Legislators

Summary

Legislators often give speeches.

Quick Facts: Legislators
2010 Median Pay	$19,260 per year
Entry-Level Education	Bachelor’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	1 to 5 years
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	67,700
Job Outlook, 2010-20	0% (Little or no change)
Employment Change, 2010-20	200

What Legislators Do

Legislators are elected officials who develop laws for the federal government, or for local or state governments.

Work Environment

The working conditions of legislators vary by position and level of government. While some legislators work only a few hours a week, others work long hours and have stressful schedules. Some travel frequently for work.

How to Become a Legislator

Although most legislative positions have minimum age, residency, and citizenship requirements, there is no established education or training requirement to become a legislator. However, most candidates have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Most legislators must campaign to be elected.

Pay

The median annual wage of legislators was $19,260 in May 2010. Salaries vary based on position, level of government, and full- or part-time status.

Job Outlook

Employment of legislators will experience little or no change from 2010 to 2020. The number of legislators in current governments rarely changes, and few new governments are likely to form. Most positions are highly competitive and require candidates to campaign for the job.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of legislators with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about legislators by contacting these additional resources.

What Legislators Do

Legislators must stay current on policies and issues affecting their constituents.

Legislators are elected officials who develop laws for the federal government, or for local or state governments. 

Duties

Legislators typically do the following:

• Develop bills—drafts of laws that they want their fellow legislators to approve
• Draft or approve policies, regulations, budgets, and programs
• Debate and analyze the impact of proposed laws
• Vote on bills and on motions to enact them into law
• Collaborate and negotiate with other legislators to resolve differences and reach agreements
• Seek funding for projects and programs in their district
• Appoint nominees to leadership posts or approve appointments by the chief executive
• Serve on committees, panels, and study groups for special policy issues
• Listen to and address the concerns of people they represent
• Invite and listen to testimony from people who are concerned about an issue or likely to be affected by a law if it is passed

Legislators are members of the legislative branch of government, which is responsible for making new laws and changing existing laws. Legislators include members of the U.S. Congress; state senators and representatives; and city, county, and township commissioners and council members. For more information about government officials in the executive branch, including the President of the United States, state governors, and mayors, see the profile on top executives.

Legislators govern by proposing bills, holding votes, and passing laws. Most legislators serve on committees that oversee different areas of government policy. Legislators are expected to develop expertise in those areas, as well as keep up with current local, national, and international events. Most bills are proposed and developed in committees. To make informed decisions, legislators also hear testimonies from private citizens, political leaders, and interest groups. 

The work of legislators relies on meeting with, listening to, and forming relationships with others. Legislators confer with and debate colleagues about the merits of proposed laws and determine their colleagues’ level of support. In doing so, legislators must negotiate a compromise among different interest groups and review and respond to the concerns of the people they represent or the general public. 

Frequent public appearances at community and social events are customary for legislators. 

Legislators work in each level of government:

Federal legislators are members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. There are 541 U.S. Senators and Representatives. U.S. legislators work to represent the interests of the people in their districts, such as encouraging investment and economic development in their jurisdiction, while also considering the needs of the entire nation. 

State legislators are senators and representatives in state governments. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, there are 7,382 state legislators, ranging from 49 in Nebraska to 424 in New Hampshire. 

Local legislators include city, county, town, and township commissioners and council members. About 9 out of 10 legislators work in local government. Many small communities have legislators who are volunteers and receive no salary. These workers are not included in the employment or salary numbers in this profile.

Work Environment

Legislators work in federal, state, and local governments.

Legislators held about 67,700 jobs in 2010. The working conditions of legislators vary by position and level of government. Although some legislators work only a few hours a week, others work long hours and have stressful schedules. State and federal legislators travel often and may need to live away from home while the legislature is in session. Many legislators spend a considerable amount of time meeting with people they represent and attending social functions in addition to their scheduled work hours. 

Work Schedules

The work schedules of legislators vary with the size and budget of the governmental unit. Time spent at work ranges from meeting once a month for a local council member to full time with long hours for a U.S. Senator. U.S. Senators and Representatives and legislators in large local jurisdictions usually work full time, year round, as do county and city managers.   

Members of Congress frequently travel between Washington, D.C., and their home districts. When Congress is not in session, legislators are expected to spend much of their time meeting with the people they represent. 

