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 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.