Comparison of state legislative salaries
From Ballotpedia
Last updated on June 28, 2017
There is a significant amount of variance in legislator salaries between the 50 states. In California, legislators are paid $104,118 per year in salary in addition to per diem costs to cover lodging, meals, and incidentals. Comparatively, New Hampshire legislators earn just $200 per two-year term without per diem. New Mexico is the only state that does not pay its legislators a salary, but lawmakers do still earn per diem.
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 the 19 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.
Salaries by state
The following table details the salaries and per diem compensation for state legislators across the country. Click here for methodology on how this data was collected.
| State | Salary | Per diem | Type[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $44,765/year | No set per diem during the legislative session. Legislators are reimbursed for in-state travel expenses, which include mileage and per diem. | Hybrid |
| Alaska | $50,400/year | $213 or $247/day (depending on the time of year); tied to the federal rate. Legislators who reside in the Capitol area receive 75 percent of the federal rate. | Full-time |
| Arizona | $24,000/year | $35/day for the first 120 days of the regular session and for special sessions and $10/day thereafter. Members residing outside Maricopa County receive an additional $25/day for the first 120 days of the regular session and for special sessions and an additional $10/day thereafter. Set by statute. | Hybrid |
| Arkansas | $39,400/year | $153/day plus mileage; tied to the federal rate. | Hybrid |
| California | $104,118/year | $183/day for each day in session. | Full-time |
| Colorado | $30,000/year | Legislators who reside outside of the Capitol area receive 85 percent of the federal rate; $45/day for members who live 50 or fewer miles from the Capitol. | Hybrid |
| Connecticut | $28,000/year | No per diem is paid. Mileage is .54/mile. | Hybrid |
| Delaware | $45,291/year | No per diem is paid. | Hybrid |
| Florida | $29,697/year | $152/day based on the number of days in session. | Hybrid |
| Georgia | $17,342/year | $173/day, set by the Legislative Services Committee. | Hybrid |
| Hawaii | $61,380/year | $225/day for members living outside Oahu in session; $10/day for members living on Oahu. | Full-time |
| Idaho | $17,017/year | $129/day for members establishing a second residence in Boise; $49/day if no second residence is established and up to $25/day travel. Set by the compensation commission. | Part-time |
| Illinois | $67,836/year[2] | $111/per session day. | Full-time |
| Indiana | $25,435.98/year | $161/day; tied to the federal rate. | Hybrid |
| Iowa | $25,000/year | $166/day; $124/day for Polk County legislators. Set by the legislature to coincide with the federal rate. State mileage rates apply. | Hybrid |
| Kansas | $88/day | $142/day | Part-time |
| Kentucky | $188.22/day | $154/day | Hybrid |
| Louisiana | $16,800/year plus $6,000/year expense allowance | $156/day; tied to the federal rate. | Hybrid |
| Maine | $14,271/year (1st session); $10,158/year (2nd session) |
$38/day for lodging, or mileage and tolls in lieu of housing (at a rate of $0.44/mile up to $38/day) plus $32/day for meals. Set by statute. | Part-time |
| Maryland | $47,769/year | $103/day for lodging; $45/day for meals. Tied to the federal rate and the compensation commission. | Hybrid |
| Massachusetts | $62,547.97/year | No per diem is paid. | Full-time |
| Michigan | $71,685/year | $10,800/year expense allowance for session and interim; set by the compensation commission. Mileage is reimbursed for up to one trip to Lansing per week.[3] | Full-time |
| Minnesota | $31,140.90/year | $86/day for senators and $66/day for representatives, per approval of the committee chair or leadership. Set by the legislature. | Hybrid |
| Mississippi | $10,000/year | $142/day; tied to the federal rate. | Part-time |
| Missouri | $35,915/year | $113/day; tied to the federal rate. | Hybrid |
| Montana | $90.64/day | $114.39/day | Part-time |
| Nebraska | $12,000/year | $142/day for members residing 50 miles or more from the Capitol; $51/day for members inside the 50-mile radius. | Hybrid |
| Nevada | $150.71/day for legislators elected in 2017 and $146.29/day for mid-term members. Maximum of 60 session days. | $142/per day | Hybrid |
| New Hampshire | $200/two-year term | No per diem is paid. | Part-time |
| New Jersey | $49,000/year | No per diem is paid. | Hybrid |
| New Mexico | $0/year | $164/day; tied to the federal rate. | Part-time |
| New York | $79,500/year | $175/day (including overnight) or $59/day (no overnight). | Full-time |
| North Carolina | $13,951/year | $104/day; set by statute. | Hybrid |
| North Dakota | $177/day (leg. sessions) | Lodging reimbursement up to $1,682 per month. | Part-time |
| Ohio | $60,584/year | No per diem is paid. | Full-time |
| Oklahoma | $38,400/year | $156/day; tied to the federal rate. | Hybrid |
| Oregon | $24,216/year | $142/day | Hybrid |
| Pennsylvania | $86,478.50/year | $179/day; tied to the federal rate | Full-time |
| Rhode Island | $15,429.72/year | No per diem is paid. | Part-time |
| South Carolina | $10,400/year | $195.53/day; tied to the federal rate | Hybrid |
| South Dakota | $6,000/session | $142/legislative day; set by the legislature. | Part-time |
| Tennessee | $22,667/year | $220/legislative day; tied to federal rate. | Hybrid |
| Texas | $7,200/year | $190/day; set by the ethics commission. | Hybrid |
| Utah | $273/day | Up to $100 plus tax/calendar day for lodging allotment; Up to $39/date meal reimbursement. | Part-time |
| Vermont | $707.36/week (leg. session) | $115/day for lodging (including overnight) or $74/day (no overnight). | Part-time |
| Virginia | $18,000/year for the Senate; $17,640/year for the House | $196/day | Hybrid |
| Washington | $47,776/year | $120/day | Hybrid |
| West Virginia | $20,000/year | $131/day in session; set by the compensation commission. | Part-time |
| Wisconsin | $50,950/year | The Wisconsin State Senate allows up to $88/day for per diem. For Senators living in Dane County, they receive a per diem of $44 per day. The Wisconsin State Assembly allows a maximum of $138/day per diem for legislators that stay overnight. For legislators that do not commute, they are given $69/day for per diem. | Full-time |
| Wyoming | $150/day during session | $109/day, including travel days for those outside of Cheyenne; set by the legislature. | 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 editor@ballotpedia.org.
Full-time and part-time legislatures
- See also: States with a full-time legislature
The following states have legislators who devote 84% of a full time job to their legislative duties which include committee hearings, listening sessions, constituent service, and time spent campaigning. On average, each legislator is paid about $82,358.[4]
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The following states have legislators who devote 74% of a full time job to their legislative duties. On average, each legislator is paid about $41,110.[4]
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The following states have legislators who devote 57% of a full time job to their legislative duties. On average, each legislator is paid about $18,449.[4]
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See also
- States with a full-time legislature
- Length of terms of state representatives
- State legislatures with term limits
Footnotes
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Members are required to forfeit one day of compensation per month
- ↑ Information submitted by a Michigan legislative aide on April 7, 2017.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 NCSL, "Full and Part-Time Legislatures," February 28, 2017 (See Table 2. Average Job Time, Compensation and Staff Size by Category of Legislature)
