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From Ballotpedia
| Staff Researcher Sarah Doyel explains the types of state legislatures and how state representatives are paid in each stateView other episodes here. |
Last updated on October 10, 2022
There is a significant amount of variance in legislator salaries among the 50 states. In California, legislators are paid $119,702 per year in salary. Comparatively, New
Hampshire legislators earn just $100 per year without per diem. New Mexico is the only state that does not pay its legislators a salary, but lawmakers do still earn per diem.
The top five states with the highest-paid base legislative salaries are:
- California - $119,702/year
- New York - $110,000/year
- Pennsylvania - $95,432/year
- Michigan - $71,685/year
- Illinois - $70,645/year
All of the top five highest-paid legislatures are full-time. Depending on the state, some state legislators work part-time in the government and maintain jobs outside the legislature. According to Politico, 42 of the 117 men (36%) serving in state legislatures who had 2018 financial disclosure forms available had jobs in addition to their legislative duties. Six of the 49 women (14%) legislators had jobs outside the legislature.[1]
How state legislator salaries are set
Salaries of state legislators are determined in four ways.
- Nineteen states use a commission of some kind to determine the salary of legislators. The powers of these commissions vary from non-binding reports to reports that are implemented unless voted down by the legislature, not approved by the governor, or overturned by citizen referenda.
- In two of these states mentioned above—Arizona and Nebraska—any recommendation to change legislators' pay must be approved by voters before going into effect.
- Some states tie legislative salaries to those of other state employees
- Other states allow the legislators themselves to set their own salaries[2]
States with a policy of allowing legislators to set their own salaries encounter what the National Conference of State Legislatures calls the "pay problem," in which the political risk associated with possible negative perceptions of legislators who vote to increase their own pay prevents legislatures from raising salaries. When this happens, it is possible for inflation to outpace the rate of pay, meaning legislative salaries may decline over time.[3]
Full-time and part-time legislatures
See also: States with a full-time legislatureThe National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) classifies state legislatures as full-time, part-time, or hybrid. The information below is based on NCSL's last report published on July 28, 2021.[4]
- Full-time states have legislators who devote 84 percent of a full-time job to their legislative duties which include committee hearings, listening sessions, constituent service, and time spent campaigning. On average, each full-time legislator is paid about $82,358.[4]
- Hybrid states have legislators who devote 74 percent of a full-time job to their legislative duties. Legislators estimate they spend more than two-thirds of a full-time job on their legislative duties. On average, each hybrid legislator is paid about $41,110.[4]
- Part-time states have legislators who devote 57 percent of a full-time job to their legislative duties. On average, each legislator is paid about $18,449. These are also called "traditional or citizen legislatures" and the legislators typically need additional sources of income outside the legislature to make a living.[4]
Salaries by state
The following table details the salaries and per diem compensation for state legislators across the country in 2022.[5] Click here for methodology on how this data was collected.
| Alabama | $53,956/year | For overnight stays: $85/day. For two or more days with overnight stays: $100/day. | Hybrid |
| Alaska | $50,400/year | For legislators whose permanent residence is not Juneau: up to $307/day. No per diem is paid to Juneau legislators. | Full-time |
| Arizona | $24,000/year | For legislators residing within Maricopa County: $35/day for the first 120 days of regular and special sessions and $10/day for all following days. For legislators residing outside of Maricopa County: $220/day for the first 120 days of regular and special sessions. That rate would be cut in half after the 120th day. The per diem for legislators residing outside of Maricopa County is tied to the federal rate. | Hybrid |
| Arkansas | $44,357/year | For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $59/day. For legislators residing more than 50 miles from the capitol: $155/day. | Hybrid |
| California | $119,702/year | $211/day for senators and $214/day for representatives | Full-time |
| Colorado | $40,242/year | For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $45/day. For legislators living more than 50 miles from the capitol: $234/day. Set by the legislature. Vouchered. | Hybrid |
| Connecticut | $28,000/year | No per diem is paid. | Hybrid |
| Delaware | $48,237/year | No per diem is paid. Legislators receive a stipend of $7,481/year. | Hybrid |
| Florida | $29,697/year | $152/day for up to 50 days for senators and up to 60 days for representatives. Vouchered. | Hybrid |
| Georgia | $17,341/year | $247/day. Set by the Legislative Services Committee. Unvouchered. | Hybrid |
| Hawaii | $62,604/year | For legislators who do not reside on Oahu: $225/day. For legislators living on Oahu during the mandatory five-day recess only: $10/day. Legislators who do not reside on Oahu are reimbursed for air travel costs. | Full-time |
| Idaho | $18,875/year | For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $71/day. For legislators residing more than 50 miles from the capitol: $139/day. | Part-time |
| Illinois | $70,645/year | $155/day | Full-time |
| Indiana | $28,791/year | $196/day. Unvouchered. | Hybrid |
| Iowa | $25,000/year | $175/day. Unvouchered. | Hybrid |
| Kansas | $88.66/session day | $155/day. Tied to continental U.S. rates. | Part-time |
| Kentucky | $188.22/calendar day | $170.50/day | Hybrid |
| Louisiana | $16,800/year | $160/day. Tied to federal rate. Unvouchered. | Hybrid |
| Maine | $15,417 for the first regular session. $10,999 for the second regular session. | $38/day for lodging (or mileage up to $38/day in lieu of housing, plus tolls). $32/day for meals. Set by statute. | Part-time |
