In several states, being the administrator doesn't automatically create you a top earner.
With voters in 36 states heading to the polls to choose governors in November's midterm elections, the annual salaries attached to the job change dramatically throughout the nation — from $70,000 in Maine to complete $250,000 in Pennsylvania.
Across all 50 states, governors acquire an average authoritative annual pay of $174,479 and are topic to federal and province earnings taxes — apart from in states without earnings tax, specified as Florida and Texas.
By comparison, the top 1% of US earners all create at smallest $731,492 a year, placing the average administrator below the ultrarich but additionally fine complete the average US pay of $69,846 in 2024, according to the Social Security Administration.
While governors throughout all 50 states are mostly allowed to acquire income beyond their province salaries through investments, book deals, and another sources, the earnings they may obtain in is closely regulated, and rules change by state.
Some, akin Florida's Ron DeSantis, have brought in annual incomes of complete $1 myriad gratitude to book royalties, during others, akin Illinois' JB Pritzker, acquire eight figures because of funding gains and equal gambling wins.
As such, several governors, akin Pritzker and Connecticut's Ned Lamont, who are independently wealthy, have chosen to forgo their six-figure province salaries.
Beyond the salary, another financial perks of being governor may contain living in the governor's mansion, receiving private transportation from the state, and having admission to safety and staff.
See how much your administrator makes all year, according to the most latest accessible province records, pay commissions, legislation, and community payroll data.
50. Maine
Governor: Janet Mills (Democrat)
Salary: $70,000
With a pay of $70,000, Maine Governor Janet Mills is the lowest-paid administrator in the US.
The pay for Maine's next administrator is set to increase to $125,000 in 2027 under new legislation, marking the archetypal lift in the governor's pay in the province since 1987.
After two terms, Mills is now term-limited. Democrat Hannah Pingree and Republican Bobby Charles are facing off to rotate into the state's next administrator in the November midterm election.
49. Arizona
Governor: Katie Hobbs (Democrat)
Salary: $95,000
The Arizona governor, who has the second-lowest pay among US governors, volition be eligible to obtain a pay of $165,000 starting in 2027, per the province legislature.
Democrat Katie Hobbs is operating for a second term in the November midterm election.
48. Oregon
Governor: Tina Kotek (Democrat)
Salary: $98,600
Oregon law sets the governor's annual salary at $98,600 and provides a distinct $1,000 monthly disbursal payment. The pay is among the lowest for any administrator in the US.
Democrat Tina Kotek is up for reelection during the November midterms, seeking a second term.
47. Nebraska
Governor: Jim Pillen (Republican)
Salary: $105,000
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, who earned $105,000 a twelvemonth in 2025, per the province legislature, is the fourth-lowest-paid administrator in the US.
Republican Jim Pillen is up for reelection, seeking a second term in the November midterm elections.
46. South Carolina
Governor: Henry McMaster (Republican)
Salary: $106,078
With a pay of $106,078 in 2025, per province records, the South Carolina governor is the fifth-lowest-paid administrator in the US.
After two complete terms, McMaster is now term-limited. Republican Alan Wilson and Democrat Jermaine Johnson are facing off in the competition to rotate into the state's next administrator in the midterm election.
45. New Mexico
Governor: Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democrat)
Salary: $110,000
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is the sixth-lowest-paid administrator in the US. New Mexico's next administrator volition obtain a pay of $169,714 starting alongside the next gubernatorial term in 2027.
Lujan Grisham is term-limited following serving two terms. Democrat Deb Haaland and Republican Gregg Hull are competing to win her in the November midterm election.
43. (tie) Louisiana
Governor: Jeff Landry (Republican)
Salary: $130,000
Louisiana law set the governor's pay at $130,000 in 2026. The pay has remained unchanged since January 2008.
43. (tie) Iowa
Governor: Kim Reynolds (Republican)
Salary: $130,000
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds earns an annual pay of $130,000, according to the state's authoritative employee pay records.
Reynolds is not operating for reelection, leaving Democrat Rob Sand and Republican Zach Lahn competing for the open administrator place in the November midterms.
