Legislators in Pennsylvania
Want to work as a Legislators in Pennsylvania? Here’s what the data says. Develop, introduce, or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, state, or federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.
What do Legislators Make in Pennsylvania?
For a legislators working in Pennsylvania, wages run about $51,490 per year.Pay can range from $18,210 at the 10th percentile to $162,250 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18,210 | n/a |
| 25th percentile | $22,860 | n/a |
| Median (50th) | $51,490 | $0.00 |
| 75th percentile | $92,910 | n/a |
| 90th percentile | $162,250 | n/a |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Pennsylvania relative to the national average — is 0.74, suggesting fewer legislators per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, legislators earn a median of $167,600 per year ($80.58/hour), below the Pennsylvania median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 103,736 legislators in the U.S.. In Pennsylvania alone, approximately 770 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 460 legislators.
Top Pennsylvania Metros for Legislators
These are the Pennsylvania metros with the most legislators in Pennsylvania.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 240 | $51,740 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 190 | $47,090 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | 90 | n/a |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 60 | $48,980 |
Top States for Legislators Employment
The table below shows the states where the most legislators work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 2,470 |
| Texas | 2,040 |
| New York | 1,440 |
| Ohio | 1,360 |
| Washington | 1,300 |
| Missouri | 1,210 |
| Alabama | 1,120 |
| Wisconsin | 960 |
| Georgia | 960 |
| Indiana | 950 |
| Florida | 810 |
| Pennsylvania | 770 |
| West Virginia | 750 |
| South Carolina | 660 |
| Colorado | 530 |
| Idaho | 530 |
| Maryland | 500 |
| Arkansas | 460 |
| Arizona | 450 |
| Montana | 440 |
Highest-Paying States for Legislators
The highest-paying states for legislators.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $109,390 |
| New York | $97,050 |
| Hawaii | $74,150 |
| Michigan | $73,110 |
| Colorado | $66,700 |
| Wisconsin | $58,850 |
| Delaware | $58,250 |
| Maryland | $54,430 |
| California | $54,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $51,490 |
Daily Tasks
Legislators typically:
- Analyze and understand the local and national implications of proposed legislation.
- Appoint nominees to leadership posts, or approve such appointments.
- Confer with colleagues to formulate positions and strategies pertaining to pending issues.
- Debate the merits of proposals and bill amendments during floor sessions, following the appropriate rules of procedure.
- Develop expertise in subject matters related to committee assignments.
- Hear testimony from constituents, representatives of interest groups, board and commission members, and others with an interest in bills or issues under consideration.
- Keep abreast of the issues affecting constituents by making personal visits and phone calls, reading local newspapers, and viewing or listening to local broadcasts.
- Maintain knowledge of relevant national and international current events.
- Make decisions that balance the perspectives of private citizens, public officials, and party leaders.
- Negotiate with colleagues or members of other political parties in order to reconcile differing interests, and to create policies and agreements.
- Prepare drafts of amendments, government policies, laws, rules, regulations, budgets, programs and procedures.
- Read and review concerns of constituents or the general public and determine if governmental action is necessary.
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Cisco Webex
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Public Administration
- Public Policy
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Related Careers
Careers similar to legislators include:
- Treasurers and Controllers
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
- Labor Relations Specialists
Also Known As
Alderman, Assembly Member, Assembly Person, Assemblyman, Assemblywoman, City Alderman, City Council Member, City Councilman, Congress Member, Congressional Representative, Congressman, Congresswoman, Council Member, Councilman, Councilor.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 11-1031.00