Here's how much the governor makes in every state

The annual salaries of state governors vary, with the lowest being $70,000 in Maine.
Kathy Hochul, Gavin Newsom, and Josh Shapiro are among the highest-paid US governors.
The average annual salary for a state governor is $167,128 in 2025.

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 $250,000 in New York.

Across all 50 states, governors earn an average official annual salary of $167,128 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 every year, as determined by state legislatures.

Alabama

Governor: Kay Ivey (Republican)

Salary: $131,800

Alaska

Governor: Mike Dunleavy (Republican)

Salary: $176,000

Arizona

Governor: Katie Hobbs (Democrat)

Salary: $95,000

The Arizona governor, which has the second-lowest salary out of all US governors, will be eligible for a salary of $165,000 starting in 2027, per the state legislature.

Arkansas

Governor: Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Republican)

Salary: $166,771

California

Governor: Gavin Newsom (Democrat)

Salary: $242,295

As of December 2024, the California Department of Human Resources listed the governor's salary as $242,295, making Gavin Newsom the third-highest paid governor in the US.

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. It is now the 11th-lowest governor's salary across all states.

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 during his gubernatorial run. 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 fifth-highest salary for a governor in the US.

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.

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.

Georgia

Governor: Brian Kemp (Republican)

Salary: $182,000

While Georgia Governor Brian Kemp currently earns $182,000 a year, a recent proposal could tie him with New York Governor Kathy Hochul as the highest-paid in the nation, as reported by the Associated Press.

Hawaii

Governor: Josh Green (Democrat)

Salary: $184,860

Idaho

Governor: Brad Little (Republican)

Salary: $151,400

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, making the position the ninth-highest paid governor in the US.

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 sixth-highest-paid governor in the US.

Iowa

Governor: Kim Reynolds (Republican)

Salary: $130,000

Kansas

Governor: Laura Kelly (Democrat)

Salary: $110,707

Kentucky

Governor: Andy Beshear (Democrat)

Salary: $184,826

Louisiana

Governor: Jeff Landry (Republican)

Salary: $129,394

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.

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, making him the 10th-highest paid US governor.

Massachusetts

Governor: Maura Healey (Democrat)

Salary: $222,185

Massachusetts governor Maura Healey received a salary of $222,185 in 2024, per the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, making hers the fifth-highest governor's salary in the US.

Michigan

Governor: Gretchen Whitmer (Democrat)

Salary: $159,300

Minnesota

Governor: Tim Walz (Democrat)

Salary: $174,775 (although Walz accepts $127,629)

The Minnesota governor's official salary is $174,775 as of July 1, 2025, 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."

Mississippi

Governor: Tate Reeves (Republican)

Salary: $160,000

Missouri

Governor: Mike Kehoe (Republican)

Salary: $142,658

Montana

Governor: Greg Gianforte (Republican)

Salary: $141,517

Nebraska

Governor: Jim Pillen (Republican)

Salary: $105,000

Nebraska governor Jim Pillen, who earns $105,000 a year in 2025, per state legislature, is the fourth-lowest paid governor in the US.

Nevada

Governor: Joe Lombardo (Republican)

Salary: $170,062

New Hampshire

Governor: Kelly Ayotte (Republican)

Salary: $163,510

New Jersey

Governor: Phil Murphy (Democrat)

Salary: $175,000

Although the current New Jersey governor, Phil Murphy, earns $175,000 a year in 2025, the office he will vacate in 2026 is slated to receive a raise to $210,000, the Associated Press reported.

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 York

Governor: Kathy Hochul (Democrat)

Salary: $250,000

With a salary of $250,000 established by New York law, Kathy Hochul is the highest-paid governor in the US.

North Carolina

Governor: Josh Stein (Democrat)

Salary: $203,073

North Carolina governor Josh Stein has a salary of $203,073 in 2025, making him one of the top-10 highest-paid governors in the US.

North Dakota

Governor: Kelly Armstrong (Republican)

Salary: $163,107

Ohio

Governor: Mike DeWine (Republican)

Salary: $172,665

As of 2024, the Ohio governor, Mike DeWine, has a salary of $172,665.

Oklahoma

Governor: Kevin Stitt (Republican)

Salary: $147,000

While the current Oklahoma governor, Kevin Stitt, has a salary of $147,000 in 2025, his successor will see a raise to $185,000, per Oklahoma's Journal Record.

Oregon

Governor: Tina Kotek (Democrat)

Salary: $98,600

The Oregon governor takes home the third-lowest pay out of all governors.

Pennsylvania

Governor: Josh Shapiro (Democrat)

Salary: $245,760

Shapiro received two raises since 2023, as shown in the state's budget office data. In 2025, he makes a $245,760 salary, making him the second-highest-paid governor in the US.

Rhode Island

Governor: Daniel McKee (Democrat)

Salary: $163,295

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.

South Dakota

Governor: Larry Rhoden (Republican)

Salary: $146,472

Tennessee

Governor: Bill Lee (Republican)

Salary: $204,336

The Book of the States lists the Tennessee governor's salary at $204,336 as of 2023, which would be one of the top-10 highest governor salaries in the US, although reports by the Nashville Fox channel WZTV and watchdog organization OpenTheBooks have put the figure at $224,000 for current governor Bill Lee.

Texas

Governor: Greg Abbott (Republican)

Salary: $153,750

As of 2021, Texas governor Greg Abbott makes $153,750 a year, per state records.

Utah

Governor: Spencer Cox (Republican)

Salary: $182,900

Vermont

Governor: Phil Scott (Republican)

Salary: $234,379

Vermont governor Phil Scott's 2024 salary was $222,371, with the number rising to $234,379 in 2025, per the Vermont General Assembly.

Virginia

Governor: Glenn Youngkin (Republican)

Salary: $175,000

Although the Virginia governor has a salary of $175,000, the independently wealthy Glenn Youngkin has chosen to donate his earnings each quarter, per his office.

Youngkin built his fortune during his 25 years working in private equity before running for state office. Between 2018 and his gubernatorial campaign in 2020, he served as the co-CEO of The Carlyle Group, an investment firm.

Washington

Governor: Bob Ferguson (Democrat)

Salary: $218,744

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.

Wisconsin

Governor: Tony Evers (Democrat)

Salary: $175,802

Wyoming

Governor: Mark Gordon (Republican)

Salary: $140,000

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Here's how much the governor makes in every state