systems and hospital protocols is beneficial. Compassion, active listening, and cultural sensitivity are essential soft skills for providing emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and staff. These skills enable chaplains to address diverse spiritual needs and contribute to holistic patient care in a healthcare setting.

How does a hospital chaplain support patients and staff during emotionally challenging situations?

Hospital chaplains play a crucial role in providing spiritual and emotional care to patients, families, and hospital staff, especially during times of crisis, grief, or uncertainty. They offer a listening ear, guidance, and comfort regardless of an individual's faith background, and are often called upon during end-of-life care, trauma, and major life transitions. In addition to patient care, chaplains collaborate closely with medical teams, social workers, and counselors to ensure holistic support, and may also facilitate staff debriefings or support groups to help healthcare professionals manage stress and compassion fatigue.

What is the difference between Hospital Chaplain vs Hospital Social Worker?

AspectHospital ChaplainHospital Social Worker
CredentialsTypically requires a religious degree, ordination, or certification in spiritual careRequires a social work degree (BSW or MSW) and state licensure
Work EnvironmentProvides spiritual support in hospitals, hospice, and healthcare settingsAssists patients with emotional, social, and practical needs in healthcare settings
Employer & Industry UsageHospitals, hospices, religious organizationsHospitals, clinics, social service agencies
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared due to patient support roles and healthcare settings

Hospital chaplains focus on providing spiritual and religious support, often with religious credentials, while hospital social workers address emotional, social, and practical needs, requiring social work licensure. Both roles serve patients in healthcare environments but have different focuses and qualifications.

What does a hospital chaplain do at a hospital?

A hospital chaplain provides spiritual support, counseling, and emotional comfort to patients, families, and staff. They may conduct religious services, offer prayer, and assist with end-of-life issues, often working closely with healthcare teams to address patients' spiritual needs.

What qualifications do you need to be a hospital chaplain?

Hospital chaplains typically need a bachelor's degree in theology, ministry, or a related field, along with clinical pastoral education (CPE) certification. Many employers prefer candidates with ordination or endorsement from a religious organization and strong interpersonal skills to provide spiritual support in healthcare settings.

What are the most commonly searched types of Hospital Chaplain jobs in California?

The most popular types of Hospital Chaplain jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Hospital Chaplain jobs in California?

For Hospital Chaplain jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Hospital Chaplain jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Hospital Chaplain jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Hospital Chaplain jobs?

Cities in California with the most Hospital Chaplain job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Hospital Chaplain jobs in CA?

For Hospital Chaplain jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Hospital Chaplain job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, and 26% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $65,582 per year, or $31.5 per hour.