| Maryland | $50,330/year | $106/day for lodging. $56/day for meals. | Hybrid |
| Massachusetts | $70,537/year | No per diem is paid. Legislators residing within 50 miles of the statehouse receive an office expense stipend of $17,043 that can be used for travel expenses. Legislators residing more than 50 miles from the statehouse receive $22,723. | Full-time |
| Michigan | $71,685/year | No per diem is paid. Legislators receive an expense allowance of $10,800/year for session and interim. Set by the compensation commission. Vouchered. | Full-time |
| Minnesota | $46,500/year | For senators: $86/day. For representatives: $66/day. | Hybrid |
| Mississippi | $23,500/year | $155/day. Tied to federal rate. Unvouchered. | Part-time |
| Missouri | $36,813/year | $124/day. Tied to federal rate. Unvouchered. | Hybrid |
| Montana | $100.46/legislative day | $126.12/day; For additional expenses, legislators will receive a primary $3,000 stipend and a secondary amount between $1,000 and $4,000 depending on the size of a legislator's district. | Part-time |
| Nebraska | $12,000/year | For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $59/day. For legislators residing more than 50 miles from the capitol: $155/day. | Hybrid |
| Nevada | $164.69/calendar day up to 60 days. Senators who were not up for re-election until 2022 received $159.89/calendar day. | $151/day; Legislators have a travel allowance of $10,000/session and leadership has an additional $900/session allowance. | Hybrid |
| New Hampshire | $100/year | No per diem is paid. | Part-time |
| New Jersey | $49,000/year | No per diem is paid. | Hybrid |
| New Mexico | $0/year | $165/day (January and February); $202/day (March). Tied to federal rate. Vouchered. | Part-time |
| New York | $110,000/year | For non-overnight travel: $61/day. For overnight stays: $183/day. | Full-time |
| North Carolina | $13,951/year | $104/day. For additional expenses, legislators receive $559/month. Set by statute. Unvouchered. | Hybrid |
| North Dakota | $537/month | $193/day | Part-time |
| Ohio | $68,674/year | No per diem is paid. | Full-time |
| Oklahoma | $47,500/year | $168/day. Tied to federal rate. Unvouchered. $25/day for 20 days during non-session months. | Hybrid |
| Oregon | $33,852/year | $151/day | Hybrid |
| Pennsylvania | $95,432/year | $178/day for representatives and $181/day for senators. | Full-time |
| Rhode Island | $16,835/year | No per diem is paid. | Part-time |
| South Carolina | $10,400/year | $185.38/day. Tied to federal rate w/ additional amount added to match avg. hotel rate in Columbia, SC. Legislators also receive $1,000/month for expenses. | Hybrid |
| South Dakota | $13,957/year | $155/day. Legislative days only. Unvouchered. | Part-time |
| Tennessee | $24,316/year | For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $61/day. For legislators residing more than 50 miles from the capitol: $295/day. Tied to federal rate. Unvouchered. | Hybrid |
| Texas | $7,200/year | $221/day. Set by ethics commission. Unvouchered. | Hybrid |
| Utah | $285/legislative day | No general per diem is paid. Senators who reside more than 100 miles from the capital can receive expense reimbursement of up to $100/day. Representatives residing more than 40 miles from the capital can receive up to $100/day. | Part-time |
| Vermont | $742.92/week during session | $75/day for remote. $127/night for lodging and $69/day for meals for in person. | Part-time |
| Virginia | $18,000/year for senators. $17,640/year for delegates. | $209/day | Hybrid |
| Washington | $57,876/year | $185/day. Per diem is tied to 89% of the federal per diem rate. | Hybrid |
| West Virginia | $20,000/year | $131/day. Set by compensation commission. Unvouchered. | Part-time |
| Wisconsin | $55,141/year | $115/day for senators who reside outside of Dane County; Senators who live in Dane County receive $57.50/day. $153 (with overnight) or $76.50/day (no overnight) for representatives. Senators have no limitation on the number of days they can claim per diem. Representatives can claim 153 per diem days in the first year and 80 in the second year of the session. | Full-time |
| Wyoming | $150/day | $109/day. Set by legislature. Vouchered. Legislators also receive an additional $300/month; 1/2 salary for 1 day of preparation for each day the legislator is engaged in work for the Management Council or any committee; and 1/2 salary for each day the member travels to/from an interim activity for which they are entitled to receive a salary. | Part-time |
Methodology
- The National Conference of State Legislatures conducts an annual survey of every state legislature. Data from that survey is used on this page.
- This page is updated when any change to legislator salary becomes finalized and in effect.
- Many states tie per diem pay to the federal rate. That rate is set by the U.S. General Services Administration, with new rates set each fiscal year—effective October 1 of each year. Where applicable, per diem rates on this page are adjusted after new per diem rates go into effect.
If you are aware of any possible changes to legislator salaries, or if you have any questions or comments, please contact .
See also
- States with a full-time legislature
- Length of terms of state representatives
- State legislatures with term limits
External links
- 2022 salary table from the National Conference of State Legislatures
Footnotes
- ↑ Politico, "Male legislators earn much more from outside jobs than their female colleagues," August 14, 2019
- ↑ NCSL, "Pay Problem: January 2011," accessed March 5, 2020
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Legislative Compensation Overview," July 19, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 NCSL, "Full and Part-Time Legislatures," July 28, 2021 (See Table 2. Average Job Time, Compensation and Staff Size by Category of Legislature)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2022 Legislator Compensation," July 12, 2022
- ↑ Full-time legislatures devote at least 84 percent of a full-time job to legislative duties. Hybrid legislatures devote 74 percent of a full-time job. Part-time legislatures devote 57 percent of a full-time job.
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