From Ballotpedia

The compensation of state executive officers is most often determined either by a state's constitution or statute. In some states, especially with less prominent offies, a state's department of personnel or administration will establish a compensation scheme. Most often, the salary portion of an officer's compensation is defined by law, but additional benefits (insurance, official residence, other work-related equipment) may be established by state agencies, custom, or other factors. In some cases, salaries are automatically increased each year either at the rate of inflation or by some other percentage chosen by the legislature. For example, the salary of Kentucky's governor was set at $45,000 in 1979, but has since automatically increased every year in line with inflation to its current level of $145,885.

The highest paid state executive officer is the Louisiana Superintendent of Education, who received a salary of $341,458 in 2010. The lowest paid officer in 2010 was the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, with a salary of only $7,200; the lieutenant governor receives additional compensation in his capacity as president of the Texas Senate. On average, the highest state executive salaries are paid in the eastern U.S., followed by the south. Nationally, the highest paid office on average is state superintendent of schools/education commissioner, with an average salary of $157,452. The next highest compensated office is governor. Additional analysis and comparisons are provided at the bottom of this page.

This page provides an overview of the salaries (not necessarily total compensation) received by the state executive officers Ballotpedia covers. The data source is the 2010 Book of the States, a compilation of information collected by the Council of State Governments, a non-profit organization sponsored by state governments. Offices covered include:

Salaries of constitutional state executive officers

The below chart displays the salaries of the four state executive offices most commonly established in a state's constitution: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state. Offices that may not exist in a given state are marked "N/A." In nearly all states, the compensation of these offices is established either in the state constitution or by statute.

The top five salaries for each constitutional officer are in:

• Governor:
  • New York ($179,000), Illinois ($177,500), Michigan ($177,000), New Jersey ($175,000), and Virginia ($175,000).
• Lieutenant Governor:
  • New York ($151,500), Pennsylvania ($146,926), Ohio ($142,501), New Jersey ($141,000), Illinois ($135,700).
• Attorney General:
  • Alabama ($168,003), Tennessee ($165,336), Illinois ($156,600), Washington ($151,718), New York ($151,500).
• Secretary of State:
  • Tennessee ($180,000), Illinois ($156,600), Virginia ($152,793), Massachusetts ($130,916), California ($130,490).

The full chart of constitutional officer salaries is listed below:

Compensation of constitutional state executive officers
State	Governor	Lt. Governor	Attorney General	Secretary of State	State	Governor	Lt. Governor	Attorney General	Secretary of State
Alabama	$112,895	$112,895	$168,003	$79,580	Montana	$100,121	$79,007	$89,602	$79,129
Alaska	$125,000	$100,000	$135,000	N/A	Nebraska	$105,000	$75,000	$95,000	$85,000
Arizona	$95,000	N/A	$90,000	$70,000	Nevada	$141,000	$60,000	$133,000	$97,000
Arkansas	$87,352	$42,219	$172,794	$54,594	New Hampshire	$113,834	N/A	$110,114	$104,364
California	$173,987	$130,490	$151,127	$130,490	New Jersey	$175,000	$141,000	$141,000	N/A
Colorado	$90,000	$68,500	$80,000	$68,500	New Mexico	$110,000	$85,000	$95,000	$85,000
Connecticut	$150,000	$110,000	$110,000	$110,000	New York	$179,000	$151,500	$151,500	$120,800
Delaware	$171,000	$74,345	$137,425	$120,755	North Carolina	$139,590	$123,198	$123,198	$123,198
Florida	$130,273	$124,851	$128,972	$120,000	North Dakota	$105,036	$81,540	$91,716	$83,556
Georgia	$139,339	$91,609	$137,791	$123,636	Ohio	$144,269	$142,501	$109,554	$109,554
Hawaii	$117,312	$114,420	$114,420	$114,420	Oklahoma	$147,700	$114,713	$132,850	$94,500
Idaho	$115,348	$30,400	$103,984	$103,984	Oregon	$93,600	N/A	$77,200	$77,200
Illinois	$177,500	$135,700	$156,600	$156,600	Pennsylvania	$174,914	$146,926	$145,529	$125,939
Indiana	$95,000	$79,192	$82,734	$68,772	Rhode Island	$117,817	$99,214	$105,416	$99,214
Iowa	$130,000	$103,212	$123,669	$103,212	South Carolina	$106,078	$100,000	$92,007	$92,007
Kansas	$110,707	$100,000	$98,901	$86,003	South Dakota	$112,895	$112,895	$168,003	$79,580
Kentucky	$145,885	$108,720	$108,720	$108,720	Tennessee	$170,340	$57,027	$165,336	$180,000
Louisiana	$130,000	$115,000	$115,000	$115,000	Texas	$150,000	$7,200	$150,000	$125,880
Maine	$70,000	N/A	92,248	$83,844	Utah	$109,900	$104,405	$104,405	N/A
Maryland	$150,000	$125,000	$125,000	$125,000	Vermont	$142,542	$60,507	$108,202	$90,376
Massachusetts	$140,535	$124,920	$133,644	$130,916	Virginia	$175,000	$36,321	$150,000	$152,793
Michigan	$177,000	$123,900	$124,900	$124,900	Washington	$166,891	$93,948	$151,718	$116,950
Minnesota	$120,303	$78,197	$114,288	$90,227	West Virginia	$150,000	N/A	$95,000	$95,000
Mississippi	$122,160	$61,714	$108,960	$90,000	Wisconsin	$137,092	$72,394	$133,033	$65,079
Missouri	$133,821	$86,484	$116,437	$107,746	Wyoming	$112,895	$112,895	$168,003	$79,580

