Politics is rarely pursued for wealth; most politicians enter public service to lead and represent their communities. While salaries are not comparable to private sector billionaires, pay varies widely depending on factors like cost of living, governmental structure and local politics. Some leaders earn incomes close to the median for their region, while others command salaries that rival top executives or even heads of state in other countries.
This article surveys 51 prominent political positions around the world, organized roughly from the highest-paid offices to lower-paid roles. It highlights official salaries (reported in U.S. dollars where available), the location of the office, typical local incomes for comparison, the core responsibilities of each role and the current officeholder named at the time the original data was compiled. This is not an exhaustive list but offers a representative look at pay across national, regional and municipal positions. All figures are presented as reported by the cited sources 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. Sebastian Scheiner / AP Photo
Salary: $1,100,000, plus bonuses
Location: Singapore
Median local salary: $39,332
Role: As leader of the majority party in Singapore’s parliamentary system, the prime minister heads the cabinet and exercises executive authority.
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. Vincent Yu / AP Photo
Salary: $578,320
Location: Hong Kong, China
Median local salary: $25,696
Role: Created after the 1997 handover, the chief executive heads the Hong Kong government, appoints officials and manages relations that resemble the responsibilities of a head of state in practice.
Current officeholder: Carrie Lam
President of Switzerland
Swiss Federal President Ueli Maurer addresses the media in Vienna, Austria, in January 2019. Ronald Zak / AP Photo
Salary: $482,958
Location: Bern
Median local salary: $78,722
Role: The Swiss presidency rotates among Federal Council members and is primarily a primus inter pares position within a collective executive; it does not function as a singular head of state with unilateral authority.
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. Evan Vucci / AP Photo
Salary: $400,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Role: The U.S. president serves as head of state and chief executive, commander in chief of the armed forces, and carries broad powers subject to constitutional checks and balances. The term is four years and is determined by the Electoral College process.
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. Mark Metcalfe / AP Photos (pool photo)
Salary: $378,513
Location: Canberra
Median local salary: $34,325
Role: The prime minister leads the federal cabinet, directs government policy and is accountable to both Parliament and the Governor-General, who represents the 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. Geert Vanden Wijngaert / AP Photo
Salary: $330,396
Location: Vienna
Median local salary: $21,803
Role: As head of government, the chancellor chairs cabinet meetings and leads policy implementation while the president serves as head of state with more ceremonial duties.
Current officeholder: Sebastian Kurz
Prime Minister of New Zealand
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addresses the United Nations General Assembly Sept. 27, 2018. Frank Franklin II / AP Photo
Salary: $319,741
Location: Wellington
Median local income: $33,465
Role: The prime minister is the senior government minister who chairs cabinet meetings and advises the governor-general on behalf of the government.
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. Ivan Sekretarev / AP Photo
Salary: $302,000
Location: Moscow
Median local salary: $38,749
Role: The president of the Russian Federation is the country’s highest office, commanding the 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. Eric Risberg / AP Photo
Salary: $300,977
Location: San Francisco
Median local household income: $101,714
Role: The mayor oversees both city and county operations, approves or vetoes laws passed by the Board of Supervisors and manages municipal services for one of California’s major economic centers.
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. Salih Zeki Fazlioglu / AP Photo / Pool
Salary: $282,170
Location: Dublin
Median salary (country): $22,879
Role: The president serves a seven-year term, typically in a largely ceremonial capacity with limited constitutional powers.
Current officeholder: Michael D. Higgins
City Manager of Sacramento, California
The city manager runs Sacramento, the capital city of California, and earns a larger salary than many heads of state. City of Sacramento
Salary: $282,058
Location: Sacramento
Median local household income: $67,902
Role: Appointed by the mayor, the city manager oversees daily operations, implements council policies and manages municipal departments for a city of about half a million residents.
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., Feb. 6, 2019. Jose Luis Magana / AP Photo
Salary: $280,000
Location: Houston
Median local household income: $63,802
Role: The police chief leads the department responsible for law enforcement across Houston and surrounding areas and 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. Getty Images
Salary: $275,000
Location: Houston
Median local household income: $63,802
Role: The city attorney oversees legal matters for the municipality, handling litigation, contracts and legal advice for city departments.
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. Stephan Savoia / AP Photo
Salary: $267,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Role: As the highest-ranking federal judge, the chief justice presides over the Supreme Court, manages court business and assigns opinion writing when in the majority. The post is a lifetime appointment unless the justice retires, dies or is removed from office.
Current officeholder: 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. Charles Krupa / AP Photo
Salary: $262,737
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Median local household income: $86,451
Role: The Canadian prime minister is head of government, directs federal policy and is the practical leader of the executive branch while the monarch remains the ceremonial head of state.
