In some states, being the governor doesn't automatically make you a top earner . There's a wide range in what state governors earn each year, from $70,000 in Maine to $253,870 in Pennsylvania. Across all 50 states, governors earn an average official annual salary of $171,479 and are subject to federal and state income taxes, except in states without them, such as Florida or Texas. By comparison, the top 1% of US earners each make at least $731,492 a year, placing the average governor below the ultrarich but also well above the average US wage of $69,846 in 2024, according to the Social Security Administration . While governors across all 50 states are generally allowed to earn money beyond their state salary through investments, book deals, and other sources, the income they're permitted to take in is closely regulated, and rules vary by state.…