Salaries of other state executive officers

The salaries of other state executive offices are displayed below. The offices include: treasurer, controller/comptroller, auditor, superintendent of schools, insurance commissioner, natural resources commissioner, agriculture commissioner, labor commissioner and public services commission.

Most of these offices are established by state law, not the constitution, are appointive, and are officially non-partisan. There are, however, a number of exceptions to this rule. For instance, the Florida Chief Financial Officer, the state's equivalent of treasurer and controller, is an elected member of the governor's cabinet.

The top five salaries for each office are:

• Treasurer:
  • Tennessee ($180,000), Michigan ($174,204), Virginia ($149,761), Pennsylvania ($145,529), New Jersey ($141,000).
• Controller/Comptroller:
  • Louisiana ($204, 402), Tennessee ($180,000), Washington ($163,056), Massachusetts ($154,669), North Carolina ($153,319).
• Auditor:
  • Texas ($198,000), Rhode Island ($196,142), Connecticut ($189,770), Tennessee ($180,000), California ($175,000).
• Agriculture Commissioner':
  • California ($175,000), New Mexico ($160,064), Colorado ($146,040), New Jersey ($141,000), Texas ($137,500).
• Insurance Commissioner:
  • Texas ($163,800), Maryland ($156,060), Oregon ($150,252), Connecticut ($143,222), Virginia ($142,425).
• Labor Commissioner:
  • California ($175,000), Colorado ($146,040), Maryland ($143,270), New Jersey ($141,000), Texas ($140,000).
• Natural Resources Commissioner:
  • California ($175,000), Virginia ($152,793), Massachusetts ($150,000), Maryland ($148,778), Colorado ($146,040)
• Superintendent of Schools:
  • Louisiana ($341,458), Mississippi ($307,125), Florida ($275,000), Kentucky ($225,000), Colorado ($223,860)
• Public Services Commissioner:
  • South Carolina (160,272), Maryland ($150,000), Tennessee ($150,000), Oregon ($143,146), Mississippi ($141,505).

The full chart is displayed below:

