What America’s Governors Are Paid in Every State
Stephen Yang / Getty Images 35. North Dakota: Doug Burgum (R) > Salary: $129,096 > Present term: Dec. 2016 – Dec. 2020 > State tax collections: $4,587 per capita (4th highest) > Statewide cost of living: 9.9% less than nat’l…
Governors are the highest-ranking public official in a state government, effectively serving as chief executives. While the general job description is the same across the 50 states, the details can vary considerably by state. Key differences include state-specific policy priorities and legislative hurdles, population size, and of course, compensation.
Unlike senators, who are also elected on a state by state basis, there is no set salary for governors. While senators earn an annual salary of $174,000 (though most senators are worth far more — this is how rich every U.S. senator is), governors’ salaries vary by state — from as little as $70,000 to more than $200,000.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2019 salary information from The Council on State Governments, a policy database, to identify how much America’s governors are paid in every state.
Despite their status as the highest-ranking public officials in state governments, governors are usually not the highest paid state employees. Reasons for this vary from state to state. Often, various state departments pay their leadership larger salaries in order to compete with the private sector for top talent. In politically divided states, a pay raise for the governor may lack the necessary legislative support. Also, importantly, governors do not typically run for office for the paycheck.
While there is no hard and fast rule, generally, states with larger populations have higher governor salaries. Similarly, states that collect more taxes on a per capita basis tend to pay their governors more than states that collect less taxes. Here is a look at how much Americans are paying in taxes on a state by state basis.
Click here to see what America’s governors are paid in every state
Click here to read our methodology
50. Maine: Janet Mills (D)
> Salary: $70,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $3,168 per capita (13th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 1.6% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 1,338,404 (9th lowest)
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49. Colorado: Jared Polis (D)
> Salary: $90,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,354 per capita (13th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 3.2% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 5,695,564 (21st highest)
[entry-topics ids=”180″]
48. Arizona: Doug Ducey (R)
> Salary: $95,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $1,979 per capita (6th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 3.6% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 7,171,646 (14th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”24592″]
47. Oregon: Kate Brown (D)
> Salary: $98,600
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,876 per capita (21st highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 0.5% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 4,190,713 (24th lowest)
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46. Kansas: Laura Kelly (D)
> Salary: $99,636
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,806 per capita (24th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 10.0% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 2,911,510 (16th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”14041″]
45. Nebraska: Pete Ricketts (R)
> Salary: $105,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,658 per capita (22nd lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 10.4% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 1,929,268 (14th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”11091″]
44. Wyoming: Mark Gordon (R)
> Salary: $105,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,847 per capita (23rd highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 4.8% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 577,737 (the lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”19422″]
43. South Carolina: Henry McMaster (R)
> Salary: $106,078
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $1,956 per capita (5th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 9.6% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 5,084,127 (23rd highest)
[entry-topics ids=”11112″]
42. New Mexico: Lujan Grisham (D)
> Salary: $110,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,766 per capita (25th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 6.7% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 2,095,428 (15th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”59355″]
41. South Dakota: Kristi Noem (R)
> Salary: $113,961
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,103 per capita (9th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 11.8% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 882,235 (5th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”14040″]
40. Montana: Steve Bullock (D)
> Salary: $115,505
> Present term: Jan. 2017 – Jan. 2021
> State tax collections: $2,527 per capita (16th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 5.4% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 1,062,305 (8th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”3837″]
39. Alabama: Kay Ivey (R)
> Salary: $120,395
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,137 per capita (10th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 13.3% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 4,887,871 (24th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”8017″]
38. Indiana: Eric Holcomb (R)
> Salary: $121,331
> Present term: Jan. 2017 – Jan. 2021
> State tax collections: $2,708 per capita (24th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 10.2% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 6,691,878 (17th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”35717″]
37. Mississippi: Phil Bryant (R)
> Salary: $122,160
> Present term: Jan. 2016 – Jan. 2020
> State tax collections: $2,608 per capita (18th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 14.3% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 2,986,530 (17th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”59351″]
