What Do Legislator Do?
Legislator Definition Develop, introduce or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, State, or Federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.
A Day in the Life of a Legislator
- Write, prepare, and deliver statements for the Congressional Record.
- Vote on motions, amendments, and decisions on whether or not to report a bill out from committee to the assembly floor.
- Represent their government at local, national, and international meetings and conferences.
- Review bills in committee, and make recommendations about their future.
- Establish personal offices in local districts or states, and manage office staff.
- Develop expertise in subject matters related to committee assignments.
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Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Delegate
- Senator
- Council Member
- Congressional Representative
- Tribal Delegate
Is There Going to be Demand for Legislators?
There were about 55,500 jobs for Legislator in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,900 new jobs for Legislator by 2026. There will be an estimated 4,400 positions for Legislator per year.

The states with the most job growth for Legislator are Utah, Nevada, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Wisconsin, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Legislators Salary
The salary for Legislators ranges between about $17,510 and $98,890 a year.

Legislators who work in New York, Hawaii, or California, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Legislators in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $31,760 |
Alaska | $45,340 |
Arizona | $56,530 |
Arkansas | $21,970 |
California | $68,580 |
Colorado | $57,570 |
Connecticut | $59,740 |
Florida | $56,990 |
Georgia | $23,810 |
Hawaii | $60,400 |
Idaho | $25,310 |
Indiana | $36,910 |
Iowa | $43,450 |
Kansas | $22,870 |
Louisiana | $33,370 |
Maryland | $45,110 |
Michigan | $35,460 |
Minnesota | $34,690 |
Mississippi | $25,360 |
Missouri | $25,630 |
Montana | $45,510 |
Nebraska | $34,320 |
New Hampshire | $18,910 |
New Mexico | $23,960 |
New York | $90,050 |
North Dakota | $36,050 |
Ohio | $43,770 |
Oklahoma | $48,770 |
Oregon | $37,960 |
South Carolina | $20,910 |
Tennessee | $41,470 |
Texas | $45,180 |
Utah | $26,930 |
Virginia | $32,900 |
Washington | $66,240 |
West Virginia | $28,520 |
Wyoming | $38,180 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Legislators
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Legislators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Structured query language SQL
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Microsoft Exchange Server
- IBM Domino
- Corel WordPerfect Office Suite
- Mapping software
- Adobe Systems Adobe FrameMaker
- Apple iWork Keynote
- Cisco Systems WebEx
- Citrix GoToMeeting
Where Legislators Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Legislators employed by various industries.

References:
Image Credit: The Official CTBTO Photostream via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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