How Much Do the World’s Top Politicians Get Paid?
World leaders gather for a group photo at the start of the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 30, 2018.Politics isn’t always seen as a money-making career. After all, politicians serve in positions of public service. Nobody goes in expecting to make Bezos money (at least not through their annual salary). But factors like cost of living and internal politics do play a part in the size of a politician’s paycheck.
Some leaders make a salary pretty close to the median income of their area, whereas many others are far away on the high end of the salary scale. It might also surprise that some major city mayors make close to what some presidents make.
Here’s a rundown of some of the most prominent political jobs and political appointments in the world, starting with the world’s highest paid political position descending all the way down to the lowest.
Note: This isn’t a comprehensive list. It’s a survey of 51 positions to highlight what some of highest-profile politicians and political appointees in the world earn for their official roles, and how those salaries compare to other federal, state and local positions, as well as what a typical taxpayer in a politician’s jurisdiction might earn. All salaries are in U.S. dollars and as current as we could determine at the time of publication.
Prime Minister of Singapore
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong attends a welcoming ceremony with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, in 2016.Salary: $1,100,000, plus bonuses
Location: Singapore
Median local salary: $39,332
Job: Although Singapore has a president, the country’s parliamentary system makes it so that the Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party and has executive authority leading the cabinet.
Current officeholder: Lee Hsien Loong
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam attends a question and answer session in Hong Kong in 2018.Salary: $578,320
Location: Hong Kong, China
Median local salary: $25,696
Job: The position of heading the government was created in 1997 to replace the outgoing one under British rule. The chief executive appoints judges and officials and deals with foreign affairs, similar to the president of other countries.
Current officeholder: Carrie Lam
President of Switzerland
Swiss Federal President Ueli Maurer address the media in Vienna, Austria, in January 2019.Salary: $482,958
Location: Bern
Median local salary: $78,722
Job: The president heads Switzerland’s Federal Council but is not the head of state, like presidents generally are in other nations. Treaties, for example, are signed on behalf of the entire council.
Current officeholder: Ueli Maurer
President of the United States
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the National Prayer Breakfast, Feb. 7, 2019, in Washington, D.C.Salary: $400,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: The top job in the country is responsible for heading up the state and federal governments as chief executive and the armed forces as commander in chief. The four-year position is elected by voters through the Electoral College.
Current officeholder: Donald Trump
Prime Minister of Australia
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during the unveiling of a Gandhi statue in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta, in 2018.Salary: $378,513
Location: Canberra
Median local salary: $34,325
Job: As head of government, the prime minister leads the Federal Cabinet and reports to the parliament and the Governor-General, a representative of the Australian monarch.
Current officeholder: Scott Morrison
Chancellor of Austria
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz speaks during a media conference at the conclusion of an EU summit in Brussels in 2018.Salary: $330,396
Location: Vienna
Median local salary: $21,803
Job: The chancellor chairs the government, which includes the vice chancellor and the ministers. The president is head of state, whereas the chancellor is head of government.
Current officeholder: Sebastian Kurz
Prime Minister of New Zealand
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addresses the United Nations General Assembly Sept. 27, 2018, at the United Nations headquarters in New York.Salary: $319,741
Location: Wellington
Median local income: $33,465
Job: The Prime Minister is the most senior government minister, responsible for chairing meetings of the cabinet and advising the sovereign and the governor-general.
Current officeholder: Jacinda Ardern
President of Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, in 2017.Salary: $302,000
Location: Moscow
Median local salary: $38,749
Job: This position is head of the Russian Federation and holds highest office in the country, commanding its armed forces and serving a six-year term.
Current officeholder: Vladimir Putin
Mayor of San Francisco
San Francisco Mayor London Breed poses in the city's Alamo Square in 2018.Salary: $300,977
Location: San Francisco
Median local household income: $101,714
Job: The high-paying gig in one of California’s economic centers oversees the city and county. He or she approves or vetoes city laws passed by the Board of Supervisors.
Current officeholder: London Breed
President of Ireland
Ireland President Michael D. Higgins co-chairs a session at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, May 24, 2016.Salary: $282,170
Location: Dublin
Median salary (country): $22,879
Job: The president serves for seven years, with potential for reelection up to two terms. This position is mostly a ceremonial role but comes with some limited powers.
