CSG releases study of legislators’ salaries

State legislators’ salaries nationwide, when adjusted for inflation, dropped on average by more than 6 percent between 1975 and 2005.

That’s one of the findings in a new report, "State Legislator Compensation: A Trend Analysis" by Dr. Keon S. Chi, editor of The Council of State Governments’ (CSG) Book of the States. The report focuses on a trend analysis of legislator compensation, basic and supplemental, in the 50 states by type of legislature, region and salary base. It also compares legislative pay with selected top officials in the executive and judicial branches as well as members of Congress and per capita income between 1975 and 2005.

Among the key findings:

• There is a wide variability in basic compensation for state lawmakers. For instance, legislator salaries ranged from a low of $100 in New Hampshire to $110,880 in California in 2005. The average salary of all state lawmakers in the 50 states was $25,908.
• Full-time lawmakers in “professional” legislatures received higher salaries, while lawmakers in “hybrid” and “citizen” legislatures received much lower annual salaries.
• During the 30-year period, legislators’ salaries in all but three states—Alabama, New Hampshire and Texas—steadily increased in current dollars. But in Consumer Price Index adjusted dollars, legislator salaries increased in 22 states and decreased in 28 states.
• The average legislator salaries were highest in the Eastern region, and lowest in the Southern region. Average salaries for lawmakers in the Eastern region increased nearly 17 percent during the study period, while salaries of Southern legislators dropped by 29 percent.
• The average salary in states with annual sessions in 2005 was more than three times the average legislative salary in states with biennial sessions.
• The average salaries of state legislators have been lower than salaries of top officials in the executive and judicial branches.
• Legislators in the professional legislatures earned about 60 percent of what members of Congress earn
• Overall, while per capita income of the American people increased 50.6 percent from 1975 to 2005, legislative salaries have dropped by more than 6 percent.

The report will be available for purchase through the CSG Web site.