2022 Midterm Elections: How much money do poll workers make?
Poll workers ensure that the voting process in all 50 states goes smoothly and with the most transparency possible.
Elections rely on the honesty and reliability of the poll workers tasked with keeping things running correctly. They assist election authorities in preparing polling sites, checking in and out voters, distributing ballots, and other related tasks. Therefore, paying close attention to detail and keeping calm under pressure is essential.
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Compensation at polling places varies considerably between jurisdictions. Although states typically determine the base rate of pay for poll workers, several municipalities pay more than the state-mandated minimum.
How much do poll workers make?
Poll workers are typically paid hourly, and their salaries can vary depending on several factors.
- Median Annual Salary: $41,500 ($19.95/hour)
- Top 10% Annual Salary: $122,000 ($58.65/hour)
More than 600,000 poll workers were employed to open and staff over 200 thousand polling locations in 2018, as reported by the Election Administration and Voting Survey (EAVS) report produced by the United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC).
How do polls work around the country?
Local election officials hire these poll workers on a temporary, part-time basis in order to ensure the smooth operation of voting centers on Election Day and in the days leading up to it. It takes roughly eight full-time employees to run a polling booth for a single day.
The minimum stipend in thirteen states is below $100 per day:
U.S. states of Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas*, Kentucky, Louisiana**, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia
The minimum stipend in the following five states and two territories is $100 or more per day:
American territories of Guam, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, and the Virgin Islands
Eleven states mandate that election officials be paid at least the federal or state minimum wage:
Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Wyoming
Three jurisdictions set an hourly rate higher than the federal minimum:
State of Alaska, State of Missouri, State of North Dakota
Local election officials are responsible for determining compensation in 18 states, one territory, and D.C., where there is no minimum specified by state law.
American States of Samoa, USA; Connecticut (C.T.); District of Columbia (D.C.); Florida (F.L.); Hawaii (H.I.); Indiana (IN); Massachusetts (M.A.); Michigan (MI); Nevada (N.V.); New Hampshire (N.H.); Oregon (OR); South Carolina (S.C.); South Dakota (S.D.); Utah (U.T.); Vermont (V.T.); Washington (W.A.); West Virginia (W.V.);
Who can be hired as a poll worker?
As poll workers are often hired at the county and state levels, the qualifications for each position may differ.
A poll worker’s formal title can differ from one election to the next. Depending on the jurisdiction, they may be called election clerks, judges, inspectors, or commissioners.