What Is The Salary Of The US Secretary Of State?

Have you ever wondered about the earnings of high-ranking government officials, particularly someone as significant as the US Secretary of State? It's a role that carries immense responsibility, really shaping America's place on the world stage, and so it’s natural to be curious about what kind of financial compensation comes with such a demanding job. You know, this position involves a lot of global discussions and delicate situations, almost constantly.

The United States Secretary of State stands as the chief diplomat for the country, so they are the President's principal foreign policy advisor. This person is, in a way, at the very front of our nation's dealings with other countries. Their work involves a great deal of travel, negotiations, and representing the American people to leaders everywhere. It's a job that truly requires a special kind of dedication, and a lot of very long hours, too.

So, when we talk about the salary for this important role, it's not just a simple number. There are different figures that sometimes appear, depending on what specific data you look at and when it was recorded. We will look at what the numbers show, according to the information we have, and also consider how these important salaries get decided on in the first place, which is actually quite interesting.

Table of Contents

• The Paycheck for America's Top Diplomat
  • The Current Federal Secretary of State Salary (2025)
  • How the Salary is Decided
  • What About Other "Secretary" Roles at the US Department of State?
• Understanding "Secretary of State" Salaries Across the Nation
  • The Broader Picture of "Secretary of State" Pay
  • Local Variations in Pay
• Why Such Different Numbers?
• People Also Ask

The Paycheck for America's Top Diplomat

Figuring out the exact pay for the United States Secretary of State can be a little tricky, you know, because there are different pieces of information floating around. However, there is a clear figure for the person holding this very specific federal position. It's a salary that reflects the weight of the job, and the extensive responsibilities that come with it, too.

The Current Federal Secretary of State Salary (2025)

For the year 2025, the person serving as the US Secretary of State is set to earn a specific amount. According to information from the U.S., the current annual salary for the Secretary of State is $235,600. This figure represents the official pay for this top federal position. It’s pretty straightforward, that specific amount for that particular job.

When we look at federal positions in general, the salary for a Secretary of State in 2025 is around $223,500. This might seem slightly different from the previous number, but it gives us a good sense of the general range for such high-level federal roles. So, there is a specific salary for the Secretary of State, and then there's a broader category of federal positions that are somewhat similar in pay, more or less.

How the Salary is Decided

It's important to know that the pay for the US Secretary of State, just like other federal salaries, doesn't just appear out of nowhere. Under the United States Constitution, only Congress has the true authority to spend the nation's money. This means they are the ones who ultimately decide on the salaries for federal officials, including this key role, you see.

Congress does this through specific bills that give permission for federal funding. These bills cover all sorts of government spending, and that includes the pay for people working for the government. The salary of the Secretary of State is set by the government, and it can change. These changes are based on new laws and decisions about the budget, which was certainly the case as of 2021, and still holds true.

What About Other "Secretary" Roles at the US Department of State?

Sometimes, when people look up salaries, they might come across figures for other "secretary" roles within the US Department of State. It's easy to get these mixed up with the top cabinet position. For instance, the average annual US Department of State salary for someone just called "secretary" is estimated to be approximately $282,220 per year. The majority of pay for this kind of "secretary" role falls between $228,139 to $350,584 per year, which is quite a broad range, actually.

Then there's another figure that shows how much a "secretary" makes at the U.S. Department of State in the United States, which is an estimated average pay of $27.00 per hour. This hourly rate likely refers to administrative or support staff who hold the title of "secretary" within the department. It's quite a bit different from the pay for the Secretary of State, so it's good to keep that in mind, you know, to avoid confusion.

Understanding "Secretary of State" Salaries Across the Nation

Beyond the specific federal position, the term "Secretary of State" can also refer to officials at the state level. Each state in the U.S. has its own Secretary of State, and their duties and pay can vary quite a bit. This is where the salary information can get a little more varied, almost like a patchwork quilt of numbers.

The Broader Picture of "Secretary of State" Pay

In the United States, a secretary of state, generally speaking, earns an average salary of $126,527. The typical salary range for this kind of secretary of state is usually between $114,861 and $152,552 per year. This represents a common pay bracket for these roles across different areas, so it's a good general idea.

Another estimate suggests the average annual salary of a united states secretary of state is approximately $111,914 per year. For this group, the majority of pay is between $97,747 to $128,231 per year. This particular figure comes from a lookup search for "secretary of state salary" from 23 records in a salary database, with an average of $140,550, and that's usually the salary for this job, so it seems.

