Comparison of gubernatorial salaries

State Executive Analyses

Compensation

Education

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Place of birth

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Trifectas and triplexes

Vacancy procedures

Governors

Compensation

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Compensation - lieutenant governors

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Term limits - lieutenant governors

Term limits - secretaries of state

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.

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:

1. New York ($250,000)
2. Pennsylvania ($229,642)
3. California ($224,020)
4. Massachusetts ($222,185)
5. Tennessee ($204,336)

50. Maine ($70,000)
49. Colorado ($90,000)
48. Arizona ($95,000)
47. Oregon ($98,600)
46. Nebraska ($105,000)

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. 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.

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.

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.