Love it or hate it, the United States government is a major player in our economy. With 2.7 million employees on its payroll, the U.S. federal government is the single largest employer in the world while over 20 million people, or about 11 percent of the total labor force, are employed by the public sector at the local, state, or federal levels.
Using the 2016 Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll, we discovered which states had the best- and worst-paid state and local government employees (federal employees were not surveyed). The survey provides the total amount of money paid out to public employees in March 2016. Dividing the total March Payroll by the number of full-time public employees yields the average monthly salary.
For each state, we've included the industries within state and local employment that rank best and worst for monthly pay. The education sector revealed a disparity: higher education came in highest across 36 states while elementary and secondary school employees were the worst paid in forty-one states.
We begin our list with the states with the lowest average monthly salary for public employees and work our way to the state where state and local employees receive the highest pay.
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Monthly average salary for all Mississippi state and local employees: $3,489
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $5,256
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,026
Monthly average salary for all Arkansas state and local employees: $3,561
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $7,512
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,104
Monthly average salary for all West Virginia state and local employees: $3,603
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $6,432
Lowest paid industry: Parks and Recreation with an average monthly salary of $2,556
Monthly average salary for all Oklahoma state and local employees: $3,649
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $7,176
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,272
Monthly average salary for all Missouri state and local employees: $3,746
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $6,796
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,394
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Monthly average salary for all Kentucky state and local employees: $3,810
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $8,369
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,076
Monthly average salary for all Tennessee state and local employees: $3,828
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $6,628
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,351
Monthly average salary for all South Dakota state and local employees: $3,850
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $6,392
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,545
Monthly average salary for all Louisiana state and local employees: $3,857
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $7,265
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,031
Monthly average salary for all Georgia state and local employees: $3,862
Highest paid industry: Water Transport and Terminals with an average monthly salary of $7,276
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,393
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Monthly average salary for all Alabama state and local employees: $3,897
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $7,570
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,006
Monthly average salary for all South Carolina state and local employees: $3,917
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $7,233
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,524
Monthly average salary for all Kansas state and local employees: $3,951
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $6,862
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,439
Monthly average salary for all Indiana state and local employees: $3,991
Highest paid industry: Gas Supply with an average monthly salary of $6,182
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,737
Monthly average salary for all Idaho state and local employees: $4,019
Highest paid industry: Education - Other with an average monthly salary of $6,412
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,119
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Monthly average salary for all Maine state and local employees: $4,058
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $6,174
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,971
Monthly average salary for all New Mexico state and local employees: $4,108
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $8,536
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,596
Monthly average salary for all North Carolina state and local employees: $4,151
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $7,100
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,449
Monthly average salary for all Montana state and local employees: $4,202
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $6,872
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,750
Monthly average salary for all Florida state and local employees: $4,249
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $9,190
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,825
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Monthly average salary for all Texas state and local employees: $4,252
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $9,187
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,639
Monthly average salary for all Nebraska state and local employees: $4,418
Highest paid industry: Electric Power with an average monthly salary of $7,638
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,887
Monthly average salary for all Virginia state and local employees: $4,526
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $8,091
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,785
Monthly average salary for all North Dakota state and local employees: $4,532
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $7,579
Lowest paid industry: Hospitals with an average monthly salary of $3,003
Monthly average salary for all Arizona state and local employees: $4,536
Highest paid industry: Electric Power with an average monthly salary of $8,679
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,614
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Monthly average salary for all Ohio state and local employees: $4,537
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $7,636
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $2,848
Monthly average salary for all Utah state and local employees: $4,542
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $9,434
Lowest paid industry: State liquor stores with an average monthly salary of $2,627
Monthly average salary for all Vermont state and local employees: $4,552
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $8,787
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,412
Monthly average salary for all New Hampshire state and local employees: $4,641
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $8,241
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,307
Monthly average salary for all Wyoming state and local employees: $4,679
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $6,304
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,114
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Monthly average salary for all Wisconsin state and local employees: $4,789
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $7,202
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,305
Monthly average salary for all Delaware state and local employees: $4,802
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $8,496
Lowest paid industry: Parks and Recreation with an average monthly salary of $3,113
Monthly average salary for all Iowa state and local employees: $4,856
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $8,934
Lowest paid industry: Water Transport and Terminals with an average monthly salary of $275
Monthly average salary for all Hawaii state and local employees: $4,894
Highest paid industry: Police Protection - Persons with Power of Arrest with an average monthly salary of $7,854
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,430
Monthly average salary for all Pennsylvania state and local employees: $4,965
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $8,526
Lowest paid industry: State liquor stores with an average monthly salary of $3,562
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Monthly average salary for all Colorado state and local employees: $5,004
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $9,076
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,162
Monthly average salary for all Michigan state and local employees: $5,064
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $9,347
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,155
Monthly average salary for all Oregon state and local employees: $5,091
Highest paid industry: Fire Protection - Firefighters with an average monthly salary of $8,060
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,412
Monthly average salary for all Minnesota state and local employees: $5,136
Highest paid industry: Water Transport and Terminals with an average monthly salary of $7,738
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,392
Monthly average salary for all Nevada state and local employees: $5,313
Highest paid industry: Fire Protection - Firefighters with an average monthly salary of $9,217
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,756
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Monthly average salary for all Illinois state and local employees: $5,344
Highest paid industry: Fire Protection - Other with an average monthly salary of $8,342
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,432
Monthly average salary for all Maryland state and local employees: $5,432
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $7,663
Lowest paid industry: Solid Waste Management with an average monthly salary of $3,812
Monthly average salary for all Massachusetts state and local employees: $5,521
Highest paid industry: Police Protection - Persons with Power of Arrest with an average monthly salary of $8,246
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,763
Monthly average salary for all Rhode Island state and local employees: $5,601
Highest paid industry: Corrections with an average monthly salary of $7,101
Lowest paid industry: Water Transport and Terminals with an average monthly salary of $3,091
Monthly average salary for all Alaska state and local employees: $5,689
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $8,780
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,600
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Monthly average salary for all Connecticut state and local employees: $5,736
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $8,836
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,923
Monthly average salary for all Washington state and local employees: $5,908
Highest paid industry: Fire Protection - Firefighters with an average monthly salary of $8,744
Lowest paid industry: Public Welfare with an average monthly salary of $4,666
Monthly average salary for all New York state and local employees: $6,035
Highest paid industry: Electric Power with an average monthly salary of $8,117
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $3,758
Monthly average salary for all New Jersey state and local employees: $6,135
Highest paid industry: Education - Higher Education Instructional with an average monthly salary of $10,491
Lowest paid industry: Air Transportation with an average monthly salary of $3,865
Monthly average salary for all California state and local employees: $6,697
Highest paid industry: Fire Protection - Firefighters with an average monthly salary of $10,853
Lowest paid industry: Education - Elementary and Secondary Other with an average monthly salary of $4,138
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Monthly average salary for all District of Columbia state and local employees: $7,053
Highest paid industry: Financial Administration with an average monthly salary of $8,276
Lowest paid industry: Solid Waste Management with an average monthly salary of $5,151
