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How Much Does A Politician Make Per Year?

The salary of a politician ranges from zero to six figures in the United States. Those who serve at the local level earn the lowest and those elected on a state or federal level earn the highest. 

Most local positions offer little to no wages. Also if you’re on the town council, you can accept almost nothing in return for your work. However, it’s the state and federal levels that make a politician’s bank account sublime. Here’s how different categories of politicians earn in the U.S.

Local Officials 

If your city or town is relatively small, then the mayor and council members are working for little stipends or not even that. However, the decisions local officials make in a town get into effect immediately. These decisions also impact your daily life. 

State Legislators 

A state legislator’s salary is based on the type of worker he is. Full-time elected legislators at the state level make an average of $75,400 annually. On the other hand, a part-time legislator will easily earn up to around $12,800 annually. 

Although if you’re a state legislator in California, you can make a fortune out of it. You’ll be making more money than any other lawmaker in any other state. $110,400 is the annual salary of lawmakers in California – the highest in the United States. 

Governors

Governors are a state’s top executives. A governor in the U.S. can earn between $70,000 to $201,000. The highest salary a governor can get is in California ($201,680) and New York ($200,000). The lowest can be earned in Maine ($70,000) and Colorado ($90,000). This information is based on Ballotpedia. 

Members Of Congress

Members of congress in the United States earn a basic salary of $174,000 per year. However, some people might think that it’s way too much for the lesser days they spend debating over legislation each year. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate also work tirelessly outside the house, so their salary is justified. 

President 

The President of the United States is paid a staggering $400,000 annually for his alarming service as the country’s commander in chief. The Congress has given a raise to the president’s salary exactly five times since the first president was elected, George Washington in 1789. The Vice President earns between $230,000 to $250,000.