State Legislator Compensation: A Trend Analysis

This report highlights trends in legislator compensation in the 50 states from 1975 to 2005. Broadly defined, legislator compensation includes basic compensation, such as annual or per diem salaries, and supplemental compensation, such as additional pay for special or interim sessions, leadership duties, living and travel expenses, insurance and retirement benefits. The goal of the study, however, is to comparatively analyze basic compensation by region, types of legislatures and legislative sessions. The report also compares legislator salaries with those of top executive and judicial officials in state governments and with annual salaries of members of Congress.