Josh Shapiro is the highest-paid governor in the US. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images The annual salaries of state governors vary, with the lowest being $70,000 in Maine. Josh Shapiro, Kathy Hochul, and Gavin Newsom are among the highest-paid US governors. The average annual salary for a state governor is $171,479 in 2026. In some states, being the governor doesn't automatically make you a top earner. There's a wide range in what state governors earn each year, from $70,000 in Maine to $253,870 in Pennsylvania. Across all 50 states, governors earn an average official annual salary of $171,479 and are subject to federal and state income taxes, except in states without them, such as Florida or Texas. By comparison, the top 1% of US earners each make at least $731,492 a year, placing the average governor below the ultrarich but also well above the average US wage of $69,846 in 2024, according to the Social Security Administration. While governors across all 50 states are generally allowed to earn money beyond their state salary through investments, book deals, and other sources, the income they're permitted to take in is closely regulated, and rules vary by state. Some, like Florida's Ron DeSantis, have brought in yearly incomes of over $1 million thanks to book royalties, while others, like Illinois' JB Pritzker, earn eight figures due to investment gains and even gambling wins. As such, some governors, like Pritzker and Connecticut's Ned Lamont, who are independently wealthy, have chosen to forgo their six-figure salaries from the state. Beyond the salary, other financial perks of being a governor may include living in the governor's mansion, receiving private transportation from the state, and having access to security and staff. See how much your governor makes each year, based on the most recent available state records, salary commissions, legislation, and public payroll data. 50. Maine Staff photo by Carl D. Walsh/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images Governor: Janet Mills (Democrat) Salary: $70,000 With a salary of $70,000, Maine Governor Janet Mills is the lowest-paid governor in the US. The salary for Maine's next governor is set to rise to $125,000 in 2027 under legislation passed in 2025, marking the first raise in the governor's salary in the state since 1987. 49. Arizona Rebecca Noble/Getty Images Governor: Katie Hobbs (Democrat) Salary: $95,000 The Arizona governor, who has the second-lowest salary among US governors, will be eligible to receive a salary of $165,000 starting in 2027, per the state legislature. 48. Oregon Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images Governor: Tina Kotek (Democrat) Salary: $98,600 Oregon law sets the governor's annual salary at $98,600 and provides a separate $1,000 monthly expense payment. The salary is one of the lowest for any governor in the US. 47. Nebraska JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images Governor: Jim Pillen (Republican) Salary: $105,000 Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, who earned $105,000 a year in 2025, per the state legislature, is the fourth-lowest-paid governor in the US. 46. South Carolina Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Governor: Henry McMaster (Republican) Salary: $106,078 With a salary of $106,078 in 2025, per state records, the South Carolina governor is the fifth-lowest-paid governor in the US. 45. New Mexico Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Governor: Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democrat) Salary: $110,000 New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is the sixth-lowest-paid governor in the US. New Mexico's next governor will receive a salary of $169,714 starting with the next gubernatorial term in 2027. 44. Louisiana Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images Governor: Jeff Landry (Republican) Salary: $129,394 43. Iowa Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Governor: Kim Reynolds (Republican) Salary: $130,000 42. Alabama Stew Milne/Getty Images Governor: Kay Ivey (Republican) Salary: $131,800 41. Colorado CHET STRANGE/AFP via Getty Images Governor: Jared Polis (Democrat) Salary: $134,632 The Colorado governor, previously one of the lowest-paid governors in the nation, has received a $134,632 salary since 2023, as outlined by state law. 40. Wyoming Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Governor: Mark Gordon (Republican) Salary: $140,000 39. Florida GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images Governor: Ron DeSantis (Republican) Salary: $141,400 The Florida governor makes $141,400 each year, although the Florida state legislature has approved a raise to $251,414 for the office starting in 2027, which would make the Florida governor the highest paid in the nation, if other high-paying states do not also increase their salaries. 38. Montana Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images Governor: Greg Gianforte (Republican) Salary: $141,517 Gianforte, who made his fortune in tech, donates his salary to Montana nonprofits. In 2025, his office said he had donated his entire gubernatorial salary to organizations supporting Montanans in need. 37. Missouri Emily Curiel/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Governor: Mike Kehoe (Republican) Salary: $142,658 36. South Dakota South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden makes $146,472 a year in 2025. Toby Brusseau/AP Governor: Larry Rhoden (Republican) Salary: $146,472 35. Oklahoma SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Governor: Kevin Stitt (Republican) Salary: $147,000 While the current Oklahoma governor, Kevin Stitt, has a salary of $147,000 in 2026, his successor will see a raise to $185,000, per Oklahoma's Journal Record. 34. Idaho Darin Oswald/The Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Governor: Brad Little (Republican) Salary: $151,400 33. Texas Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images Governor: Greg Abbott (Republican) Salary: $153,750 As of 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott makes $153,750 a year, per state records. 32. Michigan Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Governor: Gretchen Whitmer (Democrat) Salary: $159,300 Michigan's governor also receives a $54,000 annual expense allowance, according to the State Officers Compensation Commission. 31. Mississippi Brandon Bell/Getty Images Governor: Tate Reeves (Republican) Salary: $160,000 30. North Dakota Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Governor: Kelly Armstrong (Republican) Salary: $163,107 North Dakota's governor's salary is scheduled to rise to $168,000 starting July 1, 2026, per state legislation. 