Salaryschedule2005

2005-06 Salary Schedule

The 2005-06 salary schedule was adopted at the Commission's May 19, 2005 meeting. After adoption, it was filed with the Secretary of State and took effect 90 days later.

Position	Salary Effective 9/1/05	Salary Effective 9/1/06
Executive Branch
Governor	148,035	150,995
Lieutenant Governor	77,382	78,930
Secretary of State	103,736	105,811
Treasurer	103,736	105,811
Auditor	103,735	105,811
Attorney General	134,577	137,268
Supt. of Public Instruction	105,861	107,978
Com. of Public Lands	105,861	107,978
Insurance Commissioner	103,736	105,811
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court Justices	141,394	145,636
Court of Appeals Judges	134,598	138,636
Superior Court Judges	128,143	131,988
District Court Judges	122,012	125,672
Legislative Branch
Legislators*	35,254	36,311
Speaker of the House	43,254	44,311
Senate Majority Leader	43,254	44,311
House Minority Leader	39,254	40,311
Senate Minority Leader	39,254	40,311

For all positions in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of government, the Commission granted a 2% COLA for 2005 and 2006.

For positions in the Judiciary, the Commission granted an additional increase of 1% each year to begin to bring those positions in line with the Federal Bench.

For positions in the Legislative branch, the Commission granted an additional 1% each year to bring them closer in alignment with positions in the state's Exempt Management Service.

*The annual stipend of $8,000 and $4,000 for legislative leadership duties is added to "base" legislator pay.

The additional 1% per year for the Judiciary and Legislators, is in line with the recommendations made to the Commission by Fred Owen, Owen-Pottier, Inc., in his point factor evaluation of the judicial and legislative positions in 2004. The study may be down-loaded from the Commission's Home page.

Notes:

The salaries of Superior Court judges are paid 50/50 by the state and the county in which the court is located. The salaries of District Court judges are paid 100% by the county in which the court is located. All other elected officials' salaries are funded by the state.
The Commission does not set the salaries of the municipal judges. Those salaries are set by the municipality in which the court is located.

The Commission's philosophy is that the best way to have a sound salary structure for the state's elected officials is to review salaries regularly and make small increases on a consistent basis.

Background on Salary Decisions

Since 1987 when the Commission assumed the responsibility for setting the salaries of the elected officials, their salaries have not increased at a rate greater than general inflation measured by the Seattle/Tacoma Consumer Price Index.

In six consecutive years (1993 through 1998) most elected officials' salaries were frozen. The freeze from 1993 through 1998 resulted in the 1999 Commission having to make relatively large catch-up increases to reflect salary increases granted to state employees during that period and to reflect wage loss due to inflationary factors.

Since 1999, the Commission's philosophy has been that the best way to have a sound salary structure for the elected officials is to review the salaries regularly and to make small increases on a consistent basis.

Some citizens believe that the state's elected officials are overpaid. This may, in part, be due to the fact that the salaries of other public officials in the state are rarely in the news, making it difficult for the public to compare those salaries.

The Commission recognizes that it is important to keep state elected officials' salaries in line with public officials' salaries in the state.

Many public employees such as officials of colleges and universities, port districts, school districts, and some state agency directors are paid considerably more than Executive Branch elected officials. Some state departments are headed by an elected official who has subordinates that are paid more than the elected official. In addition, some county and city officials in the state are paid more than Executive Branch elected officials.
Many people believe that our legislature is a part-time, citizen legislature requiring them to be in Olympia for a few months each year. However, the reality is that being a legislator is a year-around job that in Washington State is estimated to take approximately 70% of an individual's time. Legislators have testified before the Commission that it has become more and more difficult to find employers who are willing to hire them because of the amount of time required to perform their job as a legislator. The Commission has also heard that only the financially secure are able to serve.
The Commission’s greatest responsibility, as well as the decision involving the largest number of officials and total dollars, may be to maintain adequate salaries to attract and retain competent judges in all jurisdictions. Data and testimony presented to the Commission indicates not only that judges earn less than a large percentage of private-sector attorneys from whose ranks most of them come, as well as less than some public sector attorneys. And in recent years a number of experienced judges have left the bench to work in private arbitration and mediation firms where they can make much more money. Although private sector compensation levels are not practical, the Commission’s commitment to consistent, small increases helps maintain relative salary levels and encourages experienced judges to remain in public service. Washington’s judicial system has a reputation for integrity, and realistic salaries are one factor helping to maintain that integrity. The 2005 Commission heard persuasive testimony from the Judiciary as well as the findings of a consultant report that the most appropriate bench mark for the state's judiciary is the Federal bench.

Each volunteer, citizen salary commissioner puts in many hours of service to reach thoughtful, non-political conclusions that serve the public by maintaining a strong Washington State government and judicial system.

Salary Schedules from 1987 through 2006

View the salaries of the elected officials from 1987 when the Commission first began setting the elected officials' salaries through its work in 2005.

Salary Schedules -- 1987 through 2006

Salary Commissions in Other States

Washington is one of 20 states that has a compensation commission to set elected officials' salaries. In 10 states, the recommendations of the commissions are advisory to the Governor and/or the Legislature. In nine states, the recommendations become law unless the Legislature modifies or rejects them. Only in Washington does the salary schedule become law without input or review by either the Governor or the Legislature. Only Washington's voters, through the referendum process, can overturn the Commission's work.

Benefits Received by the Elected Officials

The state's elected officials receive many of the same benefits provided to state employees such as participation in a retirement system, health care and insurance coverage. The elected officials are also eligible for optional life insurance coverage and voluntary programs such as deferred compensation and dependent care.

The Salary Commission has no jurisdiction for any benefits the elected officials may receive or for which they are eligible.