In some states, being the governor doesn’t automatically make you a top earner.
There’s a wide range in what state governors earn each year, from $70,000 in Maine to $253,870 in Pennsylvania.
Across all 50 states, governors earn an average official annual salary of $171,479 and are subject to federal and state income taxes, except in states without them, such as Florida or Texas.
By comparison, the top 1% of US earners each make at least $731,492 a year, placing the average governor below the ultrarich but also well above the average US wage of $69,846 in 2024, according to the Social Security Administration.
While governors across all 50 states are generally allowed to earn money beyond their state salary through investments, book deals, and other sources, the income they’re permitted to take in is closely regulated, and rules vary by state.
Some, like Florida’s Ron DeSantis, have brought in yearly incomes of over $1 million thanks to book royalties, while others, like Illinois’ JB Pritzker, earn eight figures due to investment gains and even gambling wins.
As such, some governors, like Pritzker and Connecticut’s Ned Lamont, who are independently wealthy, have chosen to forgo their six-figure salaries from the state.
Beyond the salary, other financial perks of being a governor may include living in the governor’s mansion, receiving private transportation from the state, and having access to security and staff.
See how much your governor makes each year, based on the most recent available state records, salary commissions, legislation, and public payroll data.
50. Maine
Governor: Janet Mills (Democrat)
Salary: $70,000
With a salary of $70,000, Maine Governor Janet Mills is the lowest-paid governor in the US.
The salary for Maine’s next governor is set to rise to $125,000 in 2027 under legislation passed in 2025, marking the first raise in the governor’s salary in the state since 1987.
49. Arizona
Governor: Katie Hobbs (Democrat)
Salary: $95,000
The Arizona governor, who has the second-lowest salary among US governors, will be eligible to receive a salary of $165,000 starting in 2027, per the state legislature.
48. Oregon
Governor: Tina Kotek (Democrat)
Salary: $98,600
Oregon law sets the governor’s annual salary at $98,600 and provides a separate $1,000 monthly expense payment. The salary is one of the lowest for any governor in the US.
47. Nebraska
Governor: Jim Pillen (Republican)
Salary: $105,000
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, who earned $105,000 a year in 2025, per the state legislature, is the fourth-lowest-paid governor in the US.
46. South Carolina
Governor: Henry McMaster (Republican)
Salary: $106,078
With a salary of $106,078 in 2025, per state records, the South Carolina governor is the fifth-lowest-paid governor in the US.
45. New Mexico
Governor: Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democrat)
Salary: $110,000
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is the sixth-lowest-paid governor in the US. New Mexico’s next governor will receive a salary of $169,714 starting with the next gubernatorial term in 2027.
44. Louisiana
Governor: Jeff Landry (Republican)
Salary: $129,394
43. Iowa
Governor: Kim Reynolds (Republican)
Salary: $130,000
42. Alabama
Governor: Kay Ivey (Republican)
Salary: $131,800
41. Colorado
Governor: Jared Polis (Democrat)
Salary: $134,632
The Colorado governor, previously one of the lowest-paid governors in the nation, has received a $134,632 salary since 2023, as outlined by state law.
40. Wyoming
Governor: Mark Gordon (Republican)
Salary: $140,000
39. Florida
Governor: Ron DeSantis (Republican)
Salary: $141,400
The Florida governor makes $141,400 each year, although the Florida state legislature has approved a raise to $251,414 for the office starting in 2027, which would make the Florida governor the highest paid in the nation, if other high-paying states do not also increase their salaries.
38. Montana
Governor: Greg Gianforte (Republican)
Salary: $141,517
Gianforte, who made his fortune in tech, donates his salary to Montana nonprofits. In 2025, his office said he had donated his entire gubernatorial salary to organizations supporting Montanans in need.
37. Missouri
Governor: Mike Kehoe (Republican)
Salary: $142,658
36. South Dakota
Governor: Larry Rhoden (Republican)
Salary: $146,472
35. Oklahoma
Governor: Kevin Stitt (Republican)
Salary: $147,000
While the current Oklahoma governor, Kevin Stitt, has a salary of $147,000 in 2026, his successor will see a raise to $185,000, per Oklahoma’s Journal Record.
34. Idaho
Governor: Brad Little (Republican)
Salary: $151,400
33. Texas
Governor: Greg Abbott (Republican)
Salary: $153,750
As of 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott makes $153,750 a year, per state records.
32. Michigan
Governor: Gretchen Whitmer (Democrat)
Salary: $159,300
Michigan’s governor also receives a $54,000 annual expense allowance, according to the State Officers Compensation Commission.
31. Mississippi
Governor: Tate Reeves (Republican)
Salary: $160,000
30. North Dakota
Governor: Kelly Armstrong (Republican)
Salary: $163,107
North Dakota’s governor’s salary is scheduled to rise to $168,000 starting July 1, 2026, per state legislation.
29. Rhode Island
Governor: Daniel McKee (Democrat)
Salary: $163,295
28. New Hampshire
Governor: Kelly Ayotte (Republican)
Salary: $163,510
27. Arkansas
Governor: Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Republican)
Salary: $166,771
26. Nevada
Governor: Joe Lombardo (Republican)
Salary: $170,062
25. Kansas
Governor: Laura Kelly (Democrat)
Salary: $174,000
In 2023, Kansas raised the governor’s annual salary starting January 1, 2025, tying the office’s pay to the salary of a non-leadership member of Congress, according to state legislation.
