Watching the drama of our modern political landscape unfold like a TV show, it might be easy to lose sight of the fact that for the politicians we follow like our favorite (or least favorite) characters, serving the country as government officials is a day job. Like anyone else, they receive regular paychecks for the work they do — though politicians generally enter the profession out of passion for public service and not monetary motivation, understanding the salaries they receive is still an important element of understanding their role, especially for the voters who propel them into office (me and, possibly, you). Considering that it’s our taxpayer dollars funding a commanding portion of these politicians’ salaries, it’s crucial that we, as citizens, understand exactly where our money is going. In a time when there’s so much talk about money in government — from billionaires taking on cabinet positions to renewed bipartisan scrutiny on potential insider trading and market manipulation — let’s take a look at how much it actually pays to be a politician.
The President
The salary of our country’s chief executive tends to be the number of greatest interest to those of us curious about government paychecks. Interestingly, the President’s salary hasn’t changed in over 20 years — the last time it increased, in 2001, it doubled from $200,000 annually to $400,000 annually, where it remains today.
The President is also able to access a $50,000 non-taxable budget for further expenses, a $100,000 travel budget, and a $19,000 entertainment budget and receives fully compensated room and board in the White House. Presidential expenses beyond these contracted amounts, however, are common. Taxpayer-funded golf trips, for instance, have remained a bipartisan concern — both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have been the subject of scrutiny over their golf spending habits. Though golf is obviously a matter of great national importance, it’s not immediately obvious to our officials whether it’s a valid government expenditure.
Also, Presidents have stayed on the White House payroll after their term’s conclusion since 1958’s Former Presidents Act came into law. Today, a former President’s annual pension totals over $200,000.
Of course, former Presidents also have a host of other opportunities to monetize their past political positions — lucrative book deals, public appearances, and other external engagements offer them the chance to continuously profit from their experience.
Members of Congress
Shifting to the Legislative branch, members of Congress are like the President in that their salary has not changed in over a decade — in this case, since 2009, when their annual pay rose from $169,300 to $174,000.
Distinguished members of Congress also receive higher salaries. The Speaker of the House, currently Mike Johnson (R-LA), makes $223,500; the Senate’s President pro tempore and the majority and minority leaders in the House and Senate make $193,400.
Members of Congress are not eligible for extra pay based on their participation in congressional committees. They also only receive salaries for terms in which they serve and do not continue to receive payment after leaving office — unlike the President, whose annual post-presidency pension exceeds the average congressperson’s salary while in office.
Supreme Court Justices
Unlike the Executive and Legislative branches, the Judicial branch has consistently raised the salaries of Supreme Court justices annually. As of 2025, the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court makes $317,500 annually, and each Associate Justice makes $303,600. Justices may also earn payment in other ways: recent inquiry into undisclosed travel-based gifts Justice Thomas received from a political donor has brought attention to these alternate possibilities.
State Governors
The salaries of state governors vary widely from state to state. Gubernatorial salaries are usually outlined in a state’s constitution or by state law, and treatment of additional expenses like travel and entertainment depends on state law and the priorities of the state agencies who enforce it.
A possible factor in a governor’s salary is the population of their state. Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has the highest salary of any governor in the country, sitting at $250,000; New York is the fourth most populated state. Governor Janet T. Mills of Maine has the lowest salary of any governor in the country, sitting at $70,000; Maine is the country’s 43rd most populated state. However, this correlation does not always hold true. Texas, the nation’s second most populated state, is home to the nation’s 21st highest-paid governor while Tennessee, the nation’s fourteenth most populated state, is home to the nation’s fourth highest-paid governor.
Mayoral Positions
The salary associated with a mayoral office can vary greatly depending on a few factors, most significantly the size of the city the mayor serves. Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City — the largest city in the United States, with a population around 8.3 million — receives an annual salary of $258,750. Comparatively, Robert Cantelmo, the mayor of Ithaca, NY, (population 32,754) earns only $30,000 annually. Jared Krahan, the mayor of Binghamton, NY, (population 47,969) earns $77,350 annually.
Mayoral salaries can also vary based on a city’s location, resources, or budget, and based on the mayor’s own experience and professional background.
Overall, serving in public office accounts for only a small segment in the careers of many government officials. For others, their time in office comprises most of their professional life. Some enter office with established financial reserves from prior positions, others struggling on meager campaign budgets, and still others thriving already as billionaires (especially in the current administration). While understanding the salaries of our nation’s highest-ranking leaders is a crucial component in fully appreciating the operations of our government, we must also remember that the salary an official gets for their work may not make up the majority of their personal wealth, or even be their largest source of income during their time in office.
Putting external income aside, nearly all of the salaries documented here far exceed the country’s median annual income: $66,622 in 2023. Although some governors and mayors may receive more meager salaries, most national-level government officials are earning far more than their average constituent. So, next time you walk up to the ballot box, keep in mind that the candidate you’re voting for will be paid with your tax dollars, likely making more than you do — it better be someone you’re proud to support.