42. Colorado
Governor: Jared Polis (Democrat)
Salary: $134,632
The Colorado governor, earlier among the lowest-paid governors in the nation, has received a $134,632 pay since 2023, as outlined by province law.
After nearly eight years in office, Polis is now term-limited.
Democrat Phil Weiser and Republican Victor Marx are competing to rotate into Colorado's next administrator in the November midterm.
41. Alabama
Governor: Kay Ivey (Republican)
Salary: $134,780
In financial twelvemonth 2026, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey had a pay of $134,780, per the state's Department of Finance.
After two complete conditions in office, Ivey is now term-limited. Republican Tommy Tuberville and Democrat Doug Jones are facing off to rotate into the state's next administrator in the upcoming midterm election.
40. Wyoming
Governor: Mark Gordon (Republican)
Salary: $140,000
Wyoming law sets the governor's pay at $140,000 in 2026.
Mark Gordon is term-limited following two terms, leaving Republican Eric Barlow and Democrat Kenneth Casner competing for administrator in the November midterm election.
39. Florida
Governor: Ron DeSantis (Republican)
Salary: $141,400
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis earns $141,400 per year, according to province records.
DeSantis is term-limited following two conditions in office. Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly are competing for administrator in the November midterms.
38. Montana
Governor: Greg Gianforte (Republican)
Salary: $141,517
Gianforte, who made his fortune in tech, donates his pay to Montana nonprofits. In 2025, his office said he had donated his complete gubernatorial pay to organizations supporting Montanans in need.
37. Missouri
Governor: Mike Kehoe (Republican)
Salary: $145,095
Missouri law sets the governor's pay at $145,095 as of 2026.
36. Oklahoma
Governor: Kevin Stitt (Republican)
Salary: $147,000
While the current Oklahoma governor, Kevin Stitt, has a pay of $147,000 in 2026, his successor volition see a lift to $185,000, per Oklahoma's Journal Record.
After nearly eight years in office, Stitt is now term-limited. Republican Mike Mazzei and Democrat Cyndi Munson are facing off to rotate into the state's next administrator in the midterm election.
35. South Dakota
Governor: Larry Rhoden (Republican)
Salary: $148,522
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden earns $148,522 a twelvemonth in 2026, per the state's pay transparency website.
Republican Larry Rhoden, who took agency final twelvemonth following Kristi Noem's resignation, is up for ballot in November, seeking a complete term.
34. Idaho
Governor: Brad Little (Republican)
Salary: $151,400
Idaho Governor Brad Little makes $151,400 in 2026, per province records.
Little is seeking a third term in the midterm elections this November.
33. Texas
Governor: Greg Abbott (Republican)
Salary: $153,750
As of 2026, Texas Governor Greg Abbott makes $153,750 a year, per state records.
Abbott is seeking a fourth term in the midterm ballot this November.
32. Michigan
Governor: Gretchen Whitmer (Democrat)
Salary: $159,300
Michigan law sets the governor's pay at $159,300. Governor Gretchen Whitmer additionally receives a $54,000 annual disbursal allowance, according to the State Officers Compensation Commission.
After nearly eight years in office, Whitmer is now term-limited.
Democrat Jocelyn Benson and Republican John James are facing off to rotate into Michigan's next administrator in the November midterm election.
31. Mississippi
Governor: Tate Reeves (Republican)
Salary: $160,000
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves earns a pay of $160,000 in 2026, according to the state's personnel board.
30. Rhode Island
Governor: Daniel McKee (Democrat)
Salary: $163,295
Rhode Island's governor, Daniel McKee, earns a pay of $163,295, according to the state's pay transparency portal.
After losing the Democratic primary, incumbent Dan McKee volition not be on the ballot. Democrat Helena Foulkes and Republican Aaron Guckian are facing off to rotate into the state's next administrator in the midterm election.
29. New Hampshire
Governor: Kelly Ayotte (Republican)
Salary: $165,027
New Hampshire law sets the governor's pay at $165,027.
Republican Kelly Ayotte is up for reelection this November, seeking a second two-year term in the midterm election.