Current officeholder: Michael D. Higgins
City Manager of Sacramento, California
The city manager runs Sacramento, the capital city of California, earns a larger salary than many heads of state.Salary: $282,058
Location: Sacramento
Median local household income: $67,902
Job: The city manager runs city affairs along with the mayor. The position is appointed by the mayor of Sacramento, the capital city of California, with a population of 501,000.
Current officeholder: Howard Chan
Police Chief of Houston
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo testifies before the House Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 6, 2019.Salary: $280,000
Location: Houston
Median local household income: $63,802
Job: The police chief heads the department, which is the law enforcement agency serving Houston and its surrounding areas. The position is appointed by the mayor.
Current officeholder: Art Acevedo
City Attorney of Houston
The city attorney for Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States, earns more than the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.Salary: $275,000
Location: Houston
Median local household income: $63,802
Job: The city attorney is part of the legal department, which provides litigation support and handles negotiations and contracts.
Current officeholder: Ronald Lewis
Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
John Roberts, shown here in 2008, is a political appointee and the highest ranking judge in the United States.Salary: $267,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: The chief justice is the highest-ranking judge of the federal judiciary, serving until he or she retires, dies, is impeached or otherwise resigns. He or she is appointed by the president. Duties include selecting cases for review, leading discussion on cases and choosing which justice writes the court opinion.
Current seatholder: John Roberts
Prime Minister of Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gestures during a roundtable discussion with members of the Canadian Technology Accelerator in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2018.Salary: $262,737
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Median local household income: $86,451
Job: The Canadian prime minister serves as head of government and the Canadian Armed Forces. The powers actually belong to the Monarchy, but in practicality is exercised by the PM.
Current officeholder: Justin Trudeau
Mayor of New York City
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks after he was sworn in for a second term as mayor at City Hall in New York, in 2018.Salary: $258,750
Location: New York City
Median local household income: $57,782
Job: The mayor heads the executive branch of the city government and oversees all city services, public property, police and public agencies. This mayor manages the largest municipal budget in the country at $82 billion per year.
Current officeholder: Bill de Blasio
City Manager of Worcester, Massachusetts
Edward M. Augustus Jr., speaking here on C-Span, runs the city of Worchester, Massachusetts.Salary: $248,269
Location: Worcester
Median salary: $69,412
Job: The city manager serves as liaison between officials and the public. They issue reports and oversee some city affairs on policy, budget and other public information.
Current officeholder: Edward M. Augustus Jr.
Mayor of Los Angeles
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti arrives at the 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards.Salary: $248,141
Location: Los Angeles
Median local household income: $65,006
Job: This person acts as chief executive of the city, with the power to appoint and remove officials, approve or veto legislation and propose an annual budget.
Current officeholder: Eric Garcetti
Chancellor of Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiles during a press conference after a 2016 meeting at the headquarters of the German Christian Democratic Party in Berlin.Salary: $244,000
Location: Berlin
Median local household income: $37,906
Job: In Germany, the chancellor is equivalent of a prime minister in other countries. The president is head of state and carries out representative duties, whereas the chancellor exercises most of the authority.
Current officeholder: Angela Merkel
Vice President of the United States
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence delivers opening remarks during the National Space Council meeting in 2017, in Chantilly, Virginia.Salary: $243,500
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: The VP has responsibility to take over if anything happens to the president. Besides advising the president, the VP is also president of the Senate, which counts as the tie-breaking vote when passing legislation.
Current officeholder: Mike Pence
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Nancy Pelosi speaks during a 2018 town hall-style meeting in Cambridge, Massachusetts.Salary: $223,500
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: The Speaker leads the House’s majority party, in charge of its administrative and procedural responsibilities. He or she is second in line to succeed the presidency after the vice president.
Current officeholder: Nancy Pelosi
Chief Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Sidney Thomas, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, speaks during a civics program showcase at the 2017 Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference in San Francisco.Salary: $220,600
Location: San Francisco
Median local household income: $101,714
Job: The chief judge is in charge of administrative duties and presides over court sessions and hearings. He or she is an active judge but has the option to take on a reduced caseload to balance other work.
Current seatholder: Sidney Thomas
U.S. Secretary of State
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., in 2018.Salary: $210,700
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: Appointed by the president, the secretary of state deals with foreign policy and heads up the Department of State.
Current officeholder: Mike Pompeo
U.S. Attorney General
Attorney General William Barr meets with Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Miss., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, January 2019.Salary: $210,700
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: Reporting to the president, the attorney general is essentially the chief lawyer of the federal government and deals with the Department of Justice’s legal affairs.
