November 17, 2010

Nationwide Executive
Officer Salary Comparison
Illinois top earners in every
position

The Problem
Previous Institute reports have shown how
officials within Illinois’s legislative and judicial
branches are paid significantly higher than
national averages. Illinois state representatives
Spotlight on Spending
only California; justices serving on the state
Supreme Court have the third highest salaries
in the country; the Illinois court administrator
makes more than any court administrator in

and senators earn a base salary of $67,836—the other states.3

fifth-highest legislator salary in the country.1
Only California, Michigan, New York and This Spotlight reveals how the problem extends
Pennsylvania pay their legislators more.2 into Illinois’s executive branch as well.

Judges serving on the state’s circuit courts Despite all of its budget problems, and despite
enjoy the second highest salaries in the country; the fact Illinois ranks in the middle of the
judges on the Illinois Appellate Court have the pack when it comes to cost of living,4 Illinois
second highest salaries in the nation, behind also manages to pay its top officers very well.

Graphic 1. Top 10 Graphic 2. Top 10 Lt. Graphic 3. Top 10

Governor Salaries Governor Salaries Secretary of State
Nationwide Nationwide Salaries Nationwide
1 New York* $179,000 1 New York $151,500 1 Tennessee $180,000

2 Illinois $177,500 2 Pennsylvania $146,926 2 Illinois $156,600

3 Michigan $177,000 3 Ohio $142,501 3 Virginia $152,793

4 New Jersey $175,000 4 New Jersey $141,000 4 Massachusetts $130,916

5 Virginia $175,000 5 Illinois $135,700 5 California $130,490

6 Pennsylvania $174,914 6 California $130,490 6 Pennsylvania $125,939

7 California $173,987 7 Maryland $125,000 7 Texas $125,880

8 Delaware $171,000 8 Massachusetts $124,920 8 Michigan $124,900

9 Tennessee $170,340 9 Florida $124,851 9 Georgia $123,636

10 Washington $166,891 10 Michigan $123,900 North

10 $123,198
Carolina
Source: The Council of State Source: The Council of State
Governments5 Governments6 Source: The Council of State
* Most recent salary data Governments7
available for New York is from
2009.

This is part 17 of the Illinois Policy Institute’s weekly Spotlight on Spending series, highlighting wasteful or inefficient
programs and spending with the goal of bringing more responsible spending and accountable government to Illinois. For
additional information on state spending, visit www.IllinoisOpenGov.org.
 Page 2 of 3
Graphic 4. Top 10 Graphic 5. Top 10 Graphic 6. Top 10
Attorney General Treasurer Salaries Comptroller Salaries
Salaries Nationwide Nationwide Nationwide
1 Alabama $168,003 1 Tennessee $180,000 1 Tennessee $180,000

2 Tennessee $165,336 2 Michigan $174,204 2 Washington $163,056

3 Illinois $156,600 3 Texas $150,000 3 Massachusetts $154,669

4 Washington $151,718 4 Virginia $149,761 4 North Carolina $153,319

5 New York $151,500 5 Pennsylvania $145,529 5 New York $151,500

6 California $151,127 6 New Jersey $141,000 6 Texas $150,000

7 Texas $150,000 7 California $139,189 7 New Jersey $141,000

8 Virginia $150,000 8 Georgia $130,927 8 Delaware $139,474

Accountability 9 Pennsylvania $145,529 9 Massachusetts $130,916 9 California $139,189

for the state’s 10 New Jersey $141,000 10 Illinois $130,800 10 Illinois $135,700

budget woes Source: The Council of State

Governments8
Source: The Council of State
Governments9
Source: The Council of State
Governments10

should start
at the top. So well, in fact, that Illinois has some of the
highest paid executive officers compared to
Other states have taken such measures and
instituted pay cuts or pay freezes.
Illinois’s other states. For the position of governor,
lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney • In December 2008, for example,
executive general, treasurer, and comptroller, Illinois Pennsylvania’s Governor Ed Rendell
lands in the “Top 10” ranking of highest salary sought to save $14.3 million by
officers earners in 2010. announcing a pay freeze on all non-
shouldn’t be Our Solution
union state employees and asking cabinet
and executive officers to donate their
paid more Accountability for the state’s budget woes cost of living increases back to the
should start at the top. Illinois’s executive commonwealth.12
than the officers shouldn’t be paid more than the • Also in December 2008, Indiana
nationwide average salary for each position. Governor Mitch Daniels put a freeze
nationwide on pay increases for all state employees,
The high-profile individuals in these jobs can including himself, legislators, judges and
average salary make a strong statement by voluntarily rolling other state office holders, in order to help
for each back their own pay. Alternatively, the state
could implement a pay cut or freeze until the
tackle his state’s budget deficit.13
• Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman
position. budget deficit is eliminated. instituted a pay freeze for code agency

