Governors From These States are Paid the Most

While the President of the United States might be thought of as the most powerful person in national politics, it’s a little different at the state level. Every state in America has a governor who is responsible for the day-to-day actions of their respective states. For this work, every governor is paid an annual salary for their public service.

As governors take on big responsibilities managing the lives of millions, they hope to be well compensated. The result is that governors can make big money depending on the size of the state. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the salaries of all 50 U.S. governors.

Maine

As the 75th governor of Maine, Janet Mills earns a salary of just $70,000. As the lowest salary in the nation, Mills isn’t living lavishly. After a career as a criminal prosecutor, Mills has been a lifelong politician beginning her political career in 1980.

Colorado

With the second-lowest salary in the U.S., the governor of Colorado only makes $90,000. Jared Polis is currently serving as the 43rd Governor of Colorado. Thankfully, Polis has sold two large businesses in his life giving him a net worth of $300 million.

Arizona

The third-lowest salary of any state, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs makes $95,000 per year. As a social worker since 1992, Hobbs has been in public service since 2011. She quickly went from the Arizona House of Representatives to the governor’s office in 12 years.

Oregon

As the highest elected official in the state of Oregon, the governor, Tina Kotek, earns a yearly salary of $98,600. Kotek resides in Mahonia Hall in Salem, the official mansion for the governor of Oregon.

Wyoming

The first governor to eclipse a six-figure salary, the governor of Wyoming, Mark Gordon, earns a salary of $105,000. As a perk of his office, Governor Gordon lives in the Wyoming governor’s mansion built in 1976 in Cheyenne.

Nebraska

The 41st Governor of Nebraska, James Douglas Pillen earns a yearly salary of $105,000. As a former practicing veterinarian and chairman of Pillen Family Farms, Pillen’s net worth is estimated to be between $50 and $150 million.

South Carolina

Henry McMaster is currently serving as the 117th Governor of the state of South Carolina. With a salary of $106,078, McMaster currently lives in the South Carolina Executive Mansion located in Richland.

New Mexico

Elected to office in 2019, Michelle Grisham is now serving as the 32nd Governor of New Mexico. As such, Grisham earns a salary of $110,000. Before serving in office, Grisham served as the New Mexico Secretary of Health and in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Kansas

As the 48th Governor of Kansas Laura Kelly earns a respectable $110,707. Before her political career, Kelly worked as a recreation therapist in New York and later as the executive director at the Kansas Recreation and Park Association.

Montana

A former businessman, Greg Gianforte is serving as the 25th Governor of Montana. After selling a company to Oracle, it’s believed Gianforte’s net worth is just under $200 million. This makes his $118,397 salary pocket change.

South Dakota

The 33rd Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem currently earns $121,578. Noem is currently living in the South Dakota governor’s residence located in Rapid City.

Mississippi

Tate Reeves is currently serving as the 65th Governor of Mississippi after previously serving as the state’s Lieutenant Governor. In his new role, Reeves earns a salary of $122,160.

Alabama

Well-known around the country, Kay Ivey is the 54th Governor of Alabama. A former high school teacher and banker, Ivey earns a salary of $124,563.

Minnesota

The state’s 41st governor, Tim Walz currently serves the residents of Minnesota. A retired educator, Walz’s salary of $127,629 also affords him the right to live in the governor’s residence in Saint Paul.

Louisiana

A former attorney, Jeff Landry is serving as the 57th Governor of Louisiana. With a salary of $130,000, Landry has the perk of living in the governor’s mansion in Baton Rouge.

Iowa

Kim Reynolds has the distinct honor of serving the state of Iowa as its 43rd governor. A former Lieutenant Governor, Reynolds earns a solid salary of $130,000 per year.

Indiana

Previously serving Mike Pence as lieutenant governor, Eric Holcomb is the 51st Governor of Indiana. In his role, Holcomb earns $134,051 per year.

Florida

A former member of the United States Navy, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was also a former member of Congress. As the governor, DeSantis earns a salary of $134,181.

Missouri

The leader of Missouri, Mike Parson serves as the governor. Serving since 2018, Michael Parson earns $137,167. Previously, Parson owned and operated several gas stations.

Idaho

Residing in his own home, Brad Little has been the governor of Idaho since 2019 earning $138,302. Before his role, Little served as a state senator and former bank board of director.

North Dakota

With an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is very wealthy. As such, he doesn’t truly need the $140,830 he is afforded as the state’s 33rd governor.

New Hampshire

A former environmental engineer before jumping into politics, New Hampshire’s Governor, Chris Sununu owned his strategy consulting group. He now earns a $144,483 salary leading the state.

Alaska

Mike Dunleavy serves the residents of Alaska as the state’s 12th governor. A former owner of an educational consulting firm, Dunleavy lives in the governor’s mansion earning $145,000.