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. Craig Ruttle / AP Photo
Salary: $258,750
Location: New York City
Median local household income: $57,782
Role: The mayor heads the executive branch of the city government, oversees public agencies and municipal services and manages one of the largest city budgets in the United States.
Current officeholder: Bill de Blasio
City Manager of Worcester, Massachusetts
Edward M. Augustus Jr., speaking here on C-Span, runs the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. C-Span
Salary: $248,269
Location: Worcester
Median local household income: $69,412
Role: The city manager acts as policy administrator and public liaison, overseeing budgets, public reporting and city services.
Current officeholder: Edward M. Augustus Jr.
Mayor of Los Angeles
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti arrives at the 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Jordan Strauss / Invision / AP Photo
Salary: $248,141
Location: Los Angeles
Median local household income: $65,006
Role: The mayor serves as chief executive, with authority to appoint and remove officials, approve or veto legislation and propose the annual city 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. Michael Sohn / AP Photo
Salary: $244,000
Location: Berlin
Median local household income: $37,906
Role: The chancellor is Germany’s head of government and the principal executive authority, while the president performs more ceremonial duties.
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. Joel Kowsky / NASA via AP
Salary: $243,500
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Role: The vice president succeeds the president if necessary, advises the president and serves as president of the Senate with a tie-breaking vote.
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. Steven Senne / AP Photo
Salary: $223,500
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Role: The speaker leads the House majority, manages legislative procedures and is second in the presidential line of succession 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. Jeff Chiu / AP Photo (Pool)
Salary: $220,600
Location: San Francisco
Median local household income: $101,714
Role: The chief judge oversees administrative functions of the circuit, presides over sessions and may carry a reduced caseload to balance managerial duties.
Current officeholder: 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. Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP Photo
Salary: $210,700
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Role: The secretary of state, appointed by the president, leads foreign policy and manages the State Department.
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. Andrew Harnik / AP Photo
Salary: $210,700
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Role: The attorney general is the federal government’s chief lawyer and heads the Department of Justice, advising the president on legal matters and overseeing federal prosecutions and legal policy.
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. Jung Yeon-je / AP Photo
Salary: $210,000
Location: Seoul
Median salary (country): $22,176
Role: The president serves as head of state, head of government and commander in chief. The term is five years with no immediate re-election 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. City of Houston
Salary: $205,010
Location: Houston
Median local household income: $63,802
Role: The finance director supervises the city’s fiscal policies, financial reporting and budget monitoring across departments.
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. Christophe Ena / AP Photo
Salary: $204,749
Location: Paris
Median local household income: $45,826
Role: The president of France serves a five-year term, is directly elected by voters and holds significant executive powers in the Fifth Republic’s semi-presidential system.
Current officeholder: Emmanuel Macron
Prime Minister of Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addresses the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 23, 2019. Markus Schreiber / AP Photo
Salary: $202,700
Location: Tokyo
Median local household income: $46,471
Role: The prime minister is head of government, leads the cabinet and is appointed under Japan’s constitutional framework, serving as the chief executive of the national government.
Current officeholder: Shinzo Abe
Governor of California
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks about the wildfires that devastated his state, on Jan. 24, 2019. Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo
Salary: $201,680
Location: Sacramento, California
Median local household income: $67,902
Role: The governor manages the state budget, implements laws and administers state programs over a four-year term in the nation’s most populous state.
Current officeholder: Gavin Newsom
Director of Public Works, Sacramento, California
Sacramento, the capital city of California, has a population of 501,000. Getty Images
Salary: $192,878
Location: Sacramento
Median local household income: $67,902
Role: The public works director oversees transportation, recycling and parking operations for the city.
Current officeholder: Hector Barron
Governor of New York
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo watches as a large crane arrives at the Tappan Zee Bridge near Nyack, N.Y., in 2014. Seth Wenig / AP Photo
Salary: $179,000
Location: Albany, New York
Median local household income: $68,681
Role: The governor serves as head of state for the state, oversees the state’s National Guard and often emerges as a national political figure.
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. J. Scott Applewhite / AP Photo
Salary: $174,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Role: Senators serve six-year terms, confirm appointments, ratify treaties and draft legislation in the federal legislative branch.
Current officeholders: 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, Nov. 20, 2018. Carolyn Kaster / AP Photo
Salary: $174,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Role: Members of the House of Representatives are elected to two-year terms and are responsible for introducing and passing federal legislation.
Current officeholders: 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. Francisco Seco / AP Photo
Salary: $172,865
Location: London
Median local salary: $39,068
Role: The UK prime minister is head of government and directs executive policy and the legislative agenda; the monarch formally appoints the PM.
