Legislators: Career Overview
Develop, introduce, or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, state, or federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.
Featured schools near , edit
What Tasks Do Legislators Perform?
The core tasks performed by legislators span:
- Analyze and understand the local and national implications of proposed legislation.
- Appoint nominees to leadership posts, or approve such appointments.
- Confer with colleagues to formulate positions and strategies pertaining to pending issues.
- Debate the merits of proposals and bill amendments during floor sessions, following the appropriate rules of procedure.
- Develop expertise in subject matters related to committee assignments.
- Hear testimony from constituents, representatives of interest groups, board and commission members, and others with an interest in bills or issues under consideration.
- Keep abreast of the issues affecting constituents by making personal visits and phone calls, reading local newspapers, and viewing or listening to local broadcasts.
- Maintain knowledge of relevant national and international current events.
Other Legislators Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Alderman
- Assembly Member
- Assembly Person
- Assemblyman
- Assemblywoman
- City Alderman
- City Council Member
- City Councilman
Job Outlook
There are about 103,736 legislators working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +8.5% over the projection horizon.
Legislators Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $167,600 |
| Hourly median | $80.58 |
| 10th percentile | $119,725 |
| 25th percentile | $143,663 |
| 75th percentile | $191,538 |
| 90th percentile | $215,475 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Legislators Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $109,390 |
| New York | $97,050 |
| Hawaii | $74,150 |
| Michigan | $73,110 |
| Colorado | $66,700 |
| Wisconsin | $58,850 |
| Delaware | $58,250 |
| Maryland | $54,430 |
| California | $54,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,490 |
| Montana | $50,710 |
| Utah | $50,600 |
| Alaska | $50,400 |
| New Jersey | $48,050 |
| Virginia | $47,730 |
| Oklahoma | $47,490 |
| West Virginia | $46,990 |
| Florida | $46,910 |
| Ohio | $46,890 |
| Arkansas | $44,350 |
| Texas | $42,080 |
| North Dakota | $41,550 |
| Indiana | $39,940 |
| Iowa | $39,290 |
| Wyoming | $36,800 |
| New Mexico | $34,630 |
| Illinois | $33,160 |
| Nebraska | $32,620 |
| Tennessee | $30,300 |
| Idaho | $27,720 |
| Alabama | $26,990 |
| Kansas | $23,210 |
| South Carolina | $19,270 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for legislators vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $72,061 | 13.7% | 0.84 |
| Far Western US | $66,948 | 18.1% | 1.19 |
| Great Lakes | $51,137 | 15.7% | 1.54 |
| Rocky Mountains | $48,310 | 7.9% | 2.73 |
| Southwest | $36,127 | 12.4% | 0.90 |
| Southeast | $27,330 | 23.1% | 2.25 |
| Plains States | $14,294 | 8.7% | 2.64 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Legislators
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utica-Rome, NY | NY | $173,280 | 30 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | WA | $157,080 | 90 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | NY | $141,990 | 370 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $138,380 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | IL | $137,740 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $125,960 | 340 |
| Yakima, WA | WA | $120,480 | 40 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $116,460 | 70 |
Software Legislators Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Cisco Webex (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Document management software: Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft SQL Server (hot technology)
- Development environment software: Microsoft Visual Basic (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Structured query language SQL (hot technology)
Education and Training
This career aligns with Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Treasurers and Controllers (Primary-Short)
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (Supplemental)
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (Primary-Long)
- Social and Community Service Managers (Supplemental)
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers (Primary-Long)
- Labor Relations Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Political Scientists (Primary-Short)
- Social and Human Service Assistants (Supplemental)
Where to Study
Students preparing for legislators commonly pursue programs in:
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
2 programs across 2 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-1031.00 (Legislators).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.