Compensation of down ballot/appointed executive officers
State	Treasurer	Comptroller	Auditor	Agriculture Commissioner	Labor Commissioner	Insurance Commissioner	Superintendent of Schools	Nat. Resource Commissioner	Public Utilities Commissioner
Alabama	$79,580	$122,265	$79,580	$79,026	$91,013	$103,810	$197,965	$91,013	$96,609
Alaska	$123,456	$114,996	$118,992	$103,116	$135,000	$114,996	$135,000	$135,000	$100,116
Arizona	$70,000	$117,702	$128,785	$102,260	$126,069	$115,650	$85,000	$131,500	$130,000
Arkansas	$54,594	$98,472	$54,594	$102,784	$115,007	$117,899	$219,999	$101,579	$111,482
California	$139,189	$139,189	$175,000	$175,000	$175,000	$139,189	$151,127	$175,000	$137,100
Colorado	$68,500	$126,540	$146,040	$146,040	$146,040	$110,388	$223,860	$146,040	$114,948
Connecticut	$110,000	$110,000	$189,770	$120,200	$132,613	$143,222	$180,353	$138,123	$137,686
Delaware	$107,300	$139,474	$102,715	$112,660	$112,660	$102,715	$151,565	$120,755	$90,920
Florida	$128,972	$128,972	$135,000	$128,972	$120,000	$133,158	$275,000	$123,295	$125,000
Georgia	$130,927		$152,160	$121,556	$121,570	$120,394	$123,269	$141,103	$116,452
Hawaii	$108,972	$108,972	$103,512	$103,512	$103,512	$100,248	$150,000	$103,512	$90,060
Idaho	$93,756	$93,756	$106,620	$106,620	$111,945	$97,323	$93,756	$112,798	$92,167
Illinois	$130,800	$135,700	$139,800	$133,300	$124,100	$135,100	$189,996	$133,300	$110,772
Indiana	$68,772	$68,772	$68,772	$99,001	$99,180	$90,500	$82,734	$105,000	$109,262
Iowa	$103,212		$103,212	$103,212	$112,069	$104,533	$148,526	$106,090	$125,008
Kansas	$82,563	$97,375		$100,000	$107,990	$86,003	$160,000	$114,490	$91,416
Kentucky	$108,720	$105,101	$108,720	$108,720	$137,865	$99,225	$225,000	$95,445	$127,260
Louisiana	$115,000	$204,402	$132,620	$115,000	$137,000	$115,000	$341,458	$129,210	$130,000
Maine	$83,844	$90,355	$97,782	$102,689	$102,689	$96,553	$102,689	$89,523	$117,104
Maryland	$125,000	$125,000		$130,050	$143,270	$156,060	$195,000	$148,778	$150,000
Massachusetts	$130,916	$154,669	$138,117	$120,000	$125,000	$94,458	$154,500	$150,000	$115,968
Michigan	$174,204	$124,964	$152,274	$135,000	$140,000	$112,199	$183,945	$140,000	$113,612
Minnesota	108,388*	$108,388	$102,257	$108,388	$108,388	$97,217	$108,388	$108,388	$88,448
Mississippi	$90,000	$124,000	$90,000	$90,000		$90,000	$307,125	$120,386	$141,505
Missouri	$107,746	$95,288	$107,744	$120,000	$120,000	$103,860	$185,400	$120,000	$88,267
Montana	96,697*	$87,213	$96,972	$96,972	$96,967	$79,134	$104,625	$96,967	$88,528
Nebraska	$85,000	$112,341	$85,000	$102,278	$118,000	$110,228	$207,500	$107,532	$118,387
Nevada	$97,000	$97,000	$107,465	$107,465	$88,799	$117,030	$113,295	$127,721	$112,275
New Hampshire	$104,364	$104,364		$93,812	$104,364	$104,364	$112,861	$112,861	$110,036
New Jersey	$141,000	$141,000	$139,000	$141,000	$141,000	$130,000	$141,000	$123,600	$141,000
New Mexico	$85,000	$117,664	$160,064	$160,064	$105,000	$110,388	$173,859	$133,280	$90,000
New York	$127,000	$151,500	$151,500	$120,800	$127,000	$127,000	$170,165	$136,000	$127,000
North Carolina	$123,198	$153,319	$123,198	$123,198	$123,198	$123,198	$123,198	$120,363	$123,936
North Dakota	$78,900	$114,478	$83,556	$85,836	$79,596	$83,544	$95,112		$85,824
Ohio	$109,554	$126,401	$109,554	$111,072	$87,547	$128,564	$194,501	$128,003	$109,595
Oklahoma	$114,713	$90,000	$114,713	$87,005	$105,053	$126,713	$124,373	$86,310	$109,169
Oregon	$72,000	$127,882	$140,964	$136,220	$72,000	$150,252	$72,000	$127,884	$143,136
Pennsylvania	$145,529		$145,529	$125,939	$139,931	$125,939	$139,931	$132,934	$135,434
Rhode Island	$99,214	$112,492	$196,142	$130,152	$127,440	$109,613	$203,000	$130,152	$112,716
South Carolina	$92,007	$92,007		$92,007	$116,797	$112,407	$92,007	$121,380	$160,272
South Dakota	$78,363	$78,363	$98,345	$103,000	$113,448	$83,015	$110,000	$116,531	$91,390
Tennessee	$180,000	$180,000	$180,000	$135,000	$135,000	$135,000	$180,000	$135,000	$150,000
Texas	129,250*	$150,000	$198,000	$137,500	$140,000	$163,800	$186,300	$145,200	$115,550
Utah	$104,405	$123,317	$104,405	$101,999	$101,999	$107,678	$178,503	$126,700	$101,999
Vermont	$90,376	$89,669	$90,376	$109,387	$93,870	$96,054	$113,402	$104,499	$116,688
Virginia	$149,761	$133,972	$159,907	$137,280	$125,759	$142,425	$167,111	$152,793	$136,875
Washington	$116,950	$163,056	$116,950	$122,478	$139,320	$116,950	$121,618	$121,618	$128,000
West Virginia	$95,000	$95,000	$95,000	$95,000	$70,000	$92,500	$175,000	$75,000	$90,000
Wisconsin	$65,079	$114,385	$121,973	$123,248	$106,031	$117,980	$109,587	$130,623	$113,502
Wyoming	$92,000	$92,000	$92,000	$107,588	$88,439	$101,567	$92,000	$43,842	$115,712