28. Wisconsin
Governor: Tony Evers (Democrat)
Salary: $165,568
Wisconsin law bans pay changes for a administrator during their term in office. Gov. Tony Evers has received an annual pay of $165,568 since commencement his second term in January 2023, up from $152,756 during his archetypal term.
Evers is not seeking reelection. The state's next administrator is slated to obtain an annual pay of $184,684 whenever they obtain agency in January 2027, according to Wisconsin's authoritative compensation plan.
Democrat David Crowley and Republican Tom Tiffany are facing off in the November midterm election.
27. North Dakota
Governor: Kelly Armstrong (Republican)
Salary: $168,000
North Dakota's governor's pay is $168,000 following a July raise, per province legislation.
26. Nevada
Governor: Joe Lombardo (Republican)
Salary: $170,062
The Reno Gazette Journal reported in May that Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo makes $170,062 a year.
Lombardo is up for reelection in the November midterm elections, seeking a second term.
25. Arkansas
Governor: Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Republican)
Salary: $171,808
In October, an independent commission in Arkansas voted to lift Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' pay to $171,808 annually.
Sanders is operating for a second term in the November midterm election.
24. Kansas
Governor: Laura Kelly (Democrat)
Salary: $174,000
In 2023, Kansas raised the governor's annual pay starting January 1, 2025, tying the office's pay to the pay of a non-leadership associate of Congress, according to state legislation.
Kelly is term-limited following two terms, leaving Democrat Cindy Holscher and Republican Ty Masterson competing for the governor's place in the November midterm elections.
23. Virginia
Governor: Abigail Spanberger (Democrat)
Salary: $175,000
Virginia law sets the governor's pay at $175,000 in 2026.
22. Ohio
Governor: Mike DeWine (Republican)
Salary: $180,203
Ohio set the governor's pay in a 2018 law that established annual pay increases for statewide elected officials through 2028, per state law. After the 2026 increase, Gov. Mike DeWine's pay is concerning $180,203.
DeWine is term-limited following two terms. Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy are competing for the governor's place in the midterm elections.
21. Alaska
Governor: Mike Dunleavy (Republican)
Salary: $182,787
In 2025, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy had a pay of $182,787, per the state's Department of Administration.
After two conditions in the governor's seat, Dunleavy is now term-limited.
Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Republicans David Bronson, Treg Taylor, and Bernadette Wilson are facing off to rotate into the state's next administrator in the November midterm election.
20. Georgia
Governor: Brian Kemp (Republican)
Salary: $185,000
In financial twelvemonth 2025, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp earned a pay of $185,000 and additionally received complete $56,506 in journey reimbursements during the year, according to the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts' financial transparency portal.
After two conditions in office, Kemp is term-limited. Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson are operating to be the state's next administrator in the midterm election.
19. Delaware
Governor: Matt Meyer (Democrat)
Salary: $185,096
From July 2025 until 2029, the pay for the administrator of Delaware is $185,096, per the province legislature.
18. Kentucky
Governor: Andy Beshear (Democrat)
Salary: $188,523
Kentucky's governor, Andy Beshear, has a pay of $188,523, per the state's pay transparency portal.
17. West Virginia
Governor: Patrick Morrisey (Republican)
Salary: $190,424
Since 2025, the West Virginia governor's pay has been set to equivalent the US Office of Personnel Management's locality pay area for the remainder of the US, per the province legislature. That puts current administrator Patrick Morrisey's pay at $190,424.
16. Maryland
Governor: Wes Moore (Democrat)
Salary: $192,000
As of his third twelvemonth as Maryland governor, per the state legislature, Wes Moore's pay was $192,000 in 2025. The governor's pay volition addition during the next term, starting at $195,000 in 2027 and reaching $210,000 by the fourth year, according to Maryland's Governor's Salary Commission.
Moore is operating for a second term in the November midterm elections.
15. Minnesota
Governor: Tim Walz (Democrat)
Salary: $200,000
The Minnesota governor's authoritative pay is $200,000 following a July raise, per the Minnesota Legislature. Tim Walz earlier declined pay raises during in agency and accepted lone a $127,629 salary. But during his final six months in office, he accepted his complete salary, as reported by Minnesota Public Radio.
