Politics is not typically regarded as a path to vast personal wealth. Elected officials and appointees occupy positions of public service, and few enter office expecting to earn fortunes from their official salaries. Still, factors such as local cost of living, political structure and benefits influence how much public servants receive. Some leaders earn pay close to the local median income, while others are paid at the top end of the scale—sometimes approaching or exceeding the salaries of national presidents.
Below is a survey of 51 prominent political roles and appointments around the world, arranged roughly from higher to lower official pay. This list is not exhaustive but highlights how salaries for well-known public positions compare to median or typical incomes in their jurisdictions. All figures are given in U.S. dollars and reflect the most current information available at the time of publication.
Prime Minister of Singapore
Salary: $1,100,000, plus bonuses
Location: Singapore
Median local salary: $39,332
Job: In Singapore’s parliamentary system the prime minister leads the majority party and exercises executive authority over the cabinet.
Current officeholder: Lee Hsien Loong
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Salary: $578,320
Location: Hong Kong, China
Median local salary: $25,696
Job: Created after the 1997 handover, the chief executive heads the Hong Kong government, appoints officials and handles certain external affairs.
Current officeholder: Carrie Lam
President of Switzerland
Salary: $482,958
Location: Bern
Median local salary: $78,722
Job: The Swiss president chairs the Federal Council but does not serve as a single head of state; the council collectively represents executive authority.
Current officeholder: Ueli Maurer
President of the United States
Salary: $400,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: The president is the nation’s chief executive and commander in chief, elected for four-year terms via the Electoral College.
Current officeholder: Donald Trump
Prime Minister of Australia
Salary: $378,513
Location: Canberra
Median local salary: $34,325
Job: The prime minister leads the federal cabinet and answers to Parliament and the Governor-General, who represents the monarch.
Current officeholder: Scott Morrison
Chancellor of Austria
Salary: $330,396
Location: Vienna
Median local salary: $21,803
Job: The chancellor chairs the federal government and acts as head of government, while the president serves as head of state.
Current officeholder: Sebastian Kurz
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Salary: $319,741
Location: Wellington
Median local income: $33,465
Job: The prime minister is the most senior government minister, chairs cabinet meetings and advises the sovereign and the governor-general.
Current officeholder: Jacinda Ardern
President of Russia
Salary: $302,000
Location: Moscow
Median local salary: $38,749
Job: The president is head of state, commander in chief and serves a six-year term.
Current officeholder: Vladimir Putin
Mayor of San Francisco
Salary: $300,977
Location: San Francisco
Median local household income: $101,714
Job: The mayor oversees city and county operations, signs or vetoes ordinances and manages municipal leadership.
Current officeholder: London Breed
President of Ireland
Salary: $282,170
Location: Dublin
Median salary (country): $22,879
Job: Ireland’s president serves a largely ceremonial seven-year term with some reserved powers.
Current officeholder: Michael D. Higgins
City Manager of Sacramento, California
Salary: $282,058
Location: Sacramento
Median local household income: $67,902
Job: The city manager administers city affairs, implements policy and works alongside the mayor to manage operations for the state capital.
Current officeholder: Howard Chan
Police Chief of Houston
Salary: $280,000
Location: Houston
Median local household income: $63,802
Job: The police chief leads Houston’s police department, overseeing law enforcement and departmental operations; the position is mayoral appointment.
Current officeholder: Art Acevedo
City Attorney of Houston
Salary: $275,000
Location: Houston
Median local household income: $63,802
Job: The city attorney provides legal counsel, manages litigation and oversees contracts and municipal legal matters.
Current officeholder: Ronald Lewis
Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
Salary: $267,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: The chief justice is the highest-ranking federal judge, responsible for administrative leadership of the Supreme Court and assigning opinions when in the majority.
Current seat holder: John Roberts
Prime Minister of Canada
Salary: $262,737
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Median local household income: $86,451
Job: The prime minister acts as head of government and exercises authority over the federal cabinet and armed forces in practice.