36. Minnesota: Tim Walz (D)
> Salary: $127,629
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $4,590 per capita (3rd highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 2.5% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 5,611,179 (22nd highest)
[entry-topics ids=”19886″]
35. North Dakota: Doug Burgum (R)
> Salary: $129,096
> Present term: Dec. 2016 – Dec. 2020
> State tax collections: $4,587 per capita (4th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 9.9% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 760,077 (4th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”15103″]
34. Iowa: Kim Reynolds (R)
> Salary: $130,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $3,101 per capita (16th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 10.2% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 3,156,145 (20th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”59348″]
33. Louisiana: Bel Edwards (D)
> Salary: $130,000
> Present term: Jan. 2016 – Jan. 2020
> State tax collections: $2,371 per capita (14th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 9.9% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 4,659,978 (25th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”59350″]
32. Florida: Ron DeSantis (R)
> Salary: $130,273
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $1,917 per capita (4th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 0.1% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 21,299,325 (3rd highest)
[entry-topics ids=”1657″]
31. Missouri: Mike Parson (R)
> Salary: $133,821
> Present term: June 2018 – Jan. 2021
> State tax collections: $2,044 per capita (7th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 10.5% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 6,126,452 (18th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”28577″]
30. New Hampshire: Chris Sununu (R)
> Salary: $134,581
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2021
> State tax collections: $1,859 per capita (2nd lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 5.8% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 1,356,458 (10th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”22615″]
29. Idaho: Brad Little (R)
> Salary: $138,302
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,627 per capita (21st lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 7.0% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 1,754,208 (12th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”59347″]
28. North Carolina: Roy Cooper (D)
> Salary: $144,349
> Present term: Jan. 2017 – Jan. 2021
> State tax collections: $2,614 per capita (19th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 8.7% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 10,383,620 (9th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”20037″]
27. Alaska: Mike Dunleavy (R)
> Salary: $145,000
> Present term: Dec. 2018 – Dec. 2022
> State tax collections: $1,608 per capita (the lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 4.4% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 737,438 (3rd lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”176″]
26. Rhode Island: Gina Raimondo (D)
> Salary: $145,755
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $3,083 per capita (17th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 1.4% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 1,057,315 (7th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”9799″]
25. Oklahoma: Kevin Stitt (R)
> Salary: $147,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,180 per capita (12th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 11.0% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 3,943,079 (23rd lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”6084″]
24. Arkansas: Asa Hutchinson (R)
> Salary: $148,134
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $3,168 per capita (14th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 13.5% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 3,013,825 (18th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”50255″]
23. Kentucky: Matt Bevin (R)
> Salary: $148,781
> Present term: Dec. 2015 – Dec. 2019
> State tax collections: $2,673 per capita (23rd lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 12.1% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 4,468,402 (25th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”59349″]
22. Nevada: Steve Sisolak (D)
> Salary: $149,573
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,877 per capita (20th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 2.4% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 3,034,392 (19th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”59354″]
21. Connecticut: Ned Lamont (D)
> Salary: $150,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $4,555 per capita (5th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 8.0% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 3,572,665 (22nd lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”22247″]
20. Utah: Gary R. Herbert (R)
> Salary: $150,000
> Present term: Jan. 2017 – Jan. 2021
> State tax collections: $2,525 per capita (15th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 3.0% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 3,161,105 (21st lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”59361″]
19. West Virginia: Jim Justice (R)
> Salary: $150,000
> Present term: Jan. 2017 – Jan. 2021
> State tax collections: $2,804 per capita (25th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 13.0% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 1,805,832 (13th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”38858″]
18. Wisconsin: Tony Evers (D)
> Salary: $152,756
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $3,129 per capita (15th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 7.6% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 5,813,568 (20th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”11108″]
17. Ohio: Mike DeWine (R)
> Salary: $153,650
