Legislators in Illinois
Thinking about a career as a Legislators in Illinois? Here’s what you need to know. 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 Illinois?
For a legislators working in Illinois, wages run about $33,160 per year.Pay can range from $29,120 at the 10th percentile to $137,740 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,120 | n/a |
| 25th percentile | $29,120 | n/a |
| Median (50th) | $33,160 | $0.00 |
| 75th percentile | $66,920 | n/a |
| 90th percentile | $137,740 | n/a |
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, legislators earn a median of $167,600 per year ($80.58/hour), lower than the Illinois median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 103,736 legislators in the U.S..
Top Illinois Metros for Legislators
The metro areas below employ the most legislators in Illinois.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 50 | $137,740 |
| Rockford, IL | 50 | $40,550 |
| Springfield, IL | 40 | n/a |
Top States for Legislators Employment
These states have the highest employment of 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
Day-to-day, legislators typically:
- 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
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Cisco Webex
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Public Administration
- Public Policy
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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