Top State Officials in Pennsylvania Benefit from Automatic Pay Raise Yet Again

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pay raises for PA State Officials

According to a Pennsylvania law, automatic pay raises will be granted to state officials, including lawmakers, judges, and top executive branch officials in 2024.

Who will benefit from the pay raises?

More than 1,300 state officials, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, 253 lawmakers, and seven state Supreme Court justices will receive a pay raise of 3.5%. This increase is determined by the latest year-over-year increase in consumer prices for mid-Atlantic urban areas, in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How does this compare to average Pennsylvanian wages?

The proposed pay raise outpaces the average increase in wages for Pennsylvanians, which was 2% through the middle of 2023, according to federal data on private sector wages.

When will the pay raise take effect?

The higher salaries, as mandated by a 1995 law, will be effective starting Jan. 1 for the executive and judicial branches, and Dec. 1 for lawmakers.

Who are some top officials receiving a pay raise?

Gov. Shapiro’s salary will rise to $237,679. Other top officials like Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Treasurer Stacy Garrity, Auditor General Tim DeFoor and Attorney General Michelle Henry will each receive a salary increase, bringing their total remuneration just shy of $200,000. Shapiro’s Cabinet members will also benefit from this increase.

What about the Judicial Officeholders?

Chief Justice Debra Todd will see her salary rise to $260,733, and the other high court justices will see their salaries rise to $253,360. The pay raises will also extend to 1,000 other appellate, county, and magisterial district judges.

How about the Pennsylvania lawmakers?

The two highest-paid lawmakers — Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward and House Speaker Joanna McClinton — will see their salaries rise to $166,132. A rank-and-file lawmaker’s salary will increase to $106,422.

What was the previous increase like?

The salary increase that took effect this year was the largest inflationary increase since the 1995 law, delivering a 7.8% boost. Private sector wages increased by about half as much in Pennsylvania, according to government data.

How does this affect the average wage in Pennsylvania?

Even though the increase in government salaries has been substantial, the average wage in Pennsylvania has increased more than the region’s inflation indicator, the mid-Atlantic consumer price index. Since 1995, the average wage has risen 140%. The inflationary boosts as a result of the 1995 law have increased salaries by about 91%.

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