Current officeholder: William Barr
President of South Korea
South Korea President Moon Jae-in speaks during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Feb. 22, 2019.Salary: $210,000
Location: Seoul
Median salary (country): $22,176
Job: The president serves as head of state and government and commander in chief. It’s a five-year term, with no reelection allowed.
Current officeholder: Moon Jae-in
City Finance Director of Houston
The finance director of Houston, Tantri Erlinawati-Emo, oversees financial issues in a city with a population of 2.3 million.Salary: $205,010
Location: Houston
Median local household income: $63,802
Job: The finance director’s office keeps a check on the finances and effectiveness of city divisions. The director oversees policies, reporting and monitoring.
Current officeholder: Tantri Erlinawati-Emo
President of France
French President Emmanuel Macron, shown here as a candidate in 2017, waves to his supporters in Paris.Salary: $204,749
Location: Paris
Median local household income: $45,826
Job: The French president serves a five-year term. Since a 1962 referendum, it’s been elected directly by voters and not by the Parliament.
Current officeholder: Emmanuel Macron
Prime Minister of Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addresses the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 23, 2019.Salary: $202,700
Location: Tokyo
Median local household income: $46,471
Job: The prime minister acts as head of government and chief executive of Japan. It’s appointed by the emperor and is leader of the cabinet, which makes it different than other constitutional monarchies.
Current officeholder: Shinzo Abe
Governor of California
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks about the wildfires that devastated his state, on Jan. 24, 2019.Salary: $201,680
Location: Sacramento, California
Median local household income: $67,902
Job: The governor of the most populous state manages the state’s budget and oversees enactment of state laws over a four-year term.
Current officeholder: Gavin Newsom
Director of Public Works of Sacramento, California
Sacramento, the capital city of California, has a population of 501,000.Salary: $192,878
Location: Sacramento
Median local household income: $67,902
Job: The director oversees the department’s areas of transportation, recycling and parking for the city of 501,000 in Central California.
Current officeholder: Hector Barron
Governor of New York
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo watches as a large crane named the Left Coast Lifter arrives at the Tappan Zee Bridge near Nyack, N.Y., in 2014.Salary: $179,000
Location: Albany, New York
Median local household income: $68,681
Job: The governor is head of the state and commander in chief of its military and naval forces. Historically, the person in this top spot has been viewed as a candidate for the presidency and other federal positions.
Current officeholder: Andrew Cuomo
U.S. Senator
Senator Kamala Harris, D-Calif., one of 100 U.S. senators, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Feb. 7, 2019.Salary: $174,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: In the U.S. Senate, the upper chamber of Congress, senators elected for a six-year term are in charge of everything from confirming justices to writing and passing laws.
Current officeholder: 100 members
U.S. Representative
Representative Liz Cheney, R-Wy., waves during a ceremony to pardon the National Thanksgiving Turkey in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 20, 2018.Salary: $174,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: The lower chamber of Congress, representatives in this house are elected for two-year terms and tasked with introducing and passing bills and resolutions .
Current officeholder: 435 members
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks at the Sharm El Sheikh convention center in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Feb. 24, 2019.Salary: $172,865
Location: London
Median local salary: $39,068
Job: The British PM is head of government and directs the executive and legislature. The position is appointed by the monarch.
Current officeholder: Theresa May
President of Greece
Greece's President Prokopis Pavlopoulos sits during a meeting with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel Jan. 11, 2019.Salary: $170,976
Location: Athens
Median salary (country): $8,630
Job: The president of Greece is a mostly ceremonial role and serves as commander in chief of the army.
Current officeholder: Prokopis Pavlopoulos
Chief Information Officer of Iowa
The capital city of Iowa, with a population of 218,000, is home to the Chief Information Officer and many other state government jobs.Salary: $147,979
Location: Des Moines
Median local household income: $68,649
Job: The CIO heads the department responsible for managing infrastructure services to the state agencies and reviews information technology projects.
Current officeholder: Jeff Franklin
City Clerk of Worcester, Massachusetts
The city of Worcester, Massachusetts, located about 45 miles west of Boston, has a population of 186,000.Salary: $142,757
Location: Worcester
Median local household income: $69,412
Job: The city clerk keeps records of the city, which includes records on birth, marriage and ordinances. The clerk also prepares agendas for city council meetings and committees.
