Gubernatorial salaries are typically determined either by a state's constitution or by law. Most often, the salary portion of a governor's compensation is defined by law, but additional benefits (insurance, official residence, and other work-related equipment) may be established by state agencies, custom, or other factors. For instance, as of September 2022, all but six states reimbursed the governor for work-related travel expenses, while all but five states provided the governor with an official residence.[1]
In some cases, salaries are automatically increased each year either at the rate of inflation or by another percentage chosen by the legislature. In other states, the legislature must pass salary increases for the governor.
In 2023, the five states with the highest and lowest gubernatorial salaries were:[2]
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1. New York ($250,000)
2. Pennsylvania ($229,642)
3. California ($224,020)
4. Massachusetts ($222,185)
5. Tennessee ($204,336)
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50. Maine ($70,000)
49. Colorado ($90,000)
48. Arizona ($95,000)
47. Oregon ($98,600)
46. Nebraska ($105,000)
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Gubernatorial salaries by state
The states with the five highest gubernatorial salaries in 2023 were New York at $250,000, Pennsylvania at $229,642, California at $224,020, Massachusetts at $222,185, and Tennessee at $204,336.[3] The states with the five lowest gubernatorial salaries in 2023 were Maine at $70,000, Colorado at $90,000, Arizona at $95,000, Oregon at $98,600, and Nebraska at $105,000.[4]
In 2023, two governors refused their salaries. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) refused his $226,711 salary and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) refused his $205,700 salary.[4]
This page contains information on gubernatorial salaries since 2010. These salaries do not include benefits and other compensation used to determine total compensation figures. The data source is the annual Book of the States, a compilation of information collected by the Council of State Governments, a nonprofit organization sponsored by state governments. The organization collects the salary data through an annual survey.[4]
Salary comparison table: 2010–2023
The following table lists the salary reported for each state's governor in the Book of the States going back to 2010. Darker shades of grey indicate higher salaries. To rank states by gubernatorial salary for a given year, click the header for that year.
Salary comparison by year
Click on the year to see the annual salaries received by each of the 50 governors since 2010.
2023
2023
Changes
According to the Council of State Governments' annual report on state executive salaries, governors in 22 states—Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming—earned higher salaries in 2023 than in 2022.[4][5]
The average salary increase among those governors was 8.04%, with the governor of Wyoming receiving the highest increase at 33.3%. One governor saw their salary decrease between 2022 and 2023. Louisiana's governor salary was reduced by 3.7%.
2022
2022
Changes
According to the Council of State Governments' annual report on state executive salaries, 13 states— Arkansas, California, Illinois, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Vermont—increased the governor's wage by an average of $6,891, or 3.7%. The only state to reduce the governor's salary was Colorado, with a decrease of $2,700, or 2.9%.[6]
The average gubernatorial salary across all states was $148,939 in 2022, a 1.1% increase over the average salary in 2021.[6]
2021
2021
Changes
According to the Council of State Governments' annual report on state executive salaries, 12 states— Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington—increased the governor's wage by an average of $6,404, or 4.4%. The only state to reduce the governor's salary was Alabama, with a decrease of $3,270, or 2.5%.[7]
The average gubernatorial salary across all states was $147,201 in 2021, a 1% increase over the average salary in 2020.[7]
2020
2020
Changes
According to the Council of State Governments' annual report on state executive salaries, 18 states—Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and Vermont—increased the governor's wage by an average of $6,604, or 4.3%. The only state to reduce the governor's salary was Washington, with a decrease of $893, or 0.5%.
The average gubernatorial salary across all states was $145,730 in 2020, a 1.7% increase over the average salary in 2019.[8]
2019
2019
Changes
According to the Council of State Governments' annual report on state executive salaries, 17 states—Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin—increased the governor’s wage by an average of $14,149, or 10.2%. Georgia's governor received the largest raise at 25.6%. Gubernatorial salaries in the remaining 33 states did not change.
