The pay of each state’s chief executive can vary widely by state.In some cases, governors do not accept part or all of the salary they are entitled to.
According to the Council of State Governments’ most recent compensation survey, the average governor’s salary was $130,595 in 2010 — down 4 percent from the year before.Much of that decline is attributable to California, which reduced its governor’s salary from $212,179 in 2009 to $173,987 in 2010. Pay for top state executives in California is set by the Citizens Compensation Commission.
Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, wealthy from his acting career, never accepted a salary from the state. Jerry Brown, the new governor, does accept his. Elizabeth Ashford, a spokeswoman for Brown, says that given California’s fiscal situation, the state must find ways to keep costs down. “The governor’s salary is part of that,” she says.
1.Andrew Cuomo – New York
Annual Salary: $179,000
Political party: Democratic
2.Pat Quinn – Illinois
Annual Salary: $177,500
Political party: Democratic
3.Rick Snyder – Michigan
Annual Salary: $177,000
Political party: Republican
4.Chris Christie – New Jersey
Annual Salary: $175,000
Political party: Republican
5.Bob McDonnell – Virginia
Annual Salary: $175,000
Political party: Republican
6.Tom Corbett – Pennsylvania
Annual Salary: $174,914
Political party: Republican
7.Jerry Brown – California
Annual Salary: $173,987
Political party: Democratic
8.Jack Markell – Delaware
Annual Salary: $171,000
Political party: Democratic
9.Bill Haslam – Tennessee
Annual Salary: $170,340
Political party: Republican
10.Christine Gregoire – Washington
Annual Salary: $166,891
Source: Complete list