Rhode Island

The 69th governor of Rhode Island, Dan McKee was a key member of McKee Brothers, an HVAC company his grandfather founded. Today, McKee earns $145,755.

Oklahoma

A founder of a large mortgage firm and bank, Oklahoma’s governor Kevin Stitt has an estimated net worth of $20 to $50 million. His $147,000 state salary pales in comparison.

West Virginia

Formerly a billionaire in the agriculture field, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has seen his net worth cut in half. Even so, his position as the 36th governor of the state affords him a salary of $150,000.

Connecticut

Ned Lamont currently serves as the 89th governor of Connecticut. As the founder of a cable company, Lamont’s net worth is estimated to be around $50 million, a far cry from his salary of $150,000.

Kentucky

The 63rd governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear earns a $152,181 salary as the state’s highest elected official. Beshear received his law degree from the University of Virginia in 2003.

Wisconsin

Previously serving as the head of the Department of Public Instruction for 19 years, Tony Evers is the 46th Governor of Wisconsin. In his role, Evers earns $152,756 annually.

Texas

The 48th governor of Texas, Gregg Abbot previously worked for the law firm Butler and Binion. Today, Abbott lives in the governor’s mansion earning a salary of $153,750.

Arkansas

Formerly the press secretary for President Donald Trump, Sarah Huckabee Sanders serves as the 47th governor of Arkansas. In her role, Sanders earns $158,739 every year.

Michigan

A former lawyer and state representative, Gretchen Whitmer serves as the 49th governor of Michigan. As the highest elected official, Whitmer earns $159,300.

Nevada

Previously serving as a member of the Las Vegas Police Department, Joe Lombardo is Nevada’s 31st governor. Lombardo currently earns $163,474 for serving the state.

Hawaii

The state’s 9th governor, Josh Green is Hawaii’s highest elected official. A former doctor and state representative, Green earns $165,048 and lives at Washington Place, the official residence of the governor.

Utah

A lawyer by trade, Utah governor Spencer Cox was also vice president of Centracom, a large cable company in Utah. Cox earns $165,600 as the state’s governor.

North Carolina

The 75th governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper earns $165,750 for his public service. Cooper has been in public life since his North Carolina House of Representatives role in 1987.

Ohio

A dedicated politician and former Ohio Senator, Mike DeWine has served as Ohio’s governor since 2019. Living in the governor’s mansion in Bexley, DeWine earns $168,106.

Delaware

The 74th governor of Delaware, John Carney previously served as the state’s lieutenant governor and as a member of the U.S. House. In his public role, Carney earns $171,000.

Virginia

After spending 25 years working in private equity, Glenn Youngkin turned his attention to politics and was elected as the 74th governor of Virginia. Youngkin currently earns $175,000.

New Jersey

As the 56th governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy earns a respectable $175,000. Prior to serving as governor, Murphy was in finance at Goldman Sachs before President Obama appointed him as U.S. Ambassador to Germany.

Georgia

Earning $175,000 annually, Brian Kemp serves the people of Georgia as its 83rd governor. Residing in the governor’s mansion, Kemp built homes for a living before politics.

Maryland

Wes Moore currently earns $180,000 annually serving as Maryland’s 63rd governor. Moore has held a variety of positions including as a Captain in the United States Army.

Illinois

A member of the ultra-wealthy Pritzker family, Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker has a net worth of around $3.5 billion. Pritzker’s family is one of the wealthiest in the country, even as he earns $184,758 in salary.

Massachusetts

Maura Healy serves the people of Massachusetts as its 73rd governor. Her salary of $185,000 is the 7th highest in the country. Healy was a lawyer and professional basketball player before entering politics.

Washington

Currently serving as the 23rd governor of Washington, Jay Inslee is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Today, Insley earns $187,353 for his public service.

Vermont

A former stock car racer, Phil Scott is the current governor of Vermont. The 81st person to hold the office, Scott earns $191,734. It’s believed his current net worth is around $3.1 million.

Tennessee

Residing as the 50th governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee was raised on his family’s acre ranch. Briefly serving as the Chairman of his family’s construction company, Lee earns $204,336 as governor.

Pennsylvania

Serving as the 48th governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro has been in office for just over one year. A former lawyer, Shapiro earns $213,026 as the state’s highest elected official.

California

Widely seen as a future Presidential candidate, California governor Gavin Newsom earns $218,556. Before government work, Newsom was a businessperson earning himself a $20 million net worth.

New York

Acting as the 57th governor of New York, Kathy Hochul is the highest-paid governor in the U.S. Earning $250,000 annually, Hochul resides in the famous New York Executive Mansion in Albany.

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