A standard does exist that the Tori (representative) of Jinja-Honcho and the Daiguji of major shrines be of tokkyu status, while shoguji (assistants to the Daiguji of major shrines) be of ikkyu status and Negi of major shrines as well as Guji of Beppyo-jinja shrines be of either nikyu-jo or nikyu status, but fundamentally status is determined on the basis of seniority.
神社本庁統理、神宮大宮司は特級、神宮少宮司は一級、神宮禰宜、別表神社の宮司は二級上または二級という基準があるが、基本的には年功序列である。