Current officeholder: Justin Trudeau
Mayor of New York City
Salary: $258,750
Location: New York City
Median local household income: $57,782
Job: The mayor oversees city services, public property and agencies and manages one of the largest municipal budgets in the U.S.
Current officeholder: Bill de Blasio
City Manager of Worcester, Massachusetts
Salary: $248,269
Location: Worcester
Median salary: $69,412
Job: The city manager serves as an administrative leader and liaison between city officials and the public, overseeing policy implementation and public information.
Current officeholder: Edward M. Augustus Jr.
Mayor of Los Angeles
Salary: $248,141
Location: Los Angeles
Median local household income: $65,006
Job: The mayor is the city’s chief executive with authority to appoint officials, sign or veto legislation and propose the annual budget.
Current officeholder: Eric Garcetti
Chancellor of Germany
Salary: $244,000
Location: Berlin
Median local household income: $37,906
Job: The chancellor is Germany’s head of government and exercises the main executive authority, while the president fulfills representative duties.
Current officeholder: Angela Merkel
Vice President of the United States
Salary: $243,500
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: The vice president succeeds the president if necessary, advises the president and serves as president of the Senate with tie-breaking vote authority.
Current officeholder: Mike Pence
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Salary: $223,500
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: The Speaker leads the House majority, manages administrative and procedural duties and stands second in line for presidential succession after the vice president.
Current officeholder: Nancy Pelosi
Chief Judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Salary: $220,600
Location: San Francisco
Median local household income: $101,714
Job: The chief judge oversees administrative duties for the circuit and presides over hearings while remaining an active judge.
Current seat holder: Sidney Thomas
U.S. Secretary of State
Salary: $210,700
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: Appointed by the president, the secretary of state manages foreign policy and leads the Department of State.
Current officeholder: Mike Pompeo
U.S. Attorney General
Salary: $210,700
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: The attorney general is the federal government’s chief lawyer and heads the Department of Justice.
Current officeholder: William Barr
President of South Korea
Salary: $210,000
Location: Seoul
Median salary (country): $22,176
Job: The president is head of state and government and commander in chief, serving a single five-year term with no re-election.
Current officeholder: Moon Jae-in
City Finance Director of Houston
Salary: $205,010
Location: Houston
Median local household income: $63,802
Job: The finance director supervises municipal finances, reporting, policy and fiscal oversight across city departments.
Current officeholder: Tantri Erlinawati-Emo
President of France
Salary: $204,749
Location: Paris
Median local household income: $45,826
Job: France’s president serves five-year terms and has been directly elected by voters since 1962.
Current officeholder: Emmanuel Macron
Prime Minister of Japan
Salary: $202,700
Location: Tokyo
Median local household income: $46,471
Job: The prime minister serves as head of government and leader of the cabinet, appointed formally by the emperor.
Current officeholder: Shinzo Abe
Governor of California
Salary: $201,680
Location: Sacramento, California
Median local household income: $67,902
Job: The governor manages the state budget, oversees law implementation and serves four-year terms in the nation’s most populous state.
Current officeholder: Gavin Newsom
Director of Public Works of Sacramento, California
Salary: $192,878
Location: Sacramento
Median local household income: $67,902
Job: The director oversees transportation, recycling and parking functions for the city.
Current officeholder: Hector Barron
Governor of New York
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 state forces, often regarded as a stepping-stone to national office.
Current officeholder: Andrew Cuomo
U.S. Senator
Salary: $174,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: Senators serve six-year terms and are responsible for confirming appointments, crafting legislation and representing their states nationally.
Current officeholders: 100 members
U.S. Representative
Salary: $174,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: Representatives are elected to two-year terms in the House and introduce and pass federal legislation and resolutions.
Current officeholders: 435 members
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Salary: $172,865
Location: London
Median local salary: $39,068
Job: The British prime minister is head of government, directing executive policy and leading the majority party; the monarch appoints the officeholder.
