How Much Does The Governor Of Minnesota Make

Okay, let's talk about money. Specifically, the money that the Governor of Minnesota takes home. You might think it's a giant pile of gold doubloons. Or a Scrooge McDuck-style swimming pool of cash. The truth? It's surprisingly... reasonable.

As of 2025, the governor's salary is $132,000 a year. That's it. No, there aren't zeros missing. For running a state with five million people and a massive budget, that's less than what many mid-level tech workers make. It's also less than the starting salary for a lot of NFL players' backup punters.

But wait—there's more! Minnesota's governor, currently Tim Walz, actually took a pay cut. He voluntarily froze his own salary in 2019. He wanted to set an example. A very polite, Midwestern example. "Oh, no, you go ahead and take the raise. I'll just have another hotdish."

The real kicker? The governor's salary hasn't changed since 1999. That's right. The pay was locked in before Y2K was a thing. Before "Who Let the Dogs Out?" was a hit. Before anyone knew what a "selfie" was. The salary is older than some of the governor's staff.

Let's put that in perspective. In 1999, a gallon of gas cost about a dollar. A movie ticket was around five bucks. Now? The governor is still paid like it's the Clinton administration. That's a funny kind of inflation protection—in reverse.

But wait, there are perks! The governor gets a free mansion. It's called the Minnesota Governor's Residence. It's a beautiful 19th-century house on Summit Avenue in St. Paul. You get to live there, eat fancy state dinners, and host diplomats. The downside? Your neighbors can see you taking out the trash in your pajamas.

You also get a state vehicle. Usually a Chevy Suburban or a Ford Explorer. It's big, black, and has government plates. But you can't use it to run to Target for milk. That's a no-no. The governor has to use their own personal car for grocery runs. Imagine pulling up to the dairy aisle next to a man with Secret Service and a coupon for two-percent.

And the travel budget? Don't get too excited. The governor gets a per diem for food when traveling. It's around $50 a day. That's enough for a nice sandwich in Minneapolis—but not a steak dinner in New York. Frugal. Very Scandinavian frugal.

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Compare that to other states. The Governor of California makes over $210,000. The Governor of New York gets $250,000. Minnesota's governor? They're down there with the Governor of Maine (also $70,000, but that's a different story). It's like being the nice kid in class who doesn't ask for extra candy.

Then there's the funny history. In 2010, Governor Tim Pawlenty famously said his salary was "adequate." That's Minnesota for "it's fine, don't worry about it." Another governor, Jesse Ventura, once joked he'd work for free as long as he could wear his feather boa. And he kind of did.

But here's the kicker: the salary is set by the Legislative Salary Council. These are regular citizens who decide the pay. They meet every few years, scratch their heads, and say, "Yeah, $132,000 still seems fair." They're not in a hurry. It's the Land of 10,000 Lakes, not the Land of 10,000 Pay Raises.

So why should you care? Because it's a fun trivia question. Next time you're at a bar in Duluth, you can say, "Hey, did you know the governor makes less than my cousin the plumber?" It's a conversation starter. It's also a little bit weirdly wholesome.

The job itself is crazy hard. You manage a $70 billion budget. You deal with blizzards, potholes, and the Vikings' playoff chances. You have to smile while eating lutefisk at Scandinavian festivals. For $132,000? That's a bargain for the state.

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And don't forget: the governor also gets a $50,000 expense account. That's for things like official entertaining, flowers, and maybe a new suit. But you have to submit receipts. Imagine losing the receipt for a $12 bouquet from Kowalski's. That's a state audit waiting to happen.

There's also a retirement plan. The governor gets a pension after serving one term. It's based on years of service and salary. So after four years, they might get $15,000 a year in retirement. That's not exactly yacht money. It's more like "buying a nice used canoe" money.

But here's the best part: no one runs for governor for the money. You do it for the power, the legacy, or the chance to sign bills with a giant novelty pen. The salary is just a nice-to-have. Like a good parking spot at the Capitol.

So next time you see Governor Walz at a state fair eating a corn dog, remember: he's paying for it with his own money. Or his per diem. Either way, it's not a giant golden check. It's just a regular guy, doing a huge job, for a salary that hasn't changed since the dawn of the internet.

And that, my friends, is a quirky little fact about Minnesota. It's nice here. Even the governor's paycheck is polite. Now go tell someone at your next dinner party. You'll look very smart. And maybe you'll inspire a little curiosity about who's actually running the show—and what they can afford at the grocery store.