After two conditions as governor, Walz is not operating for reelection.
Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Lisa Demuth volition visage off in November in a competition to rotate into the state's next governor.
14. Illinois
Governor: Jay Robert "JB" Pritzker (Democrat)
Salary: $205,700 (foregone)
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a associate of the Pritzker family that founded the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, has chosen to forgo his salary. The province has set the governor's pay at $205,700 as of 2023, per the Illinois General Assembly.
Pritzker is up for reelection this November, seeking a third term in the midterm elections.
13. North Carolina
Governor: Josh Stein (Democrat)
Salary: $209,165
North Carolina province law sets the governor's pay at $209,165 in 2026.
12. New Jersey
Governor: Mikie Sherrill (Democrat)
Salary: $210,000
State law sets New Jersey's governor's salary at $210,000 following a 2023 increase.
11. Indiana
Governor: Mike Braun (Republican)
Salary: $220,418
Indiana Governor Mike Braun, who earns $220,418 a year, according to the Indiana province government, is the 11th-highest-paid administrator in the US.
10. Hawaii
Governor: Josh Green (Democrat)
Salary: $226,620
Hawaii's governor, Josh Green, is now the 10th-highest-paid following a July lift passed by the province legislature.
Green is operating for a second term in the midterm elections
9. Connecticut
Governor: Ned Lamont (Democrat)
Salary: $226,711 (forgone)
Although the State of Connecticut sets the governor's pay at $226,711, the independently affluent Ned Lamont has chosen to forgo the pay during in office.
Lamont made his prosperity in telecommunications and investments. He's additionally the great-grandson of Thomas W. Lamont, a erstwhile place of J. P. Morgan & Co. who built significant prosperity in banking.
Lamont is up for reelection this November, seeking a third term in the midterm elections.
8. Washington
Governor: Bob Ferguson (Democrat)
Salary: $234,275
Washington's administrator earns $234,275 following a July raise, making Bob Ferguson the eighth-highest paid administrator in the US.
7. Massachusetts
Governor: Maura Healey (Democrat)
Salary: $243,493
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey received a pay of $243,493 in 2025, per the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, making hers the seventh-highest governor's pay in the US.
Healey is seeking a second term in the November midterm elections.
6. Vermont
Governor: Phil Scott (Republican)
Salary: $243,520
Vermont law lists the governor's pay at $243,520 following a July raise, making the agency the sixth-highest paid in the country.
Gov. Phil Scott is operating for a sixth term in the midterm elections.
5. California
Governor: Gavin Newsom (Democrat)
Salary: $245,929
As of May 2026, the California Department of Human Resources listed the governor's pay as $245,929, making Gavin Newsom the fifth-highest-paid administrator in the US.
After two terms, Newsom is now term-limited. Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton are facing off in a competition to rotate into the state's next administrator in the midterm election.
4. Tennessee
Governor: Bill Lee (Republican)
Salary: $246,108
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee earns $246,108 annually as of August, according to a monthly pay of $20,509 listed in the state's public payroll database.
After two conditions in office, Lee is term-limited. Republican Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Jerri Green are operating for the governor's place in the midterm ballot this November.
3. Utah
Governor: Spencer Cox (Republican)
Salary: $249,250
In March 2026, the Utah Legislature passed a bill environment the governor's pay equal to that of the chief fairness of the province supreme court, which is $249,250.
The lift made Spencer Cox the third-highest-paid administrator in the US.
2. New York
Governor: Kathy Hochul (Democrat)
Salary: $250,000
With a pay of $250,000 established by New York law, Kathy Hochul is the second-highest-paid administrator in the US.
Hochul is seeking a second complete term in the midterm elections.
1. Pennsylvania
Governor: Josh Shapiro (Democrat)
Salary: $253,870
Shapiro's pay rosy from $245,760 in 2025 to $253,870 in 2026 following a 3.3% cost-of-living increase, according to the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget. The lift made him the highest-paid administrator in the US.
Shapiro is up for reelection in the midterm elections this November, seeking a second term.