Current officeholder: Theresa May
President of Greece
Salary: $170,976
Location: Athens
Median salary (country): $8,630
Job: The Greek president holds a largely ceremonial role and serves as commander in chief of the armed forces.
Current officeholder: Prokopis Pavlopoulos
Chief Information Officer of Iowa
Salary: $147,979
Location: Des Moines
Median local household income: $68,649
Job: The CIO manages IT infrastructure, services and project oversight for state agencies.
Current officeholder: Jeff Franklin
City Clerk of Worcester, Massachusetts
Salary: $142,757
Location: Worcester
Median local household income: $69,412
Job: The city clerk maintains official records—birth, marriage, ordinances—and prepares agendas for council meetings.
Current officeholder: Susan M. Ledoux
City Clerk of Chicago
Salary: $133,545
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Median local household income: $68,403
Job: The city clerk manages municipal records, council legislation and public documents.
Current officeholder: Anna Valencia
Governor of Iowa
Salary: $130,000
Location: Des Moines
Median local household income: $68,649
Job: The governor enforces state laws and may approve or veto legislation from the General Assembly.
Current officeholder: Kim Reynolds
Mayor of Minneapolis
Salary: $126,528
Location: Minneapolis
Median local household income: $68,388
Job: The mayor appoints officials and oversees the city budget and administration.
Current officeholder: Jacob Frey
Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Salary: $125,008
Location: Albuquerque, N.M.
Median local household income: $50,906
Job: The mayor heads the executive branch and submits the annual budget to the city council for approval.
Current officeholder: Tim Keller
Mayor of Sacramento, California
Salary: $123,077
Location: Sacramento
Median local household income: $67,902
Job: Sacramento’s mayor works within a council-manager system where the city manager runs day-to-day operations and the council holds executive and legislative powers.
Current officeholder: Darrell Steinberg
Prime Minister of Hungary
Salary: $99,349
Location: Budapest
Median salary (country): $6,168
Job: The prime minister heads the government, selects and can dismiss cabinet ministers and leads policy direction.
Current officeholder: Viktor Orbán
City Councilmember, Minneapolis
Salary: $98,696
Location: Minneapolis
Median local household income: $68,388
Job: City councilmembers form the legislative body overseeing elections, finance and municipal policy.
Current officeholders: 13 councilmembers
Member of European Parliament
Salary: $95,226
Location: Strasbourg, France
Median local salary: $47,613
Job: Members of the European Parliament are elected to represent citizens across member states and to legislate at the EU level.
Current officeholders: 751 members
County Commissioner, El Paso County, Colorado
Salary: $87,300
Location: El Paso County
Median local household income: $65,370
Job: Commissioners make policy and manage county administration as a five-member board.
Current officeholders: Holly Williams, Mark Waller, Stan VanderWerf, Longinos Gonzalez, Jr., Cami Bremer
President of India
Salary: $84,668
Location: New Delhi
Average per capita income (country): $1,127
Job: India’s president holds executive and legislative responsibilities and formally appoints the prime minister.
Current officeholder: Ram Nath Kovind
County Treasurer, Mesa County, Colorado
Salary: $72,500
Location: Mesa County
Median local household income: $52,742
Job: County treasurers manage property tax collection and oversee related financial matters.
Current officeholder: Sheila Reiner
City Councilor of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Salary: $30,000
Location: Albuquerque
Median local household income: $50,906
Job: The nine-member city council adopts local ordinances and legislation for municipal governance.
Current officeholders: 9 council members
President of the People’s Republic of China
Salary: $22,000
Location: Beijing
Average local salary: $17,700
Job: China’s president serves as party leader and commander in chief; term limits were removed in 2018.
Current officeholder: Xi Jinping
First Lady of the United States
Salary: $0 (unpaid position)
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Job: Though unpaid, the first lady often leads social initiatives, supports campaigns and hosts official events.
Current officeholder: Melania Trump