Legislators

A subset of this occupation's profile is available. There are currently no plans to populate other parts of the profile.

Develop, introduce, or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, state, or federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks Save Table: XLSX CSV

  • Analyze and understand the local and national implications of proposed legislation.
  • Appoint nominees to leadership posts, or approve such appointments.
  • Confer with colleagues to formulate positions and strategies pertaining to pending issues.
  • Debate the merits of proposals and bill amendments during floor sessions, following the appropriate rules of procedure.
  • Develop expertise in subject matters related to committee assignments.
  • Hear testimony from constituents, representatives of interest groups, board and commission members, and others with an interest in bills or issues under consideration.
  • Keep abreast of the issues affecting constituents by making personal visits and phone calls, reading local newspapers, and viewing or listening to local broadcasts.
  • Maintain knowledge of relevant national and international current events.
  • Make decisions that balance the perspectives of private citizens, public officials, and party leaders.
  • Negotiate with colleagues or members of other political parties in order to reconcile differing interests, and to create policies and agreements.
  • Prepare drafts of amendments, government policies, laws, rules, regulations, budgets, programs and procedures.
  • Read and review concerns of constituents or the general public and determine if governmental action is necessary.
  • Represent their parties in negotiations with political executives or members of other parties, and when speaking with the media.
  • Review bills in committee, and make recommendations about their future.
  • Seek federal funding for local projects and programs.
  • Serve on commissions, investigative panels, study groups, and committees in order to examine specialized areas and recommend action.
  • Vote on motions, amendments, and decisions on whether or not to report a bill out from committee to the assembly floor.
  • Write, prepare, and deliver statements for the Congressional Record.
  • Alert constituents of government actions and programs by way of newsletters, personal appearances at town meetings, phone calls, and individual meetings.
  • Attend receptions, dinners, and conferences to meet people, exchange views and information, and develop working relationships.
  • Conduct "head counts" to help predict the outcome of upcoming votes.
  • Determine campaign strategies for media advertising, positions on issues, and public appearances.
  • Encourage and support party candidates for political office.
  • Establish personal offices in local districts or states, and manage office staff.
  • Evaluate the structure, efficiency, activities, and performance of government agencies.
  • Organize and maintain campaign organizations and fundraisers, in order to raise money for election or re-election.
  • Oversee expense allowances, ensuring that accounts are balanced at the end of each fiscal year.
  • Promote the industries and products of their electoral districts.
  • Represent their government at local, national, and international meetings and conferences.
  • Speak to students to encourage and support the development of future political leaders.

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Occupational Requirements

Detailed Work Activities Save Table: XLSX CSV

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Experience Requirements

Job Zone Save Table: XLSX CSV

Title
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related Experience
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Job Zone Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators.
SVP Range
(7.0 to < 8.0)

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Training & Credentials

State training
Local training
Certifications

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Apprenticeship Opportunities

Start your career and build your skillset. Visit Apprenticeship.gov external site to learn about opportunities related to this occupation.

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Worker Requirements

Software Skills Save Table: XLSX CSV

Hot Technologies are requirements most frequently included across all employer job postings.

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Worker Characteristics

Career Interest Types Save Table: XLSX CSV

Occupational InterestCareer Interest Type
75
 
Enterprising — Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
45
 
Social — Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
44
 
Conventional — Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.
39
 
Investigative — Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
28
 
Artistic — Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.
9
 
Realistic — Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

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Specific Interest Areas Save Table: XLSX CSV

Occupational InterestSpecific Interest Area
100
 
Politics — Work involves engaging in political activities to influence government policy.
86
 
Public Speaking — Work involves speaking before an audience to educate, entertain, or influence the listeners.
75
 
Law — Work involves studying and applying legal knowledge.
69
 
Management/Administration — Work involves planning, directing, or coordinating the daily operations of an organization, and overseeing personnel, business, or administrative services.
50
 
Business Initiatives — Work involves creating strategic plans or taking actions to expand an organization's business or market share.
39
 
Social Science — Work involves studying and researching human behavior, society, politics, and social relationships through scientific disciplines such as psychology, sociology, economics, or political science.
33
 
Social Service — Work involves providing social services and assistance to improve the well-being and social and psychological functioning of children and adults.
30
 
Marketing/Advertising — Work involves promoting or creating a public image for products, services, or organizations to attract interest, engagement, or sales.
30
 
Media — Work involves producing, developing, writing, directing, or presenting information through print, radio, television, or digital media.
27
 
Finance — Work involves directing and managing financial activities, such as planning and investments for an individual or organization to generate income.
25
 
Humanities — Work involves studying and researching aspects of human history, culture, and language through disciplines such as history, philosophy, the language arts, or area/ethnic studies.
23
 
Office Work — Work involves clerical and administrative tasks for an organization such as answering phones, bookkeeping, updating records, scheduling appointments or meetings, and editing of documents and files.
21
 