Average salaries by region

The chart below displays an overview of the average salary of each type of state executive officer by region. The regions are: East^[1], Midwest^[2], South^[3], and West^[4]. In addition to averages, the chart displays the standard deviation of salaries both by region and by office. The standard deviation is a measure of statistical dispersion; in this case, it expresses how much each individual salary varies (or deviates) from the mean salary, on average. In other words, the larger the standard deviation, the greater the spread of salary levels for a given office across different states.

Executive officers are best paid in the eastern U.S., with a mean wage of $124,267 across all offices. Midwestern states feature the lowest average state executive wage, at $110,184, about 11% lower than their eastern counterparts. Interestingly, the standard deviation of state executives' wages by region is remarkably uniform: salary levels in the east, midwest and west all express roughly the same level of variation. The compensation of southern executives, however, are much more varied, with a standard deviation about 43% higher than the other three regions. This reflects the fact that the south has both some of the best and worst paid state executives in the nation; for example, Tennessee and Louisiana have the #2 and #3 highest salary levels in the country, while West Virginia and Arkansas stand at #41 and #45, respectively.

Examining the standard deviation of salaries by office reveals that some offices are paid at a much more consistent level than others. For instance, the salaries of agriculture commissioners around the country don't vary much at all (std. dev. = $19,367), while the compensation of schools superintendents/education commissioners can be immensely different from state to state (std. dev. = $56,593). Indeed, the salaries of superintendents can reach as high as $341,458 in Louisiana and as low as $72,000 in Oregon.

Average state executive compensation by region
Region	Governor	Lt. Governor	Attorney General	Secretary of State	Treasurer	Comptroller	Auditor	Agri. Comm.	Labor Comm.	Insurance Comm.	Superintendent of Schools	Nat. Resources Comm.	Public Services Comm.	All offices	Std. deviation by region
East	$144,058	$102,601	$123,643	$107,371	$114,958	$121,852	$138,992	$118,790	$122,712	$116,907	$151,315	$126,111	$123,141	$124,267	$27,383
Midwest	$128,840	$91,758	$111,666	$95,570	$97,645	$108,117	$106,474	$109,485	$108,759	$104,444	$144,572	$118,996	$105,201	$110,184	$28,260
South	$135,982	$84,425	$124,338	$110,844	$112,158	$126,628	$123,660	$111,537	$118,447	$118,626	$194,880	$117,205	$121,492	$123,358	$40,086
West	$118,705	$86,617	$112,508	$93,588	$97,602	$116,099	$122,905	$120,720	$114,622	$112,369	$130,357	$121,682	$111,080	$113,009	$28,201
National	$131,695	$90,474	$118,322	$102,492	$106,009	$118,761	$122,710	$115,068	$116,215	$113,501	$157,452	$120,758	$115,564	$117,963	$32,686
Std. deviation by office	$28,268	$36,250	$24,304	$25,310	$27,595	$26,708	$33,522	$19,367	$21,052	$19,405	$56,593	$22,256	$19,019	$32,686	X

See also

• Comparison of gubernatorial salaries
• Comparison of lieutenant gubernatorial salaries
• State Executive Officials on Ballotpedia
• Comparison of state legislative salaries

External links

• The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2011 -- Table 4.11"

References

v • d • e State executive offices Offices Governor • Lt. Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Schools • Insurance Commissioner • Controller • Agriculture Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Services Commissioner Elections 2012 • 2011 (Projected outcomes)• 2010 Reports State executive official reports • Projected outcomes, 2011 Features News • Chart of state executive officers • Term limits • Compensation