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Colorado legislators make base annual salary of up to $40,242

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State lawmakers in Colorado now draw a base annual salary of up to $40,242, in addition to mileage or travel outlays of 52 cents per mile, according to a recent study by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Colorado legislators receive per-diem payments consisting of $45 to $171 per day, depending on the distance they travel to the capitol during sessions .

Lawmakers’ salaries can be set by statute, legislatures or compensation commissions, according to the NCSL, which collects information yearly on state lawmaker pay and per diems in the 50 states.

In addition to this compensation, legislators may also receive insurance and retirement benefits, as well as office and staffing allowances.

Legislator Salaries by State in 2019

State

Base Salary

Mileage in Cents per Mile 

Session Per Diem Rate

Alabama

$48,123

58/mile

Up to $100/day depending on length of trip.

Alaska

$50,400

58/mile

$322/day

Arizona

$24,000

58/mile

$35/day for the first 120 days of the regular session and for special sessions and $10/day thereafter. Members living outside Maricopa County get additional compensation.

Arkansas

$41,394

58/mile

Current per diem rate for legislators who live more than 50 miles from the capitol in Little Rock is $149. Members who live within 50 miles of the Capitol are eligible to receive a reduced per diem (meals and incidentals, no lodging) of $55.

California

$110,459

53/mile

$201/day for each day in session.

Colorado

$40,242 for members whose terms began in January 2019; $30,000 for others.

52/mile

Up to $171 for members who live more than 50 miles from the capitol; $45/day for members who live 50 or fewer miles from the capitol.

Connecticut

$28,000

58/mile

No per diem is paid.

Delaware

$46,291

40/mile

No per diem is paid.

Florida

$29,697

44.5/mile

$163/day based on the number of days in Tallahassee (V).

Georgia

$17,342

58/mile

$173/day (U). Set by the Legislative Services Committee.

Hawaii

$62,604

Varies depending on distances and circumstances.

$225/day for members who don't live on Oahu.

Idaho

$17,879

58/mile; one round trip per week.

$139/day for members whose primary residence is over 50 miles from the statehouse; $55/day for members whose primary residence is less than 50 miles from the statehouse. (U)

Illinois

$65,836

39/mile

$111/session day.

Indiana

$26,490

58/mile

$181/day (U).

Iowa

$25,000

39/mile

$169/day; $126.75/day for Polk County lawmakers.

Kansas

$88.66/day (C)

58/mile

$149/day.

Kentucky

$188.22/day (C)

58/mile

$163.90/day.

Louisiana

$16,800 Senate; $22,800 House

58/mile

$161/day.

Maine

$10,131

44/mile

$38/day lodging (or mileage and tolls up to $38/day in lieu of housing). $32/day for meals. Set by statute.

Maryland

$50,330

58/mile

$47/day, meals. $106/day, lodging.

Massachusetts

$66,257

Members receive stipends based on distance.

No per diem is paid.

Michigan

$71,685

58/mile

$10,800/year expense allowance for session and interim (V). Set by the compensation commission.

Minnesota

$45,000

58/mile

$86/d for senators; $66/d for representatives.

Mississippi

$23,500

58/mile

$149/day.

Missouri

$35,915

37.5/mile

$119/day.

Montana

$92.46/day (L)

58/mile

$120.11/day.

Nebraska

$12,000

58/mile

$149/day for members residing 50 miles or more from the capitol; $55/day for members residing inside the 50-mile radius.

Nevada

$150.71/day for legislators elected in 2016, $146.29/day for midterm legislators

Travel allowances vary

$149/day.

New Hampshire

$200/2-year term.

Varies depending on distances.

No per diem is paid.

New Jersey

$49,000

None

No per diem is paid.

New Mexico

None

58/mile

$161/day or $184/day depending on month.

New York

$110,000

58/mile

$174/day (including overnight) or $61/day (no overnight).

North Carolina

$13,951

29/mile

$104/day (U). Set by statute.

North Dakota

$495/month

54/mile; one round trip per week.

$177/day.

Ohio

$63,007

52/mile

No per diem is paid.

Oklahoma

$35,021

58/mile

$156/day.

Oregon

$31,200

58/mile

$149/day.

Pennsylvania

$88,610

58/mile

$177/day.

Rhode Island

$15,959

54.5/mile

No per diem is paid.

South Carolina

$10,400

58/mile

$170/day.

South Dakota

$11,379

up to 42/mile

$149/day (L) (U).

Tennessee

$24,316

47/mile

$240/day for members residing more than 50 miles from capitol.

Texas

$7,200

58/mile

$221/day. Set by ethics commission.

Utah

$285/day (C)

54/mile

Up to $100 plus tax/day for members who live more than 100 miles round trip from capitol.

Vermont

733.04/week during session.

58/mile

$126/day lodging (including overnight) or $69/day (no overnight).

Virginia

$18,000/year Senate; $17,640/year House.

58/mile

$213/day.

Washington

$52,766/ year as of July 1, 2019.

58/mile

$120/day.

West Virginia

$20,000

48.5/mile

$131/day (U). Set by compensation commission.

Wisconsin

$52,999

51/mile

Senate: up to $115/day; Assembly: up to $162/day. The maximum number of days per year that per diem
can be claimed is 153 days. 

Wyoming

$150/day

58/mile

$109/day (V). Set by legislature.

Abbreviations: C – Calendar day; L – Legislative day; (U) – Unvouchered; (V) – Vouchered

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures