This November, in addition to the presidential election, 11 U.S. states as well as two territories will hold elections for governor. 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, populations, and of course, compensation.
The power wielded by state governors has been evident in 2020, as each state, under the direction of its governor, has adopted its own approach to combating the coronavirus. Some governors have chosen to ignore federal guidelines, while others have responded with even stricter measures.
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, 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 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 America’s highest paid governors.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
50. Maine: Janet Mills (D)
> Salary: $70,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,295 per capita (13th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): equal to the nat’l avg.
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Source: Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images
49. Colorado: Jared Polis (D)
> Salary: $90,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,599 per capita (16th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 1.9% more expensive than nat’l avg.
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48. Arizona: Doug Ducey (R)
> Salary: $95,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,272 per capita (11th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 3.5% less expensive than nat’l avg.
47. Oregon: Kate Brown (D)
> Salary: $98,600
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,017 per capita (24th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 1.1% more expensive than nat’l avg.
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Source: Photo by Mark Reinstein / Corbis via Getty Images
46. Kansas: Laura Kelly (D)
> Salary: $99,636
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,279 per capita (15th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 10.0% less expensive than nat’l avg.
44 (tie). Nebraska: Pete Ricketts (R)
> Salary: $105,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,795 per capita (24th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 10.5% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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Source: Courtesy of Mark Gordon
44 (tie). Wyoming: Mark Gordon (R)
> Salary: $105,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,180 per capita (19th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 7.3% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Sean Rayford / Getty Images
43. South Carolina: Henry McMaster (R)
> Salary: $106,078
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,075 per capita (the lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 8.9% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: usforestservice / Flickr
42. New Mexico: Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)
> Salary: $110,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,707 per capita (20th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 8.9% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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41. South Dakota: Kristi Noem (R)
> Salary: $113,961
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,174 per capita (7th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 12.1% less expensive than nat’l avg.
40. Montana: Steve Bullock (D)
> Salary: $115,505
> Present term: Jan 2017 – Jan 2021
> State tax collections (2018): $2,772 per capita (23rd lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 6.7% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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Source: 187fw / Flickr
39. Alabama: Kay Ivey (R)
> Salary: $120,395
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,262 per capita (10th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 13.6% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
38. Indiana: Eric Holcomb (R)
> Salary: $121,331
> Present term: Jan 2017 – Jan 2021
> State tax collections (2018): $2,899 per capita (25th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 10.7% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
37. Mississippi: Tate Reeves (R)
> Salary: $122,160
> Present term: Jan 2020 – Jan 2024
> State tax collections (2018): $2,642 per capita (17th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 14.0% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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36. Minnesota: Tim Walz (D)
> Salary: $127,629
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $4,758 per capita (5th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 2.5% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Stephen Yang / Getty Images News via Getty Images
35. North Dakota: Doug Burgum (R)
> Salary: $129,096
> Present term: Dec 2016 – Dec 2020
> State tax collections (2018): $5,533 per capita (the highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 9.4% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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33 (tie). Iowa: Kim Reynolds (R)
> Salary: $130,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,196 per capita (18th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 10.8% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
33 (tie). Louisiana: John Bel Edwards (D)
> Salary: $130,000
> Present term: Jan 2016 – Jan 2020
> State tax collections (2018): $2,437 per capita (13th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 10.9% less expensive than nat’l avg.
32. Florida: Ron DeSantis (R)
> Salary: $130,273
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,158 per capita (6th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 0.6% more expensive than nat’l avg.
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31. Missouri: Mike Parson (R)
> Salary: $133,821
> Present term: June 2018 – Jan 2021
> State tax collections (2018): $2,126 per capita (4th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 11.2% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Scott Eisen / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
30. New Hampshire: Chris Sununu (R)
> Salary: $134,581
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2021
> State tax collections (2018): $2,153 per capita (5th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 6.0%more expensive than nat’l avg.
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29. Idaho: Brad Little (R)
> Salary: $138,302
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,764 per capita (22nd lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 7.5% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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Source: Sara D. Davis / Getty Images News via Getty Images
28. North Carolina: Roy Cooper (D)
> Salary: $144,349
> Present term: Jan 2017 – Jan 2021
> State tax collections (2018): $2,683 per capita (18th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 8.2% less expensive than nat’l avg.
27. Alaska: Mike Dunleavy (R)
> Salary: $145,000
> Present term: Dec 2018 – Dec 2022
> State tax collections (2018): $2,226 per capita (8th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 4.8% more expensive than nat’l avg.
