Washington state-level lawmakers are set to receive up to a 14.7 percent wage increase following the proposed 2025/26 salary schedule adopted by the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials on October 10. The final vote is scheduled for February 5, 2025.
Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck is advocating for the higher pay stating that current state legislature pay is not consistent with their growing responsibilities, the Washington State Standard reports.
State legislators annual pay will increase from $61,997 in 2024 to $66,411 in 2025 and $71,127 the following year—a 14.73 percent wage increase over two years.
Washington’s nine executives – governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, superintendent of public instruction, insurance commissioner, treasurer and commissioner – will also get a 3% cost of living adjustment next July and another 1% in 2026. Judges will also be getting 4% increases next summer with an additional 3% the following year.
“The members of the Legislature are the board of directors of our 8 million-person state and the entire state workforce,” said Heck. “Simply put, state legislator pay is not commensurate with the magnitude of their responsibilities and the time demands.”
State law maker salaries are decided by a salary commission that was voter-approved in 1987 to put an end to politicians determining their own pay. This commission, although funded by the state, works independent of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The commission is made up by 17 unpaid volunteer commissioners—a mixture of residents of Washington’s 10 congressional districts as well as business owners, labor unions, higher education staff, and legal and human resource professionals—who determine salary changes every two years.
The commission admitted raising salaries of state lawmakers would undoubtedly stir some commotion from the public. To address this, they plan to Over the next four months, commissioners will gather public comment at in-person and virtual hearings scheduled for November 14, in Port Angeles, December 11, and in Vancouver, January 8.
The Lynnwood Times took a look at the Financial Disclosure Statements of each state elected official in Snohomish County. Note that we did not factor in spouse or registered domestic partner income/assets nor debt which would portray a more accurate net worth. Many of the elected officials have additional sources of income besides that of their State Legislature income. Those that reported income only from the State Legislature, also reported significant spousal income.
Elected Salaries: Legislative District 1
Representative Davina Duer
Asset Type Source Value Income – Employment WA State Representative $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Income – Employment Have Works LLC $0 to $29,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Bothell Home $750,000.00 to $999,999.00 Asset – Bank Account Boeing Employees Credit Union $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Life New York Life $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Asset – Stocks and bonds New York Life $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Asset – Roth IRA New York Life $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Asset – IRA New York Life $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Asset- Retirement Dept. of Retirement Systems $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Stock Charles Schwab $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Personal Kensho Clean Power ETF $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Personal Invesco MSCI Sustainable Future $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Personal Clean Edge Green Energy Index $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Personal Vanguard Growth Index Fund $0.00 to $29,999.00
Representative Shelley Kloba
Asset Type Source Value Income – Employment WA State Legislature $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Asset – Bank Account BECU $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Asset – Roll over IRA Charles Schwab $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Brokerage Account Charles Schwab $0 to $29,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Kenmore Home $750,000.00 to $999,999.00
Senator Derek Stanford
Asset Type Source Value Income – Employment WA State Legislature $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Income – Employment Peopletech $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Bothell Home $750,000.00 to $999,999.00 Asset – Bank Account Wells Fargo $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Asset – Bank Account Bank of America $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Asset – 401K Voya Financial $60,000 to $99,999.00 Asset – IRA Wells Fargo $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Asset – 401K Principle $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – QQQ QQQ $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Stock Keeper AI $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – PERS Dept. of Retirement Services $30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Elected Salaries: Legislative District 21
Senator Marko Liias
Asset Type Source Value Asset – Real Estate Plot of Land $750,000.00 to $999,999.00 Asset – Retirement WA State Department of Retirement $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Income – Employment Snohomish County $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Income – Employment Washington State Senate $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Asset – Mutual Fund Betterment LLC $0.00 to $29,999.00
Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self