24. Minnesota
Governor: Tim Walz (Democrat)
Salary: $174,775 (although Walz accepts $127,629)
The Minnesota governor’s official salary is $174,775 and will increase to $200,000 in July 2026, per the Minnesota Legislature. However, Walz has repeatedly declined the raises and accepts the previous salary of $127,629.
“This is about the state workforce,” he said, as reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune in March. “I don’t want this to be an issue about the governor trying to pay himself. I think I’m compensated fairly by the state of Minnesota for the work I do at this point.”
23. Virginia
Governor: Abigail Spanberger (Democrat)
Salary: $175,000
22. Wisconsin
Governor: Tony Evers (Democrat)
Salary: $175,802
21. Alaska
Governor: Mike Dunleavy (Republican)
Salary: $176,000
20. Ohio
Governor: Mike DeWine (Republican)
Salary: $180,203
Ohio set the governor’s salary in a 2018 law that established yearly pay increases for statewide elected officials through 2028, per state law.
After the 2026 increase, Gov. Mike DeWine’s salary is about $180,203.
19. Georgia
Governor: Brian Kemp (Republican)
Salary: $182,000
18. Kentucky
Governor: Andy Beshear (Democrat)
Salary: $184,826
17. Delaware
Governor: Matt Meyer (Democrat)
Salary: $185,096
From July 2025 until 2029, the salary for the governor of Delaware is $185,096, per the state legislature.
16. West Virginia
Governor: Patrick Morrisey (Republican)
Salary: $190,424
Starting in 2025, the West Virginia governor’s salary has been set to match the US Office of Personnel Management’s locality pay area for the rest of US, per state legislature. That puts current governor Patrick Morrisey’s salary at $190,424.
15. Maryland
Governor: Wes Moore (Democrat)
Salary: $192,000
As of his third year as Maryland governor, per the state legislature, Wes Moore has a salary of $192,000. The governor’s salary will increase during the next term, starting at $195,000 in 2027 and reaching $210,000 by the fourth year, according to Maryland’s Governor’s Salary Commission.
14. Utah
Governor: Spencer Cox (Republican)
Salary: $193,100
Utah’s Elected Official and Judicial Compensation Commission listed the governor’s salary at $193,100 for fiscal year 2026, up from the prior $182,900 figure.
13. North Carolina
Governor: Josh Stein (Democrat)
Salary: $203,073
12. Illinois
Governor: Jay Robert “JB” Pritzker (Democrat)
Salary: $205,700 (foregone)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a member of the Pritzker family that owns the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, has chosen to forgo his salary. The state has set the governor’s salary at $205,700 as of 2023, per the Illinois General Assembly.
11. New Jersey
Governor: Mikie Sherrill (Democrat)
Salary: $210,000
10. Hawaii
Governor: Josh Green (Democrat)
Salary: $217,908
9. Washington
Governor: Bob Ferguson (Democrat)
Salary: $218,744
Washington’s governor earns $218,744 as of July 1, 2025, according to the state’s Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials. The salary is set to rise to $234,275 on July 1, 2026.
8. Indiana
Governor: Mike Braun (Republican)
Salary: $220,418
Indiana governor Mike Braun, who makes $220,418 each year per the Indiana state government, is the eighth-highest-paid governor in the US.
7. Connecticut
Governor: Ned Lamont (Democrat)
Salary: $226,711 (forgone)
Although the State of Connecticut sets the governor’s salary as $226,711, the independently wealthy Ned Lamont has chosen to forgo the salary while in office. Lamont made his money in telecommunications and investments, and is the great-grandson of Thomas W. Lamont, a former chair of J. P. Morgan & Co. who built substantial wealth in banking.
The state has the seventh-highest salary for a governor in the US.
6. Vermont
Governor: Phil Scott (Republican)
Salary: $234,379
Vermont law lists the governor’s salary at $234,379. The office is scheduled to receive another raise in July 2026, when the governor’s salary will increase to $243,520.
5. Tennessee
Governor: Bill Lee (Republican)
Salary: $239,760
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee made $239,760 in 2025, according to OpenTheBooks, a nonprofit government-spending watchdog that tracks public payroll data.
4. Massachusetts
Governor: Maura Healey (Democrat)
Salary: $243,493
Massachusetts governor Maura Healey received a salary of $243,493 in 2025, per the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, making hers the fourth-highest governor’s salary in the US.
3. California
Governor: Gavin Newsom (Democrat)
Salary: $245,929
As of May 2026, the California Department of Human Resources listed the governor’s salary as $245,929, making Gavin Newsom the third-highest paid governor in the US.
2. New York
Governor: Kathy Hochul (Democrat)
Salary: $250,000
With a salary of $250,000 established by New York law, Kathy Hochul is the second-highest-paid governor in the US.
1. Pennsylvania
Governor: Josh Shapiro (Democrat)
Salary: $253,870
Shapiro’s salary rose from $245,760 in 2025 to $253,870 in 2026 after a 3.3% cost-of-living increase, according to the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget. The raise makes him the highest-paid governor in the US.
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