Legislators in California
Thinking about a career as a Legislators in California? Here’s what the data says. Develop, introduce, or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, state, or federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.
What do Legislators Make in California?
For a legislators working in California, the median annual wage is $54,290 per year.Annual wages span from $33,280 at the 10th percentile to $133,900 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,280 | n/a |
| 25th percentile | $35,930 | n/a |
| Median (50th) | $54,290 | $0.00 |
| 75th percentile | $94,630 | n/a |
| 90th percentile | $133,900 | n/a |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in California compared to the national average — is 0.79, suggesting fewer legislators per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, legislators earn a median of $167,600 per year ($80.58/hour), below the California median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 103,736 legislators nationwide. In California alone, about 2,470 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 460 legislators.
Top California Metros for Legislators
The largest metro-area employers of legislators in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 640 | $41,070 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 300 | $110,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 270 | $44,300 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 220 | $62,910 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 210 | $79,770 |
| Fresno, CA | 80 | $47,210 |
| Salinas, CA | 50 | $57,390 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 50 | $47,960 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 50 | $53,210 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 40 | n/a |
| Chico, CA | 40 | n/a |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 40 | $74,880 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 40 | $34,120 |
| Vallejo, CA | 40 | $41,220 |
| Modesto, CA | 30 | $67,780 |
Top States for Legislators Employment
The table below shows the states where the most legislators work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 2,470 |
| Texas | 2,040 |
| New York | 1,440 |
| Ohio | 1,360 |
| Washington | 1,300 |
| Missouri | 1,210 |
| Alabama | 1,120 |
| Wisconsin | 960 |
| Georgia | 960 |
| Indiana | 950 |
| Florida | 810 |
| Pennsylvania | 770 |
| West Virginia | 750 |
| South Carolina | 660 |
| Colorado | 530 |
| Idaho | 530 |
| Maryland | 500 |
| Arkansas | 460 |
| Arizona | 450 |
| Montana | 440 |
Highest-Paying States for Legislators
The highest-paying states for legislators.
| 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 |
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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.
- Make decisions that balance the perspectives of private citizens, public officials, and party leaders.
- Negotiate with colleagues or members of other political parties in order to reconcile differing interests, and to create policies and agreements.
- Prepare drafts of amendments, government policies, laws, rules, regulations, budgets, programs and procedures.
- Read and review concerns of constituents or the general public and determine if governmental action is necessary.
Tools & Technology
Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Cisco Webex
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Public Administration
- Public Policy
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Careers similar to legislators include:
- Treasurers and Controllers
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
- Labor Relations Specialists
Also Known As
Alderman, Assembly Member, Assembly Person, Assemblyman, Assemblywoman, City Alderman, City Council Member, City Councilman, Congress Member, Congressional Representative, Congressman, Congresswoman, Council Member, Councilman, Councilor.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 11-1031.00
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