Legislators
SOC 11-1031 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Legislators is $47,290, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $68,140, and an estimated 32,460 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +42.4% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +21% after inflation. BLS projects employment will grow 3.4% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Legislators has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $47,290 | $47,290 | 32,460 |
| 2022 | $48,090 | $50,070 | 42,890 |
| 2021 | $37,270 | $41,910 | 44,590 |
| 2020 | $33,200 | $39,087 | 51,290 |
Nominal change
+42.4%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+21%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+3.4%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
27,700
Projected 2034
28,600
Annual Openings
2,200
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Legislators earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $47,290. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $119,760 | +153.2% | 50 |
| New York | $98,530 | +108.4% | 1,990 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $97,030 | +105.2% | 130 |
| Nevada | $87,520 | +85.1% | 160 |
| Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $87,360 | +84.7% | 140 |
| Washington | $85,240 | +80.2% | 1,260 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $80,560 | +70.4% | 30 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $76,880 | +62.6% | 30 |
| Rhode Island | $75,310 | +59.3% | 50 |
| Minnesota | $74,300 | +57.1% | — |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$21,010
25th Pct
$28,810
Median
$47,290
75th Pct
$82,200
90th Pct
$129,510
Related Occupations in Management
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Management occupations →