Secretary Of State Salary: What Officials Earn Across The US
Have you ever wondered about the pay for public servants, especially those in significant roles like a Secretary of State? It's a common question, and quite frankly, a good one to ask. Knowing how much these officials are compensated helps us understand the financial side of public service. This article pulls together information to give you a clearer picture of what a Secretary of State typically makes across various states, and you might find some of the figures rather interesting.
The compensation for a Secretary of State, you see, isn't a fixed number that applies everywhere. It actually changes a lot depending on the state, the responsibilities involved, and even the specific year. We’ll be looking at some recent figures and trends, drawing directly from available data, so you get a real sense of the pay scales involved. It’s a good way, you know, to get a feel for how these important government roles are valued financially.
We’re going to explore what the data shows about these salaries, from national averages to specific state examples. This way, you can see how much variation there is and, perhaps, gain a little more insight into the financial aspects of these public positions. It’s pretty important, as a matter of fact, to have this kind of transparency, don't you think?
Table of Contents
- Understanding the Secretary of State Role
- National Overview of Secretary of State Salaries
- State-by-State Salary Insights
- Federal vs. State Secretary of State Salary
- People Also Ask (FAQs)
Understanding the Secretary of State Role
The Secretary of State position is a really important one in state governments, and sometimes, you know, at the federal level too. These officials typically oversee a variety of functions, like managing elections, keeping official records, and handling business registrations. Their work is pretty central to how a state operates, and it touches many different aspects of daily life for citizens. It’s a role that carries quite a bit of responsibility, actually.
The specific duties, you see, can vary a bit from one state to another, which might also influence the salary levels. For instance, some Secretaries of State might have a larger staff or more complex legal responsibilities than others. This variation in duties is just one of the things that makes comparing salaries across states a little more nuanced. It’s not always a straightforward comparison, you know.
National Overview of Secretary of State Salaries
When we look at the entire country, the average pay for a Secretary of State gives us a good starting point. This figure, you know, helps set a general expectation, even though individual state salaries can differ quite a lot. It’s a way to get a big-picture view before we zoom in on specific places. This average, you see, reflects a wide range of roles and responsibilities across the states.
Broad Salary Ranges Across the Nation
The average Secretary of State salary in the United States, as of recent data, was around $113,243. That figure, however, is just an average, and it really hides a lot of variation. For example, yearly salaries for this position, you know, have been observed to range quite widely, from as low as $16,219 all the way up to $274,050. That's a pretty big difference, isn't it?
This wide range, quite frankly, shows that the pay for a Secretary of State isn't uniform at all. Some states, you see, might offer significantly more or less than the national average. It also suggests that factors like the state's budget, cost of living, and the specific scope of the job can play a big part in determining what someone in this position earns. It's not just a simple calculation, you know.
Recent National Average Figures
Looking at data from 2022, the average salary for the Secretary of State position across 47 states was $121,628. This figure, actually, showed a modest increase of 2.95% from the previous year, 2021. So, too, it's almost like there's a slight upward trend in these salaries generally speaking. This yearly increase, you know, points to some consistent growth in compensation for these roles.
It’s interesting to note, for instance, that while there's an average, some states naturally pay more, and some pay less. Arizona, for example, reportedly had the lowest annual salary for this position among the states listed, though the exact amount isn't specified in this particular data. On the other hand, Tennessee was identified as a top-paying employer for this job, which is pretty neat to consider.
State-by-State Salary Insights
Now, let's get into the specifics of what Secretaries of State earn in various parts of the country. This helps illustrate just how much these salaries can differ, you know, from one state to another. It’s quite a varied picture, actually, and it really shows the regional differences in compensation for public service roles.
Kentucky: A Closer Look
In Kentucky, for the year 2024, the Secretary of State's office had 29 employees. The average annual salary for these employees was $71,577, and the median salary, which is the middle point, was $60,969. So, you know, these figures give us a pretty clear idea of the general pay scale within that specific state's office. It’s quite informative, actually, to see these numbers.
For comparison, other high-ranking officials in Kentucky also have their salaries documented. Governor Andy Beshear, for instance, earned $164,355, and Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman received $139,725. The Attorney General of Kentucky, Russell Coleman, had salary expenditures that weren't included in the readily downloadable files, so we can't share that specific number here. But, you know, it’s useful to see how the Secretary of State's average fits within the broader context of state leadership salaries.
Texas: Compensation Details
Moving over to Texas, the Secretary of State's office in 2024 had 307 employees. The average annual salary there was $60,604. Interestingly, the highest salary recorded at the Texas Secretary of State in 2024 was a significant $198,015. That’s a pretty high figure, isn’t it, especially when compared to the average?
Looking ahead a little, as of July 1, 2025, the Texas Secretary of State is projected to employ 271 people, and the median salary for this agency is expected to be $69,300. This kind of forward-looking data, you know, gives us a glimpse into future compensation trends. It's rather interesting to see how these numbers evolve over time, too.
Illinois and Michigan: Salary Pictures
In Illinois, the average annual salary for the Secretary of State is estimated to be approximately $93,508 per year. Most of the pay for this position falls between $81,693 and $107,111 annually. This range, you know, provides a good indication of what someone in that role can typically expect to earn. It’s a fairly consistent pay scale, it seems.