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Source: Paul Morigi / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
26. Rhode Island: Gina Raimondo (D)
> Salary: $145,755
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,294 per capita (14th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 0.7% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: whitehouse / Flickr
25. Oklahoma: Kevin Stitt (R)
> Salary: $147,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,425 per capita (12th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 11.6% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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Source: Alex Wong / Getty Images
24. Arkansas: Asa Hutchinson (R)
> Salary: $148,134
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,266 per capita (16th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 14.7% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: John Sommers II / Getty Images News via Getty Images
23. Kentucky: Andy Beshear (D)
> Salary: $148,781
> Present term: Dec 2019 – Dec 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,699 per capita (19th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 12.2% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images
22. Nevada: Steve Sisolak (D)
> Salary: $149,573
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,018 per capita (23rd highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 2.5% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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Source: Bonnie Biess / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
19 (tie). Connecticut: Ned Lamont (D)
> Salary: $150,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $5,341 per capita (3rd highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 6.1% more expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
19 (tie). Utah: Gary Herbert (R)
> Salary: $150,000
> Present term: Jan 2017 – Jan 2021
> State tax collections (2018): $2,543 per capita (15th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 3.4% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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Source: Justin Merriman / Getty Images
19 (tie). West Virginia: Jim Justice (R)
> Salary: $150,000
> Present term: Jan 2017 – Jan 2021
> State tax collections (2018): $3,000 per capita (25th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 12.2% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
18. Wisconsin: Tony Evers (D)
> Salary: $152,756
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,224 per capita (17th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 8.1% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Justin Merriman / Getty Images
17. Ohio: Richard Michael DeWine (R)
> Salary: $153,650
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,492 per capita (14th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 11.6% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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16. Texas: Greg Abbott (R)
> Salary: $153,750
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,102 per capita (2nd lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 3.2% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Mario Tama / Getty Images News via Getty Images
15. Hawaii: David Ige (D)
> Salary: $158,700
> Present term: Dec 2018 – Dec 2022
> State tax collections (2018): $5,431 per capita (2nd highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 18.1% more expensive than nat’l avg.
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Source: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images News via Getty Images
14. Michigan: Gretchen Whitmer (D)
> Salary: $159,300
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,052 per capita (22nd highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 7.6% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Scott Eisen / Getty Images News via Getty Images
13. Maryland: Larry Hogan (R)
> Salary: $170,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,711 per capita (11th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 8.4% more expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Mark Makela / Getty Images
12. Delaware: John Carney (D)
> Salary: $171,000
> Present term: Jan 2017 – Jan 2021
> State tax collections (2018): $4,363 per capita (8th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 1.2% less expensive than nat’l avg.
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9 (tie). Georgia: Brian Kemp (R)
> Salary: $175,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,244 per capita (9th lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 7.0% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
9 (tie). New Jersey: Phil Murphy (D)
> Salary: $175,000
> Present term: Jan 2018 – Jan 2022
> State tax collections (2018): $3,970 per capita (10th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 15.2% more expensive than nat’l avg.
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9 (tie). Virginia: Ralph Northam (D)
> Salary: $175,000
> Present term: Jan 2018 – Jan 2022
> State tax collections (2018): $2,758 per capita (21st lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 2.0%more expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
8. Illinois: JB Pritzker (D)
> Salary: $177,412
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,128 per capita (21st highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 1.9% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
7. Vermont: Phil Scott (R)
> Salary: $178,274
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2021
> State tax collections (2018): $5,244 per capita (4th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 3.0%more expensive than nat’l avg.
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6. Washington: Jay Inslee (D)
> Salary: $183,072
> Present term: Jan 2017 – Jan 2021
> State tax collections (2018): $3,527 per capita (12th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 7.8% more expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Isaac Brekken / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
5. Massachusetts: Charlie Baker (R)
> Salary: $185,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $4,296 per capita (9th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 9.7% more expensive than nat’l avg.
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Source: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
4. Tennessee: Bill Lee (R)
> Salary: $194,112
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $2,108 per capita (3rd lowest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 10.1% less expensive than nat’l avg.
3. Pennsylvania: Tom Wolf (D)
> Salary: $194,850
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $3,179 per capita (20th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 2.5% less expensive than nat’l avg.
Source: Matthew Cavanaugh / Getty Images News via Getty Images
2. New York: Andrew Cuomo (D)
> Salary: $200,000
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $4,531 per capita (6th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 16.4% more expensive than nat’l avg.
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1. California: Gavin Newsom (D)
> Salary: $201,680
> Present term: Jan 2019 – Jan 2023
> State tax collections (2018): $4,424 per capita (7th highest)
> Statewide cost of living (2018): 15.4% more expensive than nat’l avg.
Methodology
To identify America’s highest paid governors, 24/7 Wall St. consulted the most recent governor compensation data in the Book of the States 2019 chapter on the state executive branch, originally published by The Council of State Governments.
Each governor’s present term in office and party affiliation are also from the Council of State Governments.
State tax collections per capita for fiscal year 2018 are from tax policy advocacy group Tax Foundation’s Facts and Figures 2020. Regional price parity figures — a cost of living measure — by state for 2018 are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
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