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Comparison of state legislative salaries
From Ballotpedia
This page contains a comparison of salaries for state legislators in the 50 states. This page was last updated in January 2012.
| State | Salary | Per diem |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $53,438/year[1] | Per diem included in salary |
| Alaska | $50,400/year | $232 or $276/day, tied to federal rate, varying with time of year. Legislators who live in the Juneau area receive 75% of federal rate. |
| Arizona | $24,000/year | $35/day for the first 120 days of regular session and for special sessions and $10/day thereafter. Senators who live outside of Maricopa County are given an additional $25/day for the 1st 120 days of regular session and for special sessions and an additional $10/day thereafter. |
| Arkansas | $15,869/year[2] | $136/day (vouchered) plus mileage tied to federal rate. |
| California | $95,290.56/year | $141.86/day for each day in session. (Contested)[2] |
| Colorado | $30,000/year | $45/day (vouchered) for members living in the Denver metro area. $150/day (vouchered) for members living outside Denver. |
| Connecticut | $28,000/year | No per diem. |
| Delaware | $42,750/year[2] | $7,334 in expenses are allowed annually. |
| Florida | $29,697/year | $133/day for House and $133 for Senate (vouchered) which are tied to federal rate. Travel vouchers are required to provide proof. |
| Georgia | $17,342/year | $173/day, set by the Legislative Services Committee. |
| Hawaii | $46,272/year[2] | $150/day for members living outside Oahu during session. $120/day for members living outside Oahu during the interim who conduct legislative business. $10 day for members living on Oahu during the interim while conducting official legislative business. |
| Idaho | $16,116/year | $122/day for members whose primary residence is outside Boise. $49/day for members whose primary residence is inside Boise. Up to $25/day for travel (vouchered) to be set by the Compensation Commission. |
| Illinois | $67,836/year | $132/per session day for all members.[2] |
| Indiana | $22,616.46/year | $152/day tied to the federal rate. |
| Iowa | $25,000/year | $118/day. Polk County legislators receive $88.50/day, which is set by the legislature to coincide with the federal rate.[2] |
| Kansas | $88.66/day | $123/day tied to the federal rate.[2] |
| Kentucky | $188.22/day | $135.30/day tied to 110% of the federal per diem rate.[2] |
| Louisiana | $16,800/year | $6,000/year expense allowance. $152/day tied to the federal rate.[2] |
| Maine | $13,852/year (first regular session); $10,082 (second regular session) | $38/day for a) housing; or b) mileage and tolls in lieu of housing (at rate of $0.44/mile up to $38/day). $32/day for meals. Per diem limits set by statute.[2] |
| Maryland | $43,500/year | $100/day for lodging. $42/day for meals tied to the federal rate. $225/day for out-of-state travel which includes meals/lodging.[2] |
| Massachusetts | $61,132.99/year | From $10/day to $100/day, depending on distance from the statehouse. Compensation is vouchered and set by the legislature.[2] |
| Michigan | $71,865/year | $10,800 yearly expense allowance. Set by the compensation commission, available for session and interim (vouchered).[2] |
| Minnesota | $31,140.90/year | $86/day for senators. $77/legislative day for representatives. Rates set by legislature/rules committee.[2] |
| Mississippi | $10,000/year | $109/day tied to the federal rate.[2] |
| Missouri | $35,915/year | $98.40/day tied to the federal rate. Roll call is used to verify per diem. |
| Montana | $82.64/day | $103.69/day. |
| Nebraska | $12,000/year | $109/day for members living outside a 50-mile radius of the Capitol. $39/day for members living inside the 50-mile radius. Rates tied to the federal rate. |
| Nevada | $137.90/day maximum for 60 days of session for holdover senators; $146.29/day for all other legislators[2] | Federal rate for legislators in the Capitol area. Those outside the 50-mile radius of Carson City receive the HUD single-room rate for each month of session for housing. |
| New Hampshire | $200/two-year term | No per diem. |
| New Jersey | $49,000/year | No per diem. |
| New Mexico | $0/year. New Mexico legislators receive no salary | $153/day tied to the federal rate (vouchered).[2] |
| New York | $79,500/year | $171/per full day and $61/per half day.[2] |
| North Carolina | $13,951/year | $104/day set by statute. Legislators are allowed up to $559/month for expenses. |
| North Dakota | $148/day during legislative sessions | Legislators receive lodging reimbursements up to $1,040/month (vouchered). |
| Ohio | $60,584/year | No per diem. |
| Oklahoma | $38,400/year | $132/day tied to the federal rate.[2] |
| Oregon | $21,612/year | $109/day tied to the federal rate.[2] |
| Pennsylvania | $79,613 | Tied to federal rate. Can receive actual expenses or per diem.[2] |
| Rhode Island | $13,962.55/year[2] | No per diem. |
| South Carolina | $10,400/year | $119/day for meals and housing for each statewide session day and committee meeting. Per diem is tied to the federal rate.[2] |
| South Dakota | $12,000/two-year term | $110/legislative day tied to the federal rate. |
| Tennessee | $19,009/year | $171/legislative day tied to the federal rate.[2] |
| Texas | $7,200/year | $150/day which is set by the Ethics Commission.[2] |
| Utah | $117/day | $95/day for lodging for each calendar day, tied to the federal rate. They also receive $61/day for meals.[2] |
| Vermont | $604.79 per a vote to reduce the salary by 5% this biennium below the statutory level[2] | $101/day for lodging for non-commuters to the capital. Commuters and non-commuters receive $61/day for meals/mileage. |
| Virginia | $18,000/year Senate; $17,640/year House | $169/day tied to the Federal Rate for senators. $135/day tied to the federal rate for the House. |
| Washington | $42,106/year | $90/day. |
| West Virginia | $20,000/year | $131/day during session, which is set by the compensation commission. |
| Wisconsin | $49,943/year | $88/day maximum (Except in Dane County), which is set by the compensation commission. Based on the maximum, the leadership of each house determines what amount to authorize for each session. |
| Wyoming | $150/day | $109/day which is set by the Legislature (vouchered). |
External links
- Legislative salaries per state, prepared by the Empire Center for New York State Policy