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, legislators in 10 state governments hold full-time positions. Most part-time legislators work full time while the legislature is in session and part time when not in session. Some continue to work part time in the occupation they held before they were elected. State legislators often have to live away from home while the legislature is in session to be present in the state capitol.

How to Become a Legislator

Most legislators must campaign for their positions.

Although most legislative positions have minimum age, residency, and citizenship requirements, there is no established education or training requirement to become a legislator. For most positions, however, candidates need a bachelor’s degree or higher to be competitive in elections. Successful candidates come from a variety of occupations, but many have experience in politics or management positions.

Because legislators are elected, most candidates must campaign for a position. While candidates in some local elections may run unopposed, campaigning for positions in federal, state, and large local governments often requires long hours, persistence, and a significant amount of money. Candidates must, therefore, raise funds, make frequent public appearances, and meet with local voters. 

Education

Although there is no educational requirement to become a legislator, most candidates hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Graduate degrees in law and business are also common, particularly in federal and state offices. 

A master’s degree in public administration, including courses such as public financial management and legal issues in public administration, can be helpful.   

Work Experience

Work experience is important for legislators. Candidates for legislative office often must demonstrate that they can make good decisions and lead effectively. Many candidates have experience or a strong record of accomplishment working in law, management, business, education, or politics. Some have experience as members of community boards or commissions. Others become well-known for their work with charities, political action groups, political campaigns, or with religious or social organizations. 

Many people enter politics on a local level and gain experience there before seeking state office. Many people serve in state legislatures before running for Congress.

Important Qualities

Decision-making skills. Legislators must consider the implications of legislation and decide which positions to support. They must weigh the needs of private citizens, government, and society, and determine which bills to pass. 

Interpersonal skills. Legislators use interpersonal skills both to be elected to their position and to be effective at their job. It is important for legislators to build relationships with colleagues, public officials, organization leaders, and the people they represent. They often meet new people and must be able to communicate effectively with others. 

Leadership skills. Legislators make the laws that govern our society. Legislators need leadership skills to organize people effectively and enlist others—both colleagues and the people they represent—in support of policies. 

Negotiating skills. Legislators often work with people with opposing viewpoints and must find ways to negotiate compromises to accomplish tasks. For example, they may have to be flexible on one issue to gain the support of their colleagues on another issue. 

Problem-solving skills. Legislators must assess issues and draft legislation that addresses the needs and problems of the people they represent, government, and society. 

Speaking skills. Speaking skills are essential for legislators. They must be able to explain their views when speaking with colleagues and the people they represent. Legislators often give speeches, debate ideas, and attempt to persuade others.

Pay

The median annual wage of legislators was $19,260 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,790, and the top 10 percent earned more than $84,320.

Salaries vary based on position, level of government, and full- or part-time status. Salaries range from very little for part-time positions to $174,000 a year for most members of the U.S. Congress. A few members earn more, including the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, who earns $223,500 per year. 

For members of state legislatures, salaries range from $100 per year to more than $100,000 per year. According to the National Council of State Legislators, legislators who worked full time earned an average of $68,599, and those who worked part time earned an average of $15,984. 

The work schedules of legislators vary with the size and budget of the governmental unit. Time spent at work ranges from meeting once a month for a local council member to full time with long hours for a U.S. Senator. U.S. Senators and Representatives and legislators in large local jurisdictions usually work full time, year round, as do many county and city managers.

Job Outlook

Employment of legislators will experience little or no change from 2010 to 2020. The number of legislators in current governments rarely changes, and few new governments are likely to form. Most positions are competitive and require candidates to campaign for the job. 

Job Prospects

Because legislators are elected, many opportunities exist for newcomers to enter the occupation. The level of competition varies by place and size of government. 

Positions at the federal and state level, as well as in some large municipalities, are very competitive. 

There will be more opportunities for potential legislators in lower paying jobs in small governments. Part-time positions are usually less competitive. Turnover can be high, and many positions have term limits; however, in some positions without term limits, it can difficult to unseat an incumbent (the person who has the job). 

Contacts for More Information

For more information about the U.S. Congress, visit

U.S. Senate

U.S. House of Representatives

For more information about state legislatures, visit

National Conference of State Legislatures