The average gubernatorial salary across all states was $143,270 in 2019, a 3.5% increase over average gubernatorial earnings in 2018.[9]
2018
2018
Changes
According to the Council of State Governments' annual report on state executive salaries, 15 states—Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington—increased the governor’s wage by an average of $10,439, or 8.0%. New Hampshire's governor received the largest raise at 15.0%. Three states—Nevada, Tennessee, and Wisconsin—decreased the governor's wage by an average of $23,027, or 12.3%.[10]
The average gubernatorial salary across all states was $138,460 in 2018, a 1.3% increase over average gubernatorial earnings in 2017.[10]
2017
2017
Changes
According to the Council of State Governments' annual report on state executive salaries, governors in seven states—Idaho, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont—earned higher salaries in 2017 than in 2016. The average salary increase for these governors was 2.9%, with the governor of Vermont receiving the largest increase at 10.0%. Meanwhile, governors in eight states—California, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Texas, and Washington—earned lower salaries in 2017 than in 2016. The average salary decrease for these governors was 5.0%, with the governor of New Hampshire receiving the largest decrease at 13.0%.[11]
Notes
The following notes explain variations or anomalies in the 2017 data on gubernatorial salaries:[11]
2016
2016
Changes
According to the Council of State Governments' annual report on state executive salaries, governors in 14 states - Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington - earned higher salaries in 2016 than in 2015. The average salary increase for these governors was 8.0%, with the governor of Arkansas receiving the largest increase at 60.7%. Governors in Kentucky (7.6%), Nevada (0.1%), Ohio (0.4%), and Utah (0.4%) received a lower salary in 2016 than in 2015.[12]
Notes
The following notes explain variations or anomalies in the 2016 data on gubernatorial salaries:[12]
2015
2015
Changes
According to the Council of State Governments' annual report on state executive salaries, governors in 13 states - Alabama, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin - earned higher salaries in 2015 than in 2014. The average salary increase for these governors was 2.5%, with the governor of Kentucky receiving the largest increase at 9.9%. One state—New Hampshire—reduced its governor's salary, with a 6.6% decrease relative to 2014.[13]
2014
2014
Changes
According to the Council of State Governments' annual report on state executive salaries, governors in 11 states - Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee and Vermont - earned higher salaries in 2014 than in 2013. The average salary increase for these governors was 5.16%, with the Governor of Hawaii receiving the highest increase at 22.5%. Governors in Kentucky (10.4%) and Minnesota (0.4%) received lower salaries in 2014 than 2013.[14]
2013
2013
Changes
According to the 2013 Council of State Governments report on gubernatorial salaries, governors in nine states - Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Tennessee - were paid more than the previous year. Across the nine states, the average increase in the governor's salary was $4,412, reflecting an average increase of 3.3% over the previous year.[15]
Notes
The following notes explain variations or anomalies in the 2013 data on gubernatorial salaries:[15]
2012
2012
2011
2011
2010
2010
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Note: The governors of Illinois and Connecticut were excluded from this list because they forgo their salaries in 2023.
- ↑ Note: The governors of Illinois and Connecticut were excluded from this list because they forgo their salaries in 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Book of the States, "2023 edition: Chapter 4 - Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 18, 2024
- ↑ Note: The governors of Illinois and Connecticut both received raises but were excluded from this list because they forgo their salaries.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Book of the States, "2022 edition: Chapter 4 - Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed October 25, 2023
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed June 24, 2021
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed June 24, 2021
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Issuu, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed June 24, 2021
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.3, The Governors: Compensation, Staff, Travel and Residence," accessed September 14, 2018 Cite error: Invalid
<ref> tag; name "2017salary" defined multiple times with different content
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries - 2016," accessed August 30, 2017
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries - 2015," accessed August 30, 2017
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named newsalary
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Council of State Governments, "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," June 25, 2013
- ↑ Associated Press, "Unemployment rates below 6 pct. in 25 US states," May 16, 2014
