Newly re-elected lawmakers returning to the General Assembly will enjoy a measure of financial security that few other people have —especially when compared to peers in other state governments, many private sector professionals or regular folks.

In fact, Illinois’ legislators are among the highest paid lawmakers in the country, and their benefits include retiree healthcare and pensions valued at more than $1 million for the longest-serving incumbents, according to the Better Government Association examination of lawmakers’ annual payouts.

Their annual salary is $67,836, but about three-fourths of General Assembly members also get additional cash compensation for leadership positions ranging from $10,327 for chairing a committee to $27,476 for a top General Assembly job.

In the current fiscal year, these leadership stipends boosted average pay to $77,382, according to data obtained by the BGA under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act from the Illinois Comptroller. In contrast, Illinois workers make an average $46,550, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In the House of Representatives, the average annual pay with stipends is $76,296. Average Senate pay is $79,652, based on the Comptroller’s data.

Their annual salary without stipends is the fifth highest in the country, according to the Empire Center for Public Policy, a project of Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Third highest is Michigan, where legislators receive $71,685 annually not including stipends, topped by Pennsylvania, New York and California….

Read article here