Graphic 7. Nationwide Average Executive Salaries vs. Illinois

Executive Salaries
Nationwide Illinois Total Percent
Position
Average Salary Salary Difference Difference

Governor $131,695 $177,500 $48,805 34.8

Lt. Governor $92,079 $135,700 $43,621 47.4

Secretary of State $102,010 $156,600 $54,590 53.5

Attorney General $118,321 $156,600 $38,279 32.4

Treasurer $106,785 $156,600 $49,815 46.6

Comptroller $117,076 $135,700 $18,624 15.9

Source: The Council of State Governments11

 Page 3 of 3

directors and top management personnel Book of the States 2010, Chapter 4: State Executive
in light of a then-scheduled pay Branch, June 1, 2010, http://tinyurl.com/
increase for July 2010, saying, “In these ExecOfficerSalaries.
challenging economic times, I believe that
it is important for us to lead by example. 6 Ibid.
Last week, the Constitutional Officers
and I said we would take a four year pay
7 Ibid.
freeze.”14

Illinois lawmakers decided against a personal 8 Ibid.

pay increase scheduled for July 2010. This was
a positive move, especially considering the fact 9 Ibid.
Illinois legislators have the fifth-highest salary
in the country, 15 but there is more to do. 10 Ibid.

Why This Works 11 Ibid.

Compared to other states, executive officer
salaries in Illinois rank in the top five highest
12 Official Pennsylvania State Government
paid for governor, lieutenant governor,
Website, Press Release, “Governor Rendell Says
secretary of state, and attorney general,
while ranking in the top 10 highest salaries Another $128 Million in Cuts Will Help Fill Budget
nationwide for treasurer and comptroller. Gap,” December 3, 2008, http://tinyurl.com/
Illinois Policy Institute reports indicate Illinois GovRendellPayFreeze.
legislators16 and judicial officers17 are highly
paid compared to national averages, as well. 13 The Business Journals, “Hoosiers Join in Budget
Slashing,” December 11, 2008, http://tinyurl.com/
Are residents getting their money’s worth? GovDanielsPayFreeze.
Illinois’s current budget and pension situation
suggest otherwise. 14 Office of Governor Dave Hieneman, Press
Release, “Gov. Heineman Orders Pay Freeze for
Illinois needs to make sure it uses tax dollars as
Cabinet and Top Management,” January 12, 2010,
efficiently and fairly as possible, especially when
taxpayers throughout the state are working http://tinyurl.com/GovHeinemanPayFreeze.
hard to support their families and communities
during tough economic times. 15 Kate Piercy, Illinois Policy Institute, Spotlight
on Spending Series, “Illinois Legislators Among
Endnotes Highest Paid in Nation,” http://tinyurl.com/
1 Kate Piercy, Illinois Policy Institute, Spotlight ILLegHighestPaid.
on Spending Series, “Illinois Legislators Among
Highest Paid in Nation,” http://tinyurl.com/ 16 Ibid.
ILLegHighestPaid.
17 Lee Williams, Illinois Policy Institute, “Judicial
2 Ibid. Pay and Perks in the Prairie State,” October 12,
2010, http://tinyurl.com/ILJudgesPay.
3 Lee Williams, Illinois Policy Institute, “Judicial
Pay and Perks in the Prairie State,” October 12,
2010, http://tinyurl.com/ILJudgesPay.

4 Missouri Economic Research and Information

Center, Missouri Department of Economic
Development, “Cost of Living 2nd Quarter 2010,”
http://www.missourieconomy.org/indicators/cost_of_
living/index.stm.

5 Audrey Wall, The Council of State Governments,