The California governor’s salary is $245,929 per year as of December 1, 2025, up from $242,295 the year before.1California Department of Human Resources. CCCC Salaries That makes it one of the highest governor salaries in the country, and it’s set by an independent commission rather than by the legislature or the governor.
Who Decides the Number
The California Citizens Compensation Commission sets pay for the governor, legislators, and every other statewide elected official. Voters created it in 1990 through a constitutional amendment that added Article III, Section 8 to the state constitution, with the goal of taking salary decisions away from the people whose paychecks were at stake.
The commission has seven members appointed by the governor to staggered six-year terms. Each year it reviews economic conditions and votes on adjustments. Those decisions take effect automatically. The legislature does not vote on them, and the governor cannot veto them. Because terms span multiple administrations, no single governor usually controls a majority of seats.
Recent increases have been modest. The roughly 1.5 percent bump in late 2025 fits a pattern that followed the pay freezes of California’s early-2010s budget crises.
What the Governor Actually Takes Home
The commission’s figure is the official rate for the office, but the governor can choose not to accept a raise. In 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom publicly declined a 3.5 percent increase the commission had approved, citing the state’s budget challenges. The posted salary still reflected the commission’s number; Newsom personally took less.
Security Detail
The California Highway Patrol’s Protective Services Division provides round-the-clock security for the governor and immediate family.2California Highway Patrol. Protective Services Division The cost sits inside the CHP’s broader budget rather than appearing as a line item in the governor’s compensation.
Housing
California’s housing arrangement for its governor has been unusual for decades. The historic Governor’s Mansion in Sacramento has been closed as a residence since the 1960s and now operates as a State Historic Park.3California State Parks. Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park A newer state residence was built, but governors have treated it inconsistently. Some have used state-provided housing; others have kept private residences and commuted. The practical value of the housing benefit varies from one administration to the next.
Travel Reimbursement
Official travel runs through the same framework that applies to other state employees: costs must be “reasonably, actually, and necessarily incurred” on state business.4California Department of Human Resources. Travel Reimbursements Transportation, lodging, meals, and mileage are reimbursable up to posted rates, and the governor’s office has to produce receipts if audited. Out-of-state and international travel qualify when tied to official duties, which for a governor regularly includes trade missions, disaster coordination, and intergovernmental meetings.
Retirement and Health Coverage
The governor participates in the California Public Employees’ Retirement System on the same terms as other state employees. CalPERS calculates a pension based on years of service, age at retirement, and final compensation. Two full four-year terms produce eight years of service credit, so the pension itself is modest by career-employee standards.
The state also contributes toward retiree health premiums. As of 2026, that monthly contribution ranges from $867 to $2,638 depending on the plan and whether the retiree covers only themselves or a family.5California Department of Human Resources. Retiree Health Benefits For a two-term governor, continued access to the state retiree health plan often represents more long-term value than the pension payment itself.
How California Compares
At $245,929, California sits near the top of the national range. New York leads at $250,000. The national average is roughly $149,000, meaning California pays about 65 percent above the typical state. Some states pay their governors under $80,000.
The size of the paycheck tracks the size of the job. California has the largest state economy in the country, more than 39 million residents, and a state budget that regularly tops $300 billion. The commission benchmarks against comparable executive roles, which in a state with California’s cost of living and economic scale naturally produces a higher number.