Gov. Maura Healey ordered an 11 percent pay raise for Massachusetts lawmakers, according to a letter sent Treasurer Deborah Goldberg on Tuesday.
In the letter, Healey writes that the administration used the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and determined that Massachusetts’ median household income for 2023-2024 increased by 11.39% .
As a result, lawmakers will see their base pay increase by $8,391, from $73,655 to $82,046, according to House of State news service.
The lawmaker’s base pay increase comes after state officials announced that Healey and other statewide constitutional officers would receive a 10% salary increase on January 1sta change that, under state law, results in increases to the various leadership and travel allowances lawmakers collect in addition to their base salary, according to The Boston Globe.
In addition to lawmakers getting a raise in their base pay, the top leadership in the legislature will see additional raises that exceed their base pay, according to the Globe.
House Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen E. Spilka should make $119,632, according to the Globe.
The annual stipends lawmakers receive for expenses and travel, which currently range from $20,468 to $27,291, will now range from $22,431 to $29,908, according to the Globe. Stipends vary depending on how far legislators live from the State House.
The Globe reports that Mariano and Spilka’s base salary will increase by $20,821, bringing their total pay to $224,107 annually.
The budget chiefs of both chambers will receive a stipend of $97,200, while the the Democratic and Republican floor leaders will top $89,723, the Globe reports. Committee chairs and other leaders are also expected to see an increase in bonus pay, according to the Globe.
Healey’s annual salary will increase to $243,493, while his total compensation will be reaching $308,493 when the governor’s annual housing allowance is included, according to the Globe. Goldberg will receive a $22,900 raise that will increase his salary at $261,694 a year, making his salary the highest of any elected official in the state of Massachusetts and among the highest in the country for its positionaccording to The Globe.
Former Gov. Charlie Baker used the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey two years ago to determine wage increases. The Globe reports, however, that this year’s increase is higher than what Baker proposed in years past: Increase of 4.4%. to the base salary of legislators from 2023, 6.5% for 2021, 5.9% for 2019 and 4.2% for 2017.