Current officeholder: Susan M. Ledoux
City Clerk of Chicago
Anna Valencia, center, smiles after she was sworn in as Clerk of the City of Chicago, Jan. 25, 2017.Salary: $133,545
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Median local household income: $68,403
Job: The city clerk manages records for the municipality, including city council legislation, public records and licenses.
Current officeholder: Anna Valencia
Governor of Iowa
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers her inaugural address in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 18, 2018.Salary: $130,000
Location: Des Moines
Median local household income: $68,649
Job: The governor enforces state laws and can approve or veto bills passed by the Iowa General Assembly.
Current officeholder: Kim Reynolds
Mayor of Minneapolis
Current Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey oversees a city of 422,000 people.Salary: $126,528
Location: Minneapolis
Median local household income: $68,388
Job: The mayor appoints people to official positions and oversees the city’s budget.
Current officeholder: Jacob Frey
Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller urges gun-safety activists to petition New Mexico state lawmakers to tighten requirements for background checks on gun sales at a rally in Santa Fe, N.M. Feb. 5, 2019.Salary: $125,008
Location: Albuquerque, N.M.
Median local household income: $50,906
Job: The mayor and council run the city, with the mayor heading the executive branch and in charge of submitting the budget to the council for approval every year.
Current officeholder: Tim Keller
Mayor of Sacramento, California
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg questions Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn about police procedures during a meeting of the Sacramento City Council, April 10, 2018.Salary: $123,077
Location: Sacramento
Median local household income: $67,902
Job: The mayor is part of a nine-member council system of government. City affairs are designated to the city manager, whereas executive and legislative powers belong to the council.
Current officeholder: Darrell Steinberg
Prime Minister of Hungary
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sits at Downing Street, London, Oct., 9, 2013, before a meeting with then-British Prime Minister David Cameron.Salary: $99,349
Location: Budapest
Median salary (country): $6,168
Job: The PM of Hungary heads the government and works with the cabinet to manage policies. He or she selects the cabinet ministers and has power to dismiss them.
Current officeholder: Viktor Orbán
City Councilmember, Minneapolis
The city of Minneapolis is represented by 13 council membersSalary: $98,696
Location: Minneapolis
Median local household income: $68,388
Job: The City Council is the legislative body of the city, responsible over areas like elections, finance and policies.
Current officeholders: 13 councilmembers
Member of European Parliament
European Parliament Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium attends a debate on the future Europe at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Feb. 12, 2019.Salary: $95,226
Location: Strasbourg, France
Median local salary: $47,613
Job: MEPs are elected to serve as a popular representative in the Parliament
Current officeholders: 751 members, including Belgium's Guy Verhofstadt (pictured).
County Commissioner, El Paso County, Colorado
The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners each make a salary of $87,300.Salary: $87,300
Location: El Paso County
Median local household income: $65,370
Job: Commissioners serve on a board of five members acting as the policymaking and administrative body of the county, which is approximately 80 miles south of Denver.
Current officeholders: Holly Williams, Mark Waller, Stan VanderWerf, Longinos Gonzalez, Jr., Cami Bremer
President of India
Ram Nath Kovind, center, waves to media upon arrival at the airport in New Delhi, India in 2017.Salary: $84,668
Location: New Delhi
Average per capita income (country): $1,127
Job: The president of India has executive and legislative powers. He or she also appoints the prime minister.
Current officeholder: Ram Nath Kovind
County Treasurer, Mesa County, Colorado
Sheila Reine, the County Treasurer of Mesa County, Colorado, earns $72,500 a year.Salary: $72,500
Location: Mesa County
Median local household income: $52,742
Job: County assessors determine the amount of property taxes that property owners pay every year in this western Colorado county.
Current officeholder: Sheila Reiner
City Councilor of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Each of the nine city councilors in Albuquerque make $30,000 a year during their two-year terms.Salary: $30,000
Location: Albuquerque
Median local household income: $50,906
Job: The board of nine councilors is the legislative authority of the city. It adopts ordinances and legislations.
Current officeholders:9 council members
President of the People's Republic of China
Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, Sept. 28, 2015.Salary: $22,000
Location: Beijing
Average local salary: $17,700
Job: The leader of China serves as leader of the party and commander in chief of its military. In 2018, the two-term limit was removed by the People’s Congress.
Current officeholder: Xi Jinping
First Lady of the United States
United States first lady Melania Trump speaks during the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, July 18, 2016.Salary: $0
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: Although an unpaid position, the first lady’s office is an important one when it comes to managing political campaigns, social causes and overseeing official occasions and events.
Current officeholder: Melania Trump