Life As a Legislator
Position Description Develop, introduce or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, State, or Federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.
Life As a Legislator
- Encourage and support party candidates for political office.
- Debate the merits of proposals and bill amendments during floor sessions, following the appropriate rules of procedure.
- Alert constituents of government actions and programs by way of newsletters, personal appearances at town meetings, phone calls, and individual meetings.
- Represent their government at local, national, and international meetings and conferences.
- Develop expertise in subject matters related to committee assignments.
- Seek federal funding for local projects and programs.
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Other Legislator Job Titles
- U.S. Representative
- Assembly Person
- Tribal Council Member
- Council Member
- Alderman
Legislator Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 55,500 jobs for Legislator in 2016. 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.
Salary for a Legislator
The average yearly salary of a Legislator ranges between $17,510 and $98,890.
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 |
What Tools & Technology do Legislators Use?
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 Work
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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