The Office of the Illinois Secretary of State's average salary, from 2023 to 2024, was reported to be 1% higher than the USA average, with the median salary being 3% higher than the USA median. This suggests, in a way, that Illinois generally offers slightly better compensation for these roles compared to the national benchmarks. That's a pretty good sign for those working there, actually.
Now, shifting to Michigan, the average Secretary of State salary there is $113,344. If we break that down to an hourly rate, it comes out to about $54.49 per hour. This kind of detail, you know, can be really helpful for understanding the compensation structure. It’s a solid average, very much in line with the overall national figures we discussed earlier.
Washington and Other High-Earning States
Washington state, it seems, is quite a good place to be a Secretary of State, at least in terms of pay. The Washington Secretary of State's average salary is reported to be 13% higher than the USA average, and the median salary is an even more impressive 17% higher than the USA median, based on data from 2022 to 2023. This puts Washington, actually, at the top of the list for typical secretary job salaries, with District of Columbia and New York not far behind. It’s pretty clear that certain states prioritize higher compensation for these roles.
This higher compensation, you know, might reflect the cost of living in these areas, or perhaps the perceived importance and workload of the role within those specific state governments. It’s a complex interplay of factors, as a matter of fact, that determines these salary levels. It really highlights the regional economic differences, too.
Missouri, North Carolina, and Louisiana: Figures
In Missouri, the Office of Secretary of State had 265 employees in 2024, and the highest salary recorded there for that year was $128,387. This figure, you see, gives us a peak into the top earnings within that office. It’s a respectable amount, and it shows that some positions within the office can command a good income.
For North Carolina, in 2023, the Secretary of State's office had 200 employees, and the highest salary paid was $159,740. This is another example, you know, of a state where top earners in this department receive substantial compensation. It’s a pretty good indicator of the financial commitment to these roles.
Louisiana's Secretary of State office in 2024 had a much larger staff, with 2,027 employees. The average annual salary there was $57,550, and the highest salary paid reached $249,500. This very high top salary, you know, stands out quite a bit, especially when compared to the average for the office. It suggests there are some very highly compensated individuals within that department, which is something to consider.
Notable Salary Changes and Comparisons
It’s also worth noting that salaries can change over time, and not always upwards. For instance, Maine's Secretary of State saw the largest salary decrease from 2020, by percentage, with a 21.32% reduction. This kind of fluctuation, you know, can happen due to various reasons, like budget adjustments or policy changes. It’s not always a steady climb, as a matter of fact.
When we look at broader trends, the average salary for a Secretary of State across various unspecified instances was 11% higher than the USA average from 2015 to 2016, with the median salary being the same as the USA median. This suggests a period where the role was, in some respects, earning a bit more than the general national average for similar positions. It's a pretty interesting historical tidbit, too.
There was also a general "Secretary of State" category that had 4,428 employees in 2018, with an average annual salary of $43,307 and a highest salary of $183,500. Then, in 2024, this same category showed 575 employees, an average annual salary of $29,563, and a highest salary of $163,000. These figures, you know, show some significant shifts in employee numbers and average pay over time, which is something to keep in mind.
Federal vs. State Secretary of State Salary
It’s important to distinguish between a state Secretary of State and the federal Secretary of State, who is the nation's top diplomat. The data we've mostly discussed focuses on state-level positions. However, there is a mention of Marco Rubio, who was reportedly making around $28,000 as a Florida senator. The text suggests that if he were confirmed as the nation's top diplomat, his Secretary of State salary would be significantly higher, making more money than he’d ever made working in government. This, you know, highlights a very different pay scale for the federal role compared to most state positions. It's a pretty big jump, actually.
The executive schedule (ES) sets the yearly salaries for top government officials at the federal level, including leaders and senior personnel in over 75 federal government agencies. This system, you see, ensures a structured approach to compensation for high-ranking federal roles. It’s a completely different framework from how state salaries are determined, which is something to keep in mind when comparing these roles. You can learn more about federal executive salaries on the OPM website, if you're curious about those figures.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Many people have similar questions about the Secretary of State salary. Here are some common ones, with answers drawn from the information we've looked at:
How much does the US Secretary of State make?
The "US Secretary of State" often refers to the federal position, the nation's chief diplomat. While our data primarily covers state-level Secretaries of State, the text mentions that someone like Marco Rubio, if confirmed for that federal role, would earn substantially more than his previous government salary of around $28,000 as a senator. The executive schedule sets salaries for top federal officials, and these are typically quite high, you know, reflecting the immense responsibility of the role. Learn more about government salaries on our site, which might offer additional context.
Do Secretary of State salaries vary by state?
Yes, they absolutely do. Our data shows a wide range, from as low as $16,219 to as high as $274,050 across the United States. States like Washington, for example, pay significantly more than the national average, while Arizona reportedly has one of the lowest annual salaries. This variation, you see, is influenced by factors like state budgets, cost of living, and the specific duties assigned to the role in each state. It’s pretty clear there's no one-size-fits-all answer.
What factors influence a Secretary of State's salary?
Several factors seem to play a part. The state's overall budget, for one, can definitely affect how much is allocated for public official salaries. The specific responsibilities and workload of the Secretary of State's office in a given state also matter a lot; a larger, more complex department might justify a higher salary. Additionally, the cost of living in a particular state or region can influence compensation, as can the general economic conditions. It’s a pretty complex mix, you know, that shapes these paychecks. You can also explore more about state government roles and their compensation.
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