$5.7K - $7.5K/mo

Part-time

Retirement

Re-posted 16 days ago


Job description

Patton State Hospital, Human Resources Department is accepting applications for at least one (1) Permanent, Part-Time appointment to the Catholic Chaplain classification. This position exists in Enhancement Services, which is under the direct supervision of the Program Assistant, Enhancement Services.
Enhancement Services is looking for an individual that possesses a high degree of professionalism, initiative and independence with performing tasks. Candidates must be able to communicate in a courteous, professional and effective manner with different departments in the hospital. Candidates must have the ability to be tactful, exercise good judgment and maintain confidentiality when working with staff and management. Chaplains are expected to work as a team to provide a safe and secure environment. In addition, the qualified person must be patient-oriented, a collaborative team player, have awareness of safety/security, flexibility and pay attention to detail.
Duties include preparing and conducting Catholic Religious Services, typically held on Saturdays or Sundays, and other Rituals of Catholic tradition for patients; providing spiritual counseling to patients in groups and on units; counseling patients and their families on moral and ethical problems; establish a rapport with patients, analyzing situations accurately and adopting an effective course of action; using spiritual assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation in the clinical setting; understanding and helping others discover meaning in the experience of suffering grief and loss; understanding the ways in which psychosocial dynamics and cultural/ethical differences affect pastoral care practices and circumstances.
All applicants must submit a Statement of Qualification (SOQ) letter of no more than 1 page, including the following:
*Knowledge/experience of patients with mental health conditions in a hospital or forensic setting, or prior mental health experience, and why you would be a good fit to work with this population
*Knowledge/experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team and how you approach this dynamic
*Describe additional qualifications or assets that make you an excellent candidate for working within the Chaplaincy Department at Patton State Hospital
In order to gain list eligibility and be appointed to the Catholic Chaplain classification, please follow the link below to the exam bulletin. Failure to take the exam will result in your application not moving forward in our process. Please follow the directions carefully : Catholic Chaplain Exam Bulletin .
**Click on the link to complete the Department of State Hospitals Recruitment Survey: DSH Recruitment Survey **
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .
Working Conditions
Patton is a forensic psychiatric hospital and was established in 1890 and opened in 1893. DSH-Patton provides treatment to forensically and civilly committed patients within a secure treatment area. The hospital does not accept voluntary admissions.
Minimum Requirements You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
  • CATHOLIC CHAPLAIN
Additional Documents
  • Job Application Package Checklist
  • Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-525141
Position #(s):
502-480-9916-XXX
Working Title:
Catholic Chaplain
Classification:
CATHOLIC CHAPLAIN $5,743.00 - $7,541.00 1/2 time monthly salary: $2,871.50 - $3,770.50
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
San Bernardino County
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
Permanent, Part Time - 1/2 Time
Facility:
Department of State Hospitals - Patton
Department Information
DSH - Patton
3102 E. Highland Avenue
Patton, CA 92369
http://www.dsh.ca.gov
Department Website: https://www.dsh.ca.gov
Special Requirements
  • The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
  • The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.

Unless there is a specific request to be notified via USPS mail, our main contact will be via email. Email correspondence regarding this job posting will primarily come from PattonHREmploymentUnit@dsh.ca.gov . It is the applicant's responsibility to check their email inbox, including junk/spam emails for any correspondence regarding their application status. In addition, applicants are encouraged to keep their CalCareers profile updated with a current telephone number, mailing address, and email.
For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Examination/ Employment Application (STD. 678) including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYY). Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.
A completed STD. 678 and any other relevant documents (e.g., unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers account. Please reference Job Control #525141 and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e., social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.
Complete Application Packages (including your STD. 678 and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov . Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application. Applicants will be disqualified from the interview process if the STD Form 678 is incomplete. That includes job titles, job duties, work address, time worked at that position, supervisor name, and supervisor phone number.
Application Instructions
Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: Until Filled
Who May Apply
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Department of State Hospitals
Department of State Hospitals - Patton
Attn: Human Resources Front Desk
3102 East Highland Avenue
Patton , CA 92369
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Department of State Hospitals
Department of State Hospitals - Patton
Human Resources Front Desk
3102 East Highland Avenue
Patton , CA 92369
HR is closed on weekends and holidays
07:00 AM - 04:30 PM
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
  • Statement of Qualifications - All applicants must submit a Statement of Qualifications letter of no more than 1 page describing the following:
    *Knowledge/experience of patients with mental health conditions in a hospital or forensic setting, or prior mental health experience, and why you would be a good fit to work with this population
    *Knowledge/experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team and how you approach this dynamic
    *Describe additional qualifications or assets that make you an excellent candidate for working within the Chaplaincy Department at Patton State Hospital
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.
Benefits
Please review the Benefits Summary that may also be found on the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website. You will find information on the benefits afforded by membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), benefits and protections provided to public employees by the State Civil Service Act, and salary ranges and a summary of the Catholic Chaplain classification.
Contact Information
The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Department Website: https://www.dsh.ca.gov
Human Resources Contact:
HR Employment Unit
(909) 742-5550
Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:
Rachel Guerrero
(909) 742-5243
rachel.guerrero@dsh.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.