29. Rhode Island David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Governor: Daniel McKee (Democrat) Salary: $163,295 28. New Hampshire Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images Governor: Kelly Ayotte (Republican) Salary: $163,510 27. Arkansas Leon Neal/Getty Images Governor: Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Republican) Salary: $166,771 26. Nevada Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Governor: Joe Lombardo (Republican) Salary: $170,062 25. Kansas Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images Governor: Laura Kelly (Democrat) Salary: $174,000 In 2023, Kansas raised the governor's annual salary starting January 1, 2025, tying the office's pay to the salary of a non-leadership member of Congress, according to state legislation. 24. Minnesota DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Governor: Tim Walz (Democrat) Salary: $174,775 (although Walz accepts $127,629) The Minnesota governor's official salary is $174,775 and will increase to $200,000 in July 2026, per the Minnesota Legislature. However, Walz has repeatedly declined the raises and accepts the previous salary of $127,629. "This is about the state workforce," he said, as reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune in March. "I don't want this to be an issue about the governor trying to pay himself. I think I'm compensated fairly by the state of Minnesota for the work I do at this point." 23. Virginia Mike Kropf/Getty Images Governor: Abigail Spanberger (Democrat) Salary: $175,000 22. Wisconsin Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Democratic Party of Wisconsin Governor: Tony Evers (Democrat) Salary: $175,802 21. Alaska SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Governor: Mike Dunleavy (Republican) Salary: $176,000 20. Ohio Jason Mowry/Getty Images Governor: Mike DeWine (Republican) Salary: $180,203 Ohio set the governor's salary in a 2018 law that established yearly pay increases for statewide elected officials through 2028, per state law. After the 2026 increase, Gov. Mike DeWine's salary is about $180,203. 19. Georgia Alex Wroblewski for the Washington Post Governor: Brian Kemp (Republican) Salary: $182,000 18. Kentucky Stephen Cohen/Getty Images Governor: Andy Beshear (Democrat) Salary: $184,826 17. Delaware Meg Oliphant/Getty Images Governor: Matt Meyer (Democrat) Salary: $185,096 From July 2025 until 2029, the salary for the governor of Delaware is $185,096, per the state legislature. 16. West Virginia Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Governor: Patrick Morrisey (Republican) Salary: $190,424 Starting in 2025, the West Virginia governor's salary has been set to match the US Office of Personnel Management's locality pay area for the rest of US, per state legislature. That puts current governor Patrick Morrisey's salary at $190,424. 15. Maryland Kevin Richardson/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Governor: Wes Moore (Democrat) Salary: $192,000 As of his third year as Maryland governor, per the state legislature, Wes Moore has a salary of $192,000. The governor's salary will increase 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. 14. Utah George Frey/Getty Images Governor: Spencer Cox (Republican) Salary: $193,100 Utah's Elected Official and Judicial Compensation Commission listed the governor's salary at $193,100 for fiscal year 2026, up from the prior $182,900 figure. 13. North Carolina RYAN M. KELLY/AFP via Getty Images Governor: Josh Stein (Democrat) Salary: $203,073 12. Illinois Scott Olson/Getty Images Governor: Jay Robert "JB" Pritzker (Democrat) Salary: $205,700 (foregone) Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a member of the Pritzker family that owns the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, has chosen to forgo his salary. The state has set the governor's salary at $205,700 as of 2023, per the Illinois General Assembly. 11. New Jersey New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill earns $210,000 a year. Bloomberg/Getty Images Governor: Mikie Sherrill (Democrat) Salary: $210,000 10. Hawaii PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Governor: Josh Green (Democrat) Salary: $217,908 9. Washington Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images Governor: Bob Ferguson (Democrat) Salary: $218,744 Washington's governor earns $218,744 as of July 1, 2025, according to the state's Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials. The salary is set to rise to $234,275 on July 1, 2026. 8. Indiana Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Governor: Mike Braun (Republican) Salary: $220,418 Indiana governor Mike Braun, who makes $220,418 each year per the Indiana state government, is the eighth-highest-paid governor in the US. 7. Connecticut Aaron Flaum/Hartford Courant/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Governor: Ned Lamont (Democrat) Salary: $226,711 (forgone) Although the State of Connecticut sets the governor's salary as $226,711, the independently wealthy Ned Lamont has chosen to forgo the salary while in office. Lamont made his money in telecommunications and investments, and is the great-grandson of Thomas W. Lamont, a former chair of J. P. Morgan & Co. who built substantial wealth in banking. The state has the seventh-highest salary for a governor in the US. 6. Vermont : John Lazenby/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Governor: Phil Scott (Republican) Salary: $234,379 Vermont law lists the governor's salary at $234,379. The office is scheduled to receive another raise in July 2026, when the governor's salary will increase to $243,520. 5. Tennessee Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Governor: Bill Lee (Republican) Salary: $239,760 Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee made $239,760 in 2025, according to OpenTheBooks, a nonprofit government-spending watchdog that tracks public payroll data. 4. Massachusetts Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Governor: Maura Healey (Democrat) Salary: $243,493 Massachusetts governor Maura Healey received a salary of $243,493 in 2025, per the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, making hers the fourth-highest governor's salary in the US. 3. California Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Governor: Gavin Newsom (Democrat) Salary: $245,929 As of May 2026, the California Department of Human Resources listed the governor's salary as $245,929, making Gavin Newsom the third-highest paid governor in the US. 2. New York Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Governor: Kathy Hochul (Democrat) Salary: $250,000 With a salary of $250,000 established by New York law, Kathy Hochul is the second-highest-paid governor in the US. 1. Pennsylvania Jason Ardan/The Citizens' Voice via Getty Images Governor: Josh Shapiro (Democrat) Salary: $253,870 Shapiro's salary rose from $245,760 in 2025 to $253,870 in 2026 after a 3.3% cost-of-living increase, according to the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget. The raise makes him the highest-paid governor in the US. Read the original article on Business Insider