Governor Josh Shapiro of Abington Township has an annual salary of $253,870 as of January 1, which makes him the highest-paid governor in the United States.
The 3.3% increase, mandated by an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), replaces his 2025 salary of $245,760. The raise is part of a state law mandate of automatic pay increases for elected officials, which includes Lt. Governor Austin Davis, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, Attorney General Dave Sunday, and others. Each will make more than $200,000 in 2026.
In 2025, New York Governor Kathy Hochul was the highest-paid governor at $250,000, followed by Shapiro and California’s Gavin Newsom at $224,020. The average salary of U.S. governors, according to Business Insider, is $167,128.
In related news, the following previously signed laws will take effect this month:
- Motorcyclists will be permitted to wear headphones or helmets with built-in headphones while riding (effective January 5).
- Schools across the state will be required to notify parents, guardians, and school employees whenever a weapon is found on school property (effective January 6).
- A new law requires insurance companies to cover breast cancer screenings and diagnostics with no out-of-pocket costs for average- and high-risk women (effective January 23).
- The CROWN Act will protect Pennsylvanians from discrimination based on hairstyles (effective January 24).
In December, Shapiro signed six new laws which will expand unemployment compensation eligibility for survivors of domestic violence, update liquor and tobacco laws to reflect modern business practices, strengthen traffic safety and driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement, clarify local government vacancy procedures, and authorize the creation of a commemorative monument at the State Capitol honoring Pennsylvania’s central role in the nation’s 250th anniversary.
More details about each new law can be found here.
Shapiro signed more than 160 bills in 2024 (102 had been signed by late July). As of December 19, 2025, he had signed 65.