The Center Square
Nov 25, 201
State lawmakers in Pennsylvania now draw a base annual salary of $88,610, in addition to mileage or travel outlays of 58 cents per mile, according to
a recent study by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Gloucester City News blog files
Pennsylvania legislators receive per-diem payments consisting of $177 per day during sessions.
Lawmakers’ salaries can be set by statute, legislatures or compensation commissions, according to the NCSL, which collects information yearly on state lawmaker pay and per diems in the 50 states.
In addition to this compensation, legislators may also receive insurance and retirement benefits, as well as office and staffing allowances.
Legislator Salaries by State in 2019
State
Base Salary
Mileage in Cents per Mile
Session Per Diem Rate
Alabama
$48,123
58/mile
Up to $100/day depending on length of trip.
Alaska
$50,400
58/mile
$322/day
Arizona
$24,000
58/mile
$35/day for the first 120 days of the regular session and for special sessions and $10/day thereafter. Members living outside Maricopa County get additional compensation.
Arkansas
$41,394
58/mile
Current per diem rate for legislators who live more than 50 miles from the capitol in Little Rock is $149. Members who live within 50 miles of the Capitol are eligible to receive a reduced per diem (meals and incidentals, no lodging) of $55.
California
$110,459
53/mile
$201/day for each day in session.
Colorado
$40,242 for members whose terms began in January 2019; $30,000 for others.
52/mile
Up to $171 for members who live more than 50 miles from the capitol; $45/day for members who live 50 or fewer miles from the capitol.
Connecticut
$28,000
58/mile
No per diem is paid.
Delaware
$46,291
40/mile
No per diem is paid.
Florida
$29,697
44.5/mile
$163/day based on the number of days in Tallahassee (V).
Georgia
$17,342
58/mile
$173/day (U). Set by the Legislative Services Committee.
Hawaii
$62,604
Varies depending on distances and circumstances.
$225/day for members who don\’t live on Oahu.
Idaho
$17,879
58/mile; one round trip per week.
$139/day for members whose primary residence is over 50 miles from the statehouse; $55/day for members whose primary residence is less than 50 miles from the statehouse. (U)
Illinois
$65,836
39/mile
$111/session day.
Indiana
$26,490
58/mile
$181/day (U).
Iowa
$25,000
39/mile
$169/day; $126.75/day for Polk County lawmakers.
Kansas
$88.66/day (C)
58/mile
$149/day.
Kentucky
$188.22/day (C)
58/mile
$163.90/day.
Louisiana
$16,800 Senate; $22,800 House
58/mile
$161/day.
Maine
$10,131
44/mile
$38/day lodging (or mileage and tolls up to $38/day in lieu of housing). $32/day for meals. Set by statute.
Maryland
$50,330
58/mile
$47/day, meals. $106/day, lodging.
Massachusetts
$66,257
Members receive stipends based on distance.
No per diem is paid.
Michigan
$71,685
58/mile
$10,800/year expense allowance for session and interim (V). Set by the compensation commission.
Minnesota
$45,000
58/mile
$86/d for senators; $66/d for representatives.
Mississippi
$23,500
58/mile
$149/day.
Missouri
$35,915
37.5/mile
$119/day.
Montana
$92.46/day (L)
58/mile
$120.11/day.
Nebraska
$12,000
58/mile
$149/day for members residing 50 miles or more from the capitol; $55/day for members residing inside the 50-mile radius.
Nevada
$150.71/day for legislators elected in 2016, $146.29/day for midterm legislators
Travel allowances vary
$149/day.
New Hampshire
$200/2-year term.
Varies depending on distances.
No per diem is paid.
New Jersey
$49,000
None
No per diem is paid.
New Mexico
None
58/mile
$161/day or $184/day depending on month.
New York
$110,000
58/mile
$174/day (including overnight) or $61/day (no overnight).
North Carolina
$13,951
29/mile
$104/day (U). Set by statute.
North Dakota
$495/month
54/mile; one round trip per week.
$177/day.
Ohio
$63,007
52/mile
No per diem is paid.
Oklahoma
$35,021
58/mile
$156/day.
Oregon
$31,200
58/mile
$149/day.
Pennsylvania
$88,610
58/mile
$177/day.
Rhode Island
$15,959
54.5/mile
No per diem is paid.
South Carolina
$10,400
58/mile
$170/day.
South Dakota
$11,379
up to 42/mile
$149/day (L) (U).
Tennessee
$24,316
47/mile
$240/day for members residing more than 50 miles from capitol.
Texas
$7,200
58/mile
$221/day. Set by ethics commission.
Utah
$285/day (C)
54/mile
Up to $100 plus tax/day for members who live more than 100 miles round trip from capitol.
Vermont
733.04/week during session.
58/mile
$126/day lodging (including overnight) or $69/day (no overnight).
Virginia
$18,000/year Senate; $17,640/year House.
58/mile
$213/day.
Washington
$52,766/ year as of July 1, 2019.
58/mile
$120/day.
West Virginia
$20,000
48.5/mile
$131/day (U). Set by compensation commission.
Wisconsin
$52,999
51/mile
Senate: up to $115/day; Assembly: up to $162/day. The maximum number of days per year that per diem
can be claimed is 153 days.
Wyoming
$150/day
58/mile
$109/day (V). Set by legislature.
Abbreviations: C – Calendar day; L – Legislative day; (U) – Unvouchered; (V) – Vouchered
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures
published here with permission