Pennsylvania’s Governor Set to Become the Highest-Paid in the Nation
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is slated to become the highest-paid governor in the U.S. starting in January, with an annual salary of $253,870, following a 3.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment, as reported by Local 21 News.
Shapiro, who took office in 2023 after his tenure as federal attorney general from 2017 to 2023, will reportedly earn $245,760 in 2025 according to the state budget summary.
Currently, his salary stands at $250,000, putting him just behind New York Governor Kathy Hochul, at least until 2026.
In response, the Pennsylvania Republican Party expressed concern, stating that Shapiro’s impending status as the highest-paid governor comes at a time when the state is “struggling.”
The party’s statement highlighted, “Governor Josh Shapiro is now poised to earn more than any other governor in the nation with a salary of $253,870 in 2026 and cost taxpayers a dime more.”
The GOP further criticized Shapiro, suggesting that his recent spending on home upgrades with taxpayer funds, alongside his focus on presidential ambitions, reflects poorly on his leadership, saying, “Pennsylvanians deserve leadership that puts our priorities first, not someone whose resume is based on a paycheck.”
In a related note, Breitbart News mentioned in April that Shapiro had hinted at a possible run for the presidency in 2028.
The report also pointed out that Shapiro had cut millions in taxpayer funding for pro-life programs, which assist pregnant women with counseling and housing, and referenced a past rejection from Vice President Harris as her running mate in the 2024 election.
During the election where Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ran, they ultimately lost to President Trump.
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacey Garrity announced in August her intention to challenge Shapiro in the 2026 gubernatorial race, stating, “All you need to do to see how much Josh Shapiro has failed is to look at the facts. U.S. News & World Report currently ranks Pennsylvania near the bottom when it comes to the economy, classroom education, and the state’s infrastructure.”
