Pennsylvania officials to get 3.4% pay raise in 2025 amid rising inflation

In Pennsylvania, starting January 1, 2025, state officials such as lawmakers, judges, and top executives will receive a 3.4% salary increase due to a law that ensures their pay raises are linked to inflation rates in mid-Atlantic urban areas. This pay rise affects over 1,300 officials, including Governor Josh Shapiro and the seven state Supreme Court justices. The increase is more substantial than the 2.6% average wage increase recorded for private sector employees during the previous year, highlighting the broader gap between public sector compensation and private sector growth. This situation has been recurrent over the past four years where state officials’ salary increases consistently outpaced those of private sector workers. Governor Shapiro, upon this adjustment, will see his salary approach $246,000, making him the second-highest paid governor in the country in 2025, only behind New York's governor. For the first time, the offices of the Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, and Attorney General will see their salaries surpass $200,000. The Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Todd will enjoy an increase to nearly $270,000, while salaries for other high court justices will rise to around $262,000. The average pay for Common Pleas Court judges will reach nearly $220,000, securing Pennsylvania's position among states with top judicial salaries. Furthermore, the two highest-paid lawmakers' positions will see salaries near $172,000, and base salaries for rank-and-file lawmakers will increase above $110,000. Legislative salaries in 2025 will rank third nationally, reflecting the ongoing trend of public officials benefiting from greater percentage increases compared to private employees, a disparity that raises questions about equity and financial fairness in compensation strategies across sectors.