How much do Utah lawmakers make for their work on Capitol Hill?
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) –Utah’s 2024 General Session has reached the halfway point and lawmakers still have hundreds of bills and policies to consider, with more likely on the way.
Last week, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said it’s the craziest and most difficult part of the year for lawmakers. But for all the work they do on Capitol Hill, how much do they make?
Utah lawmakers make $293.55 per legislative day as of 2023. The daily rate counts for each day there is an official legislative meeting and they sign in for attendance. Utah legislators are also provided a reimbursable per diem for other expenses such as mileage, lodging, and meals, up to $154 per day.
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During the 45-day 2024 General Session, Utah’s state senators and representatives will make just over $13,200 plus whatever expenses are reimbursed. That payment is made to lawmakers in one lump sum in January, before the start of the legislative session.
Last year, Utah lawmakers made just over $14,000 for their work in the 45-day general session and subsequent special sessions and extraordinary sessions.
Of course, their true compensation increases once you start factoring in reimbursements and benefits such as Medicare and retirement contributions. Data publicly provided by the Utah Legislative Compensation Commission revealed Utah’s state senators and representatives made an average of $37,000 in the 2023 fiscal year.
Those in leadership positions also receive some extra funding for their additional responsibilities. Utah’s President of the Senate and Speaker of the House each get an additional $5,000 in their paycheck. The Majority and Minority party leaders get an additional $4,000 while other leaders and chairs see an extra $3,000.
It used to be Utah’s legislators didn’t make nearly as much money as they do today.
According to a history of compensation, state legislators were compensated just $25 per day in 1980. By 2000, their salaries had increased to $100 and by 2012 it was raised to $117 per day. In 2013, lawmakers received their biggest jump in pay with their salaries more than doubled to $273, which is where it stayed until another pay increase in 2019.
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State lawmakers’ salaries are established by the state’s Legislative Compensation Commission, according to the Utah State Code.
So how do Utah’s legislative salaries compare to the rest of the nation? According to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures, they are making significantly less than they would in other states.
For example, in some states such as New York, California and Pennsylvania, lawmakers make over $100,000 a year for their work in policy-making. Other state lawmakers, however, make even less than Utah. In Texas, legislators are paid only $7,200 annually and in New Mexico, lawmakers are only compensated by a per diem with no annual salary.
The Utah Legislative Compensation Commission provides a full breakdown of how each representative was compensated in each report, with the latest being for the 2023 fiscal year.
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