Legislators Salary in Washington
Legislators in Washington make a median of $109,390 a year. Entry-level workers start around $50K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.)
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $109K get you in Washington?
About legislators
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level legislators (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Legislators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $109K | +144% | 1,300 |
| New York | $97K | +117% | 1,440 |
| Hawaii | $74K | +65% | 120 |
| Michigan | $73K | +63% | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $59K | +31% | 960 |
| Delaware | $58K | +30% | 90 |
| Maryland | $54K | +21% | 500 |
| California | $54K | +21% | 2,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $51K | +15% | 770 |
| Montana | $51K | +13% | 440 |
| Utah | $51K | +13% | 300 |
| Alaska | $50K | +12% | N/A |
| New Jersey | $48K | +7% | 420 |
| Virginia | $48K | +7% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $47K | +6% | 370 |
Track legislators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
How much do legislators make in Washington?
The median is $109,390 a year. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,112/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $1,550/month (median of metro areas), which eats 21.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a legislators salary go in Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median legislators salary is worth about $109,390 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do legislators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.