The average secretary of state salary in the United States was reported as $113,243, with yearly salaries that could range from $16,219 all the way up to $274,050. This really shows how wide the pay can be for this type of position. It's a very broad spectrum, you see.

Yet another look at the data indicates the average salary for a secretary of state is $70,374 per year, or about $34 per hour, in the United States. This is generally in line with the national average for similar positions. Top earners in this category have reported making significantly more, apparently.

When looking at the overall salary ranges for secretary of states in the US, the numbers can go from $57,089 to a much higher $634,954, with the average sitting at $132,968. This is quite a spread, indicating a lot of differences based on location, responsibilities, and perhaps even the specific state. It's almost incredible, that range.

An average annual salary for a secretary of state is also estimated to be approximately $97,316 per year. For most people in this role, the pay is between $85,505 to $110,160 per year. You can actually visit Salary.com to find out more about this particular set of numbers, which is a useful resource.

In 2025, the salary for a secretary of state remains competitive, with federal positions offering a salary around $223,500. Interestingly, state and local government roles are also listed as being around this figure for 2025. This might suggest a leveling up for some state roles, or perhaps it's a more general average for high-level government work, in some respects.

Local Variations in Pay

Where a secretary of state works geographically can also play a role in their pay. For example, a secretary of state in "your area" makes on average $43,963 per year. This is actually $1 (0.021%) less than the national average annual salary of $45,945 for that specific kind of role. This shows that location can make a slight difference, sometimes.

Virginia, for instance, ranks number 31 out of 50 states nationwide for secretary of state salaries. This means there are many states where the pay for this position is higher, and some where it's lower. It really highlights how state-specific these salaries can be, you know, based on local economic factors and state budgets.

Getting salary information for employees of the state of Texas can be difficult to locate, too. No Texas state agency provides a centralized website with all salaries. Other websites can contain outdated, or very limited information. This just goes to show that transparency in government salaries can vary a lot from one place to another, which is a bit of a challenge for researchers.

Why Such Different Numbers?

It's easy to feel a little confused by all the different salary figures for "Secretary of State." The main reason for this variation, you see, comes down to the different types of roles that share that title. The most prominent is the federal US Secretary of State, the top diplomat for the entire country. Their salary is set at a very high level to reflect their national and international responsibilities, and that's a very specific job.

Then there are state-level Secretaries of State. These officials work for individual states, and their duties vary from managing elections to overseeing business registrations. Their salaries are decided by their respective state governments, and so, naturally, they differ widely based on state budgets, cost of living, and the specific responsibilities of the role in that state. This is why you see such a broad range of numbers, from lower averages to some quite high ones, depending on the state, in a way.

Finally, some of the figures mentioned, particularly the lower hourly rates or the higher averages for "secretary" at the Department of State, likely refer to administrative positions or other staff roles within the department that happen to carry the title "secretary." These are not the cabinet-level Secretary of State. So, it's really important to distinguish between the federal cabinet position, the state-level elected or appointed officials, and general administrative staff. Different roles, different pay scales, that's essentially it.

People Also Ask

Curiosity about government roles and their compensation is pretty common. Here are some questions people often have about the US Secretary of State's pay:

Who sets the salary for the US Secretary of State?

The salary for the US Secretary of State is decided by Congress. They have the power, according to the Constitution, to authorize federal funding, and that includes the pay for federal officials. It's all done through specific bills, which is actually how it works for many government positions.

Does the Secretary of State's salary change often?

The salary of the Secretary of State is determined by the government and is subject to change. These changes are based on new legislation and budgetary decisions. So, while it might not change every single year, it certainly can be adjusted over time, based on what Congress decides, you know, for the nation's budget.

How does the federal Secretary of State's pay compare to state-level Secretaries of State?

The federal US Secretary of State generally earns a higher salary than most state-level Secretaries of State. For instance, the federal position is set at $235,600 for 2025. State-level salaries vary a lot, with averages sometimes around $126,527 or $111,914, though some state and local government roles are also noted as being around $223,500 for 2025. It really depends on the specific state and its budget, so there's a big difference, usually.

For more details on how federal salaries are set, you can check out information from a relevant government source, like the official website of Congress.

Learn more about government salaries on our site, and link to this page here.