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. Thanassis Stavrakis / AP Photo
Salary: $170,976
Location: Athens
Median salary (country): $8,630
Role: The president of Greece performs largely ceremonial duties and serves as commander in chief, representing the state at official functions.
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. Getty Images
Salary: $147,979
Location: Des Moines
Median local household income: $68,649
Role: The CIO manages state IT infrastructure, oversees technology projects and ensures systems support for state agencies.
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. Getty Images
Salary: $142,757
Location: Worcester
Median local household income: $69,412
Role: The city clerk maintains official records—vital records, ordinances and council agendas—and manages administrative duties for municipal government.
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. Matt Marton / AP Photo
Salary: $133,545
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Median local household income: $68,403
Role: The city clerk manages municipal records, public documents, council legislation and licensing functions for the city.
Current officeholder: Anna Valencia
Governor of Iowa
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers her inaugural address in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 18, 2018. Charlie Neibergall / AP Photo
Salary: $130,000
Location: Des Moines
Median local household income: $68,649
Role: The governor enforces state laws, can veto or sign legislation and leads the executive branch of state government.
Current officeholder: Kim Reynolds
Mayor of Minneapolis
Current Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey oversees a city of 422,000 people. Twitter
Salary: $126,528
Location: Minneapolis
Median local household income: $68,388
Role: The mayor appoints officials, oversees city departments and manages the municipal budget for the city.
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. Morgan Lee / AP Photo
Salary: $125,008
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Median local household income: $50,906
Role: The mayor leads the executive branch, proposes the annual budget and shares municipal governance with the city council.
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. Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo
Salary: $123,077
Location: Sacramento
Median local household income: $67,902
Role: Under Sacramento’s council-manager system, the mayor is a member of the nine-person council and collaborates with the city manager on governance and policy.
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. Alastair Grant / AP Photo
Salary: $99,349
Location: Budapest
Median salary (country): $6,168
Role: The prime minister heads government, selects cabinet ministers and directs policy across ministries.
Current officeholder: Viktor Orbán
City Councilmember, Minneapolis
The city of Minneapolis is represented by 13 council members. Getty Images
Salary: $98,696
Location: Minneapolis
Median local household income: $68,388
Role: City councilmembers form the city’s legislative body, overseeing budgets, ordinances and local policy.
Current officeholders: 13 councilmembers
Member of European Parliament
European Parliament Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium attends a debate on the future of Europe at the Parliament in Strasbourg, Feb. 12, 2019. Jean-Francois Badias / AP Photo
Salary: $95,226
Location: Strasbourg, France (European Parliament)
Median local salary: $47,613
Role: Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are elected representatives who debate and legislate at the EU level on matters affecting member states.
Current officeholders: 751 members
County Commissioner, El Paso County, Colorado
Each member of the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners earns $87,300. El Paso County Board of County Commissioners
Salary: $87,300
Location: El Paso County, Colorado
Median local household income: $65,370
Role: Commissioners serve on a five-member board that sets county policy, oversees budgets and manages administrative affairs.
Current officeholders: Holly Williams, Mark Waller, Stan VanderWerf, Longinos Gonzalez Jr., Cami Bremer
President of India
Ram Nath Kovind waves to media upon arrival at the airport in New Delhi, India, in 2017. Tsering Topgyal / AP Photo
Salary: $84,668
Location: New Delhi
Average per capita income (country): $1,127
Role: The president of India holds constitutional executive and legislative powers and formally appoints the prime minister and other key officials, often acting on the advice of the government.
Current officeholder: Ram Nath Kovind
County Treasurer, Mesa County, Colorado
Sheila Reiner, County Treasurer of Mesa County, earns $72,500 a year. Mesa County, Colorado
Salary: $72,500
Location: Mesa County, Colorado
Median local household income: $52,742
Role: The county treasurer manages county funds, tax collection and financial administration for the local government.
Current officeholder: Sheila Reiner
City Councilor of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Each of Albuquerque’s nine city councilors earn $30,000 per two-year term. Albuquerque City Council
Salary: $30,000
Location: Albuquerque
Median local household income: $50,906
Role: The nine-member council acts as the city’s legislative authority, adopting ordinances and setting local policy.
Current officeholders: Nine council members
President of the People’s Republic of China
Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sept. 28, 2015. Mary Altaffer / AP Photo
Salary: $22,000
Location: Beijing
Average local salary: $17,700
Role: The president is also the party leader and commander in chief of the armed forces. Constitutional changes in recent years altered term limits and consolidated powers at the top of the state and party structure.
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. J. Scott Applewhite / AP Photo
Salary: $0 (unpaid)
Location: Washington, D.C.
Median local household income: $75,506
Role: Although unpaid, the first lady often plays an influential public role coordinating social causes, official events and supporting the administration’s public-facing initiatives.
Current officeholder: Melania Trump