Washington’s governor, attorney general, and state lawmakers received salary increases on July 1 under a compensation schedule approved by the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials, an independent panel created by voters in 1987 to determine pay for elected officials.
The commission approved a two-year salary schedule in 2025 that includes annual cost-of-living adjustments for members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches, along with additional increases for selected offices.
Gov. Bob Ferguson and Attorney General Nick Brown each received a 7% salary increase this year, matching the increase they received in 2025. Ferguson’s annual salary is now $234,275, about $30,000 higher than when he took office in January 2025.
State lawmakers also received a 7% increase this year, following a 6% raise in 2025. Legislative salaries now stand at $72,494 annually, an increase of about $10,000 over the past two years. Leaders of the four legislative caucuses continue to receive additional stipends for their leadership responsibilities.
Washington’s other statewide executive officials, including the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, superintendent of public instruction, insurance commissioner, treasurer, and commissioner of public lands, received only the scheduled cost-of-living adjustments.
During the commission’s deliberations, supporters of higher legislative salaries argued that compensation should better reflect the workload and responsibilities of serving in office. Denny Heck said legislative responsibilities extend beyond the state’s constitutional description of a part-time legislature. Sen. Yasmin Trudeau also argued that competitive salaries can help attract candidates from a broader range of backgrounds, including working parents, small business owners, and younger adults.
The commission is expected to begin reviewing salary recommendations for 2027 and 2028 when it meets later this year.
