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Life As a Legislator

Job Description: Develop, introduce or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, State, or Federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.

Life As a Legislator

  • Prepare drafts of amendments, government policies, laws, rules, regulations, budgets, programs and procedures.
  • Serve on commissions, investigative panels, study groups, and committees in order to examine specialized areas and recommend action.
  • Appoint nominees to leadership posts, or approve such appointments.
  • Write, prepare, and deliver statements for the Congressional Record.
  • Seek federal funding for local projects and programs.
  • Debate the merits of proposals and bill amendments during floor sessions, following the appropriate rules of procedure.

Types of Legislator Jobs

  • Congressional Representative
  • Councilperson
  • Assembly Person
  • U.S. Representative
  • Congressman

Are There Job Opportunities for Legislators?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 55,500 jobs in the United States for Legislator. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,900 new jobs for Legislator by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,400 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Legislator are Utah, Nevada, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Wisconsin, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for a Legislator

The typical yearly salary for Legislators is somewhere between $17,510 and $98,890.

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Legislators who work in New York, Hawaii, or California, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Legislators in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $31,760
Alaska $45,340
Arizona $56,530
Arkansas $21,970
California $68,580
Colorado $57,570
Connecticut $59,740
Florida $56,990
Georgia $23,810
Hawaii $60,400
Idaho $25,310
Indiana $36,910
Iowa $43,450
Kansas $22,870
Louisiana $33,370
Maryland $45,110
Michigan $35,460
Minnesota $34,690
Mississippi $25,360
Missouri $25,630
Montana $45,510
Nebraska $34,320
New Hampshire $18,910
New Mexico $23,960
New York $90,050
North Dakota $36,050
Ohio $43,770
Oklahoma $48,770
Oregon $37,960
South Carolina $20,910
Tennessee $41,470
Texas $45,180
Utah $26,930
Virginia $32,900
Washington $66,240
West Virginia $28,520
Wyoming $38,180

What Tools do Legislators Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Legislators may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Microsoft Visual Basic
  • Microsoft SQL Server
  • Microsoft Exchange Server
  • IBM Domino
  • Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
  • Mapping software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe FrameMaker
  • Apple iWork Keynote
  • Cisco Systems WebEx
  • Citrix GoToMeeting

Legislators Sector

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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References:

Image Credit: The Official CTBTO Photostream via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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