Secretary of State Salary Overview
The Secretary of State salary for the U.S. federal cabinet position is set by statute and tied to Executive Schedule Level I, which currently provides a base pay of $235,600 per year, with additional allowances for expenses and travel U.S. Office of Personnel Management. This salary reflects the role as head of the State Department and principal foreign affairs adviser to the President, with pay adjustments governed by federal pay systems and congressional action U.S. Department of State.
State-level Secretary of State salaries vary widely, ranging from about $60,000 in some smaller states to over $150,000 in large states such as California and New York, with exact figures determined by each state's legislature and budget Forbes Advisor. Many state positions also include a benefits package that may encompass health insurance, retirement contributions, and per diem for official travel.
Components of Secretary of State Compensation
Base Pay and Pay Bands
For the federal Secretary of State, base pay is derived from the Executive Schedule, with Level I currently at $235,600 annually, and this figure is subject to annual review and potential adjustment by Congress U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Federal pay is further supplemented by locality pay where applicable and standard government benefits including Thrift Savings Plan contributions and federal health insurance.
State-Level Pay Structures
State Secretary of State salaries are typically set by state law or civil service classification, with many states using a defined pay grade or salary range rather than a single fixed number Forbes Advisor. In states with larger populations and budgets, such as Texas and New York, the salary tends to be higher, while smaller states may offer a lower base but comparable benefits and perquisites.
Comparison and Context
Federal vs. State Secretary of State Pay
The federal Secretary of State salary is substantially higher than most state-level equivalents due to the national scope of the role, the size of the State Department budget, and the executive schedule pay scale, which is designed to attract senior leadership U.S. Department of State. By contrast, state salaries reflect each state's economic base and appropriations, leading to significant variation across jurisdictions.
How the Secretary of State Salary Ranks Among U.S. Government Roles
At the federal level, the Secretary of State salary places the position among the highest-paid cabinet roles, comparable to other Level I Executive Schedule positions such as the Attorney General and Secretary of Defense U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Within the broader federal workforce, this salary exceeds the median pay for senior executives and is aligned with other cabinet-level compensation structures.
State-level Secretary of State salaries generally rank in the mid-to-upper range for state government executives, with pay often benchmarked against other statewide elected officials such as attorneys general and auditors