Asset Type Source Value Asset – Real Estate Mukilteo Home $500,000.00 to $749,999.00 Asset – Retirement WA State Dept. of Retirement Services $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Income – Employment WA State House of Representatives $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Income – Employment Everett School District $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Income – Employment Spain Abroad $0.00 to $29,999.00
Representative Strom Peterson
Asset Type Source Value Asset – Real Estate Edmonds Home 1 more than $1 million Asset – Retirement John Hancock Life $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Asset – Stock/investment Various stocks up to $29,000 (20), up to $200,000 Asset – Stock/investment Wells Fargo more than $1 million Asset – Bank Account Chase Bank $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Asset – Certificate of Deposit Washington Federal $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Income – Employment MAM Consulting $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Income – Employment WA State House of Representatives $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Income – Employment Snohomish County Government $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Income – Inheritance Trust $0.00 to $29,999.00 Income – Rental Rental Property $0.00 to $29,999.00
Elected Salaries: Legislative District 32
Representative Lauren Davis
Asset Type Source Value Asset – Bank Accounts Bank of America $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Asset – Personal GE – General Electric $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Retirement Charles Schwab $0.00 to $29,999.00 Income – Employment WA Recovery Alliance $0.00 to $29,999.00 Income – Employment WA State House of Representatives $30,000.00 to $59,999.00
Senator Jesse Salomon
| Asset Type | Source | Value |
| Income – Spouse Employment | Within Reach | $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 |
| Income – Employment | State Senator | $30,000.00 to $59,000.00 |
| Asset – Bank Account | Schwab | $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 |
| Asset – Life | Met Life | $500,000.00 to $749,999.00 |
| Asset – Boat Insurance | Safeco | $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 |
| Asset – Home owners insurance | America Family Insurance | $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 |
| Asset – Rollover IRA | Schwab | $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 |
| Asset – Roth IRA | Schwab | $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 |
| Asset – PERS 2 | WA Dept of Retirement Systems | $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 |
| Asset – 457B | WA Dept. of Retirement Systems | $0.00 to $29,999.00 |
| Asset – 529 Education Savings Plan | Utah Educational Savings Plan | $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 |
| Asset – Managed Portfolio | Schwab | $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 |
| Asset – Community Property | Schwab | $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 |
| Asset – Real Estate | Shoreline home | $750,000.00 to $999,999.00 |
Representative Cindy Ryu
Asset Type Source Value Income – Employment WA State Legislature $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Income – Rental Edmonds Rental Property $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Asset – Real Estate King County Home more than $1 million Asset – Real Estate Edmonds Home more than $1 million Asset – Bank Account Pacific Premier Bank $299,999.00 to $499,999.00 Asset – Bank Account East West Bank $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Credit Union Seattle Credit Union $0 to $29,999.00 Asset – Stocks and Bonds Vanguard $500,000.00 to $749,999.00 Asset – Vanguard S&P 500 Personal $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Asset – Bank Account US Bank $0.00 to $29,999.00
Elected Salaries: Legislative District 38
Representative Julio Cortes
Asset Type Source Value Income – Employment City of Everett $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Income – Employment Zebra Technologies $0.00 to $29,999.00 Income – Employment WA State Legislature $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Mukilteo Home $750,000.00 to $999,999.00 Asset – Roth IRA stock Vanguard $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Stock Mission Square $60,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Stock PERS $60,000.00 to $59,999.00
Representative Mary Fosse
Asset Type Source Value Income – Rent Rental property $0.00 to $29,999.00 Income – Employment City of Everett (Council member) $0.00 to $29,999.00 Income – Employment WA State Legislature $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Income – Rent Rental property $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Everett home 1 $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Everett home 2 $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Everett home 3 $500,000.00 to $749,999.00 Asset – Bank Account BECU $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Asset – Retirement Dept. of Retirement Services $0.00 to $29,999.00
Senator June Robinson
Asset Type Source Value Income – Employment WA State Legislature $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Income – Employment King County (Public Health Program Manager) $0.00 to $29,999.00 Assets – stocks bonds SagePoint Financial $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Assets – stocks bonds Dept. of Retirement Services $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Assets – Real Estate Everett home $500,000.00 to $749,999.00
Elected Salaries: Legislative District 39
Representative Carolyn Eslick
