For those drawn to public service and community leadership, the role of an alderman offers a unique opportunity to enact tangible change at the local level. But beyond the civic duty, a practical question often arises: what is an alderman's salary? The answer is complex, with compensation ranging from a modest part-time stipend in a small town to a substantial full-time salary in a major metropolitan area.
This guide will provide a data-driven look into the earning potential of an alderman, exploring the factors that shape their compensation and the overall outlook for this vital public service career.
What Does an Alderman Do?
An alderman, also known as a city council member, councilperson, or city legislator, serves as a representative for a specific district or ward within a city. They are a core part of a municipality's legislative branch, responsible for creating and passing local laws, known as ordinances.
Key responsibilities typically include:
- Legislating: Proposing, debating, and voting on ordinances related to public safety, zoning, public works, and local business.
- Budgetary Oversight: Approving the city's annual budget and overseeing municipal spending.
- Constituent Services: Acting as a liaison between residents in their ward and city departments, helping to resolve issues related to trash collection, infrastructure repairs, and public services.
- Community Advocacy: Representing the interests of their district in broader city-wide decisions and long-term planning.
The role can be a part-time commitment in smaller municipalities or a demanding full-time job in larger cities.
Average Alderman Salary
There is no single, standardized national salary for an alderman. Compensation is determined by the individual municipality and varies dramatically across the country.
Salary aggregators provide a snapshot of this wide range. For instance, Salary.com reports the average City Council Member salary in the United States is $50,591, but the typical range falls between $43,909 and $60,256. Data from Glassdoor places the estimated total pay for a City Alderman at $74,868 per year, reflecting a different data set that may include larger cities.
To gain a broader perspective, we can look at the data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the category of "Legislators," which includes elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels. According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median annual wage for legislators was $31,540 in May 2023. This figure highlights how many local elected positions are part-time and may not be the official's primary source of income.
The reality on the ground shows this immense variation:
- In Chicago, Illinois, aldermen earn a base salary of $145,956 as of 2024, making it one of the highest-paid city councils in the nation for a full-time role.
- In St. Louis, Missouri, alderpersons earn $72,000 annually following a significant pay increase to make the position full-time.
- In contrast, a small town or village may pay its council members a nominal stipend of just a few thousand dollars per year, or sometimes only a per-meeting fee.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
The compensation for an alderman is not based on a traditional corporate ladder. Instead, it's shaped by a unique set of public-sector factors.
Geographic Location and Municipality Size
This is the single most significant factor. The size, population, and budget of the city directly determine salary levels.
- Large Metropolitan Areas: Major cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles have large budgets and complex challenges, requiring full-time, professional council members. Consequently, they offer salaries commensurate with a full-time professional role.
- Mid-Sized Cities: Cities with populations from 50,000 to 500,000 often offer more moderate, but still livable, salaries. The role may be considered full-time or a significant part-time commitment.
- Small Towns and Villages: In smaller municipalities, being an alderman is often a part-time, civic-minded role. The compensation is typically a small stipend meant to offset expenses rather than serve as a primary income.
Municipality Size and Structure
This factor, closely related to location, concerns the nature of the job as defined by the city charter. Is the role a full-time job with a dedicated office and staff, or is it a part-time position where council members attend evening meetings a few times a month? Full-time, professionally managed councils command higher salaries than part-time, "citizen-legislator" bodies.
Committee Leadership and Additional Roles
While the base salary for all aldermen in a city is usually the same, there can be opportunities for additional compensation. An alderman who is elected by their peers to a leadership position, such as council president or chairperson of a powerful committee (e.g., Finance, Zoning, Public Safety), may receive an additional stipend for their increased responsibilities.
Level of Education
There are typically no formal educational requirements to be elected as an alderman beyond residency and age. However, a relevant educational background can be highly advantageous both for getting elected and for being effective in the role. Degrees in public administration, political science, urban planning, or law are common among city council members and can provide the foundational knowledge needed to navigate complex budgetary and legal issues. While a degree doesn't directly set the salary, the skills it provides can make a candidate more electable and effective, particularly in larger cities.
Years of Experience
Experience in this context refers less to seniority in the role and more to a candidate's professional and community background. A track record in community leadership, business, law, or non-profit management can make a candidate more appealing to voters. While a first-term alderman earns the same as a tenth-term alderman, the experience one brings to the role can be a critical factor in winning and retaining the position.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for aldermen and other legislators is stable but shows little to no growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for legislators is projected to show "little or no change from 2022 to 2032."
This is because the number of elected positions in city, state, and federal governments is relatively fixed. Growth doesn't come from creating new jobs, but from turnover. Elections are held at regular intervals, ensuring there are always opportunities for new candidates to run for office and replace incumbents. The constant need for dedicated public servants to govern communities ensures that the role of an alderman will always be in demand, even if the total number of positions remains static.
Conclusion
Pursuing a career as an alderman is driven more by a passion for public service than by the promise of a high salary. The financial compensation is highly variable and directly tied to the size and resources of the community you serve.
Key Takeaways:
- Salary is Hyper-Local: An alderman's pay can range from a small annual stipend to over $145,000, depending almost entirely on the city.
- Public Service is the Primary Motivator: The most successful and fulfilled aldermen are those dedicated to improving their communities.
- Full-Time vs. Part-Time: The biggest salary differentiator is whether the position is a full-time professional role in a large city or a part-time civic duty in a smaller town.
- Opportunity is Cyclical: While the number of jobs isn't growing, regular election cycles provide consistent opportunities for new leaders to step forward.
For anyone considering this path, the "salary" is often measured as much in community impact as it is in dollars. It's a challenging but deeply rewarding career for those committed to making a difference at the grassroots level.