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,599 per capita (17th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 11.1% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 11,689,442 (7th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”4458″]
16. Texas: Greg Abbott (R)
> Salary: $153,750
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $1,894 per capita (3rd lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 3.0% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 28,701,845 (2nd highest)
[entry-topics ids=”1575″]
15. Hawaii: David Ige (D)
> Salary: $158,700
> Present term: Dec. 2018 – Dec. 2022
> State tax collections: $4,924 per capita (2nd highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 18.5% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 1,420,491 (11th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”14042″]
14. Michigan: Gretchen Whitmer (D)
> Salary: $159,300
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,874 per capita (22nd highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 7.0% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 9,995,915 (10th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”11110″]
13. Maryland: Larry Hogan (R)
> Salary: $170,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $3,569 per capita (11th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 9.4% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 6,042,718 (19th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”28049″]
12. Delaware: John Carney (D)
> Salary: $171,000
> Present term: Jan. 2017 – Jan. 2021
> State tax collections: $3,731 per capita (9th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 0.1% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 967,171 (6th lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”3426″]
11. Georgia: Brian Kemp (R)
> Salary: $175,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,150 per capita (11th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 7.5% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 10,519,475 (8th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”22721″]
10. New Jersey: Phil Murphy (D)
> Salary: $175,000
> Present term: Jan. 2018 – Jan. 2022
> State tax collections: $3,590 per capita (10th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 12.9% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 8,908,520 (11th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”22720″]
9. Virginia: Ralph Northam (D)
> Salary: $175,000
> Present term: Jan. 2018 – Jan. 2022
> State tax collections: $2,623 per capita (20th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 2.1% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 8,517,685 (12th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”1834″]
8. Illinois: JB Pritzker (D)
> Salary: $177,412
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,967 per capita (18th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 1.5% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 12,741,080 (6th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”11106″]
7. Vermont: Phil Scott (R)
> Salary: $178,274
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2021
> State tax collections: $5,015 per capita (the highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 2.5% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 626,299 (2nd lowest)
[entry-topics ids=”1866″]
6. Washington: Jay Inslee (D)
> Salary: $183,072
> Present term: Jan. 2017 – Jan. 2021
> State tax collections: $3,240 per capita (12th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 6.4% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 7,535,591 (13th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”8439″]
5. Massachusetts: Charlie Baker (R)
> Salary: $185,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $4,012 per capita (7th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 7.9% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 6,902,149 (15th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”22627″]
4. Tennessee: Bill Lee (R)
> Salary: $194,112
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,069 per capita (8th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living: 9.6% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 6,770,010 (16th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”59360″]
3. Pennsylvania: Tom Wolf (D)
> Salary: $194,850
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $2,956 per capita (19th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 2.1% less than nat’l avg.
> State population: 12,807,060 (5th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”11113″]
2. New York: Andrew Cuomo (D)
> Salary: $200,000
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $4,014 per capita (6th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 15.8% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 19,542,209 (4th highest)
[entry-topics ids=”4614″]
1. California: Gavin Newsom (D)
> Salary: $201,680
> Present term: Jan. 2019 – Jan. 2023
> State tax collections: $3,936 per capita (8th highest)
> Statewide cost of living: 14.8% more than nat’l avg.
> State population: 39,557,045 (the highest)
[entry-topics ids=”1337″]
Methodology
To identify America’s highest paid governors, 24/7 Wall St. consulted the most recent governor compensation data in the 2019 Book of the States chapter on the state executive branch, originally published by The Council of State Governments.
Each governor’s present term in office and party affiliation is also from the Council of State Governments.
State tax collections per capita for fiscal year 2017 are from tax policy advocacy group Tax Foundation’s Facts and Figures 2019. Regional price parity figures by state for 2017 are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Total population figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey and are 1-year estimates.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Sam Stebbins is a writer at 247WallSt.com where his primary focus is on government policy, politics, companies, and broad social and economic trends. Sam has been writing in the money and news verticals for over 8 years and holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College, which he earned in 2010. Sam resides in upstate New York and enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains and across the Northeast.