Asset Type Source Value Income – Social Security Social Security Administration $0.00 to $29,999.00 Income – Employment WA State Legislature $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Income – RV Rental Outdoorsy Rental $0.00 to $29,999.00 Income – Rental Room for Rent $0.00 to $29,999.00 Assets – stocks and bonds TIAA $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Shelton home $200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Representative Sam Low
Asset Type Source Value Income – Employment Snohomish County (Council member) $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Income – Employment WA State Legislature $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Asset – Bank Account BECU $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Msft Microsoft $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Campaign Account Union Bank $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Asset – IRA, stocks Interactive Brokers LLC. $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Campaign Account US Bank $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Bank Account 1st Security Bank of WA $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Asset – stocks TD Ameritrade $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – stocks Charles Schwab $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Lake Stevens home $750,000.00 to $999,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Snohomish home $200,000.00 to $499,999.00
Senator Keith Wagoner
Asset Type Source Value Income – Employment WA State Legislature $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Income – Military retirement Defense Finance and Accounting $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Income – Rental home Oak Harbor property $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Income – Rental home Mount Vernon property $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Oak Harbor home $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Mount Vernon home $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Sedro-Woolley home $500,000.00 to $749,999.00 Asset – Bank Account Navy Federal Credit Union $300,000.00 to $699,999.00 Asset – Whole Life Navy Mutual Aid Association $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Asset – Retirement Washington DRS PERS 2 $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Mutual Fund Friends Provident International $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Asset – Federal Retirement fund Federal Thrift Savings Plan $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – stock Schwab $0.00 to $29,999.00
Elected Salaries: Legislative District 44
Representative April Berg
Asset Type Source Value Income – Employment WA State Legislature $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Snohomish County home more than $1 million Asset – Real Estate Everett home $500,000.00 to $749,999.00 Asset – Bank Account Boeing Credit Union $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Asset – IRA Edward Jones more than $1 million Asset – stocks Morgan Stanley $60,000.00 to $99,999.00
Representative Brandy Donaghy
Asset Type Source Value Income – Veterans Disability Dept. of Treasury $0.00 to $29,999.00 Income – Employment WA State Legislature $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Everett home $500,000.00 to $749,999.00 Asset – Bank Account BECU $0.00 to $29,999.00
Senator John Lovick
Asset Type Source Value Income – Employment WA State Senate $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Income – Retirement Washington State Patrol $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Income – Social Security Social Security Administration $0.00 to $29,99.00 Income – Disability Dept. of Veterans Affairs $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Bank Account WA State Employees Credit Union $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Retirement Nationwide Retirement Solutions $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Asset – 529 Account College Savings Account $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Mill Creek home $750,000.00 to $999,999.00
Elected Salaries: Washington State Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs
Asset Type Source Value Income – Employment WA Army National Guard $0.00 to $29,999.00 Income – Employment Secretary of State $100,000.00 to $199,999.00 Asset – Real Estate Lake Stevens home $200,000.00 to $499,999.00 Asset – stocks Disney $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – stocks Games Workshop $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – stocks General Electric $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – stocks Omega Healthcare $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – stocks T-Mobile $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – stocks Analy Capital Management $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – stocks Warner Bros. Discovery $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – stocks Arbor Reality Trust $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – stocks International Paper $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – stocks Main Street Capital Corp. $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – Treasury securities and savings bonds U.S. Treasury $30,000.00 to $59,999.00 Asset – Bank Account Wells Fargo $60,000.00 to $99,999.00 Asset – Bank Account USAA $0.00 to $29,999.00 Asset – contribution plan Thrift Savings Plan $0.00 to $29,999.00
Author: Kienan Briscoe
One Response
The point is that normal people can’t do the job of a legislator if it doesn’t pay a living wage so only those who have other wealth can do it. For a government by us and for us, we need to offer fair pay. I don’t want an otherwise rich person who doesn’t know my struggles making laws that don’t work for me.