- US governors are leading the coronavirus response after President Donald Trump said that he’s fine with governors making their own decisions about how and when to reopen their states.
- Despite holding the same title, United States governors’ salaries range depending on state.
- According to data from The Council of State Governments (CSG), current annual earnings range from a low of $70,000 to a high of $201,680.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Last week, President Trump walked back statements saying his “authority is total” when deciding when to reopen the economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, instead stating that he was OK with governors taking the lead in deciding when and how to reopen their states.
Now, governors are taking the national spotlight as they make their decisions. And though the United States’ governors all share the same title, the nation’s 50 state leaders do not share the same salary.
Using the most recent data (from April 2019) from The Council of State Governments (CSG), we examined the salaries of the current governors roster to see how much each makes. Most governors are paid at least $100,000, but leaders of five states receive a five-figure salary. The annual earnings range from $70,000 (in Maine) to $201,680 (in California).
While the pay pales in comparison to that of some high-powered CEOs and execs, a stint in the governor’s mansion can be a great stepping stone in a politician’s career. Of the 44 men who have been president of the United States, 17 had previously served as governor. The most recent to do so was George W. Bush, who was working out of the capitol building in Austin, Texas, when he was elected president.
Of the current slate of governors, 27 are Republicans and 23 are Democrats. Prior to the midterm elections last year, 33 were Republicans, 16 were Democrats, and one was an Independent. In total, the Democrats flipped seven gubernatorial races.
In the past, several governors have refused, reduced, or otherwise donated their earnings. Among them are current governors Andrew Cuomo and Gina Raimondo, who gave themselves 5% pay cuts.
Read on for each governor's salary, listed in alphabetical order by state, along with their party affiliation.
Matthew Michaels and Marissa Perino contributed to an earlier version of this post.
Alabama
Governor: Kay Ivey (Republican)
Salary: $120,395
Alaska
Governor: Mike Dunleavy (Republican)
Salary: $145,000
Arizona
Governor: Doug Ducey (Republican)
Salary: $95,000
Arkansas
Governor: Asa Hutchinson (Republican)
Salary: $148,134
California
Governor: Gavin Newsom (Democrat)
Salary: $201,680
Colorado
Governor: Jared Polis (Democrat)
Salary: $90,000
Connecticut
Governor: Ned Lamont (Democrat)
Salary: $150,000*
*As noted in the Book of States 2019, Governor Lamont previously said he will forego his salary.
Delaware
Governor: John Carney Jr. (Democrat)
Salary: $171,000
Florida
Governor: Ron DeSantis (Republican)
Salary: $130,273
Georgia
Governor: Brian Kemp (Republican)
Salary: $175,000
Hawaii
Governor: David Ige (Democrat)
Salary: $158,700
Idaho
Governor: Brad Little (Republican)
Salary: $138,302
Illinois
Governor: J.B. Pritzker (Democrat)
Salary: $177,412*
*As noted in the Book of States 2019, Governor Pritzker previously said he will not take his salary. The Chicago Tribune reported in January that the then governor-elect additionally promised to double his top aides' state salaries using his personal fortune.
Indiana
Governor: Eric Holcomb (Republican)
Salary: $121,331
Iowa
Governor: Kim Reynolds (Republican)
Salary: $130,000
Kansas
Governor: Laura Kelly (Democrat)
Salary: $99,636
Kentucky
Governor: Andy Beshear (Democrat)
Salary: N/A, however former Governor Matt Bevin reportedly made $148,781.
Louisiana
Governor: John Bel Edwards (Democrat)
Salary: $130,000
Maine
Governor: Janet Mills (Democrat)
Salary: $70,000
Maryland
Governor: Larry Hogan (Republican)
Salary: $170,000
Massachusetts
Governor: Charlie Baker (Republican)
Salary: $185,000
Michigan
Governor: Gretchen Whitmer (Democrat)
Salary: $159,300
Minnesota
Governor: Tim Walz (Democrat)
Salary: $127,629
Mississippi
Governor: Tate Reeves (Republican)
Salary: N/A, however former Gov. Tate Reeves reportedly made $185,000
Missouri
Governor: Mike Parson (Republican)
Salary: $133,821
Montana
Governor: Steve Bullock (Democrat)
Salary: $115,505
Nebraska
Governor: Pete Ricketts (Republican)
Salary: $105,000
Nevada
Governor: Steve Sisolak (Democrat)
Salary: $149,573*
*As noted in the Book of States 2019, Governor Sisolak previously pledged to donate his net state salary back to high-poverty K-12 public schools throughout all four years of his term.
New Hampshire
Governor: Chris Sununu (Republican)
Salary: $134,581
New Jersey
Governor: Phil Murphy (Democrat)
Salary: $175,000
New Mexico
Governor: Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democrat)
Salary: $110,000
New York
Governor: Andrew Cuomo (Democrat)
Salary: $200,000
North Carolina
Governor: Roy Cooper (Democrat)
Salary: $144,349
North Dakota
Governor: Doug Burgum (Republican)
Salary: $129,096*
*As noted in the Book of States 2019, Governor Burgum previously said he will not take his salary, though the Bismarck Tribune reported in April that North Dakota House budget writers had given him a salary anyway, against his request, citing that it wouldn't be a good precedent to set and noting that he could donate his salary to "some worthy cause."
Ohio
Governor: Mike DeWine (Republican)
Salary: $153,650
Oklahoma
Governor: Kevin Stitt (Republican)
Salary: $147,000
Oregon
Governor: Kate Brown (Democrat)
Salary: $98,600
Pennsylvania
Governor: Tom Wolf (Democrat)
Salary: $194,850
Rhode Island
Governor: Gina Raimondo (Democrat)
Salary: $145,755
South Carolina
Governor: Henry McMaster (Republican)
Salary: $106,078
South Dakota
Governor: Kristi Noem (Republican)
Salary: $113,961
Tennessee
Governor: Bill Lee (Republican)
Salary: $194,112
Texas
Governor: Greg Abbott (Republican)
Salary: $153,750
Utah
Governor: Gary Herbert (Republican)
Salary: $150,000
Vermont
Governor: Phil Scott (Republican)
Salary: $178,274
Virginia
Governor: Ralph Northam (Democrat)
Salary: $175,000
Washington
Governor: Jay Inslee (Democrat)
Salary: $183,072
West Virginia
Governor: Jim Justice (Republican)
Salary: $150,000
Wisconsin
Governor: Tony Evers (Democrat)
Salary: $152,756
Wyoming
Governor: Mark Gordon (Republican)
Salary: $105,000