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.
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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.

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.

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

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

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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