Professional Advising — Work involves providing expert advice, coaching, and counseling on topics such as careers, educational opportunities, and educational and professional development.
20
 
Accounting — Work involves examining, analyzing, and interpreting accounting records for financial statements, or maintaining, auditing, or evaluating records and accounts.
18
 
Human Resources — Work involves recruiting, selecting, and training job applicants, maintaining employee personnel records, administering compensation and employee-benefit programs, and conducting employee performance reviews.
18
 
Teaching/Education — Work involves teaching through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects.
17
 
Sales — Work involves selling goods or services.
16
 
Personal Service — Work involves providing personal services to individuals in need of non-medical assistance such as helping arrange or plan for travel, meals, or events.
11
 
Creative Writing — Work involves developing creative written works, such as novels, scripts, song lyrics, poetry, stories, or advertisements.
11
 
Mathematics/Statistics — Work involves developing and applying mathematics and statistical theory and methods.
5
 
Information Technology — Work involves designing, developing, testing, and maintaining computer software, hardware, networks, and systems.
5
 
Medical Science — Work involves studying and researching the causes, nature, effects, and treatments of disease or other forms of impairment or illness.
5
 
Protective Service — Work involves maintaining order and protecting life and property by conducting investigations and enforcing laws and regulations to prevent or solve crimes.
4
 
Nature/Outdoors — Work involves planning, restoring, and conserving natural areas and wildlife habitats.
4
 
Performing Arts — Work involves acting as a performer in dance, comedy, or dramatic productions, choreographing of dance performances, or producing of live or recorded entertainment.
3
 
Health Care Service — Work involves providing health care services to individuals to include the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of diseases and other forms of illness or impairment.
3
 
Life Science — Work involves studying and researching living organisms through scientific disciplines such as biology, botany, zoology, microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, or zoology.
3
 
Physical Science — Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, materials, and phenomena through scientific disciplines such as physics, chemistry, astronomy, meteorology, or geology.
3
 
Religious Activities — Work involves conducting religious worship, leading a church or other religious group, and offering moral guidance associated with beliefs and practices of a religious faith.
3
 
Visual Arts — Work involves creating original visual artwork for a variety of media and purposes using various techniques and software.
2
 
Agriculture — Work involves planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops, plants, or trees, or raising farm animals. Work can also involve preparing plant and animal products for distribution to consumers, or protecting natural resources to maximize their use in farming.
2
 
Applied Arts and Design — Work involves applying artistic principles to the design and creation of various objects and materials.
2
 
Athletics — Work involves training, practicing, or competing in athletic events, or supporting those participating in athletics through coaching, training, or officiating.
1
 
Animal Service — Work involves feeding, grooming, exercising, or otherwise providing care to promote and maintain the well-being of pets and other animals in settings such as kennels, animal shelters, and zoos.
1
 
Culinary Art — Work involves preparing, cooking, and presenting food in a distinctive style usually associated with a specific culture or region.
1
 
Engineering — Work involves applying science and technology to the design, building, testing, and use of electrical and electronic components, mechanical devices and machines, automotive, marine, and aerospace equipment and vehicles, materials, or structures.
1
 
Music — Work involves conducting, composing, or playing music or singing.
0
 
Construction/Woodwork — Work involves constructing, installing, or repairing structures and fixtures made of wood.
0
 
Mechanics/Electronics — Work involves maintaining and repairing of machinery, such as automotive engines, electronic equipment, computers, and communication systems.
0
 
Physical/Manual Labor — Work involves manually unloading and moving freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or performing other physical labor.
0
 
Transportation/Machine Operation — Work involves driving vehicles, such as vans, trucks, trains, and buses to transport people or materials. Work can also involve operating heavy equipment, such as cranes, forklifts, bulldozers, and backhoes to move materials or earth.

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Work Styles Save Table: XLSX CSV

ImpactWork Style
100
 
Leadership Orientation — A tendency to lead, take charge, offer opinions, and provide direction at work.
98
 
Integrity — A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
88
 
Dependability — A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
85
 
Social Orientation — A tendency to seek out, enjoy, and be energized by social interaction at work.
81
 
Self-Confidence — A tendency to believe in one's work-related capabilities and ability to control one's work-related outcomes.
81
 
Stress Tolerance — A tendency to cope and function effectively in stressful situations at work.
80
 
Intellectual Curiosity — A tendency to seek out and acquire new work-related knowledge and obtain a deep understanding of work-related subjects.
79
 
Adaptability — A tendency to be open to and comfortable with change, new experiences, or ideas at work.
78
 
Perseverance — A tendency to exhibit determination and resolve to perform or complete tasks in the face of difficult circumstances or obstacles at work.
77
 
Self-Control — A tendency to remain calm and composed and to manage emotions effectively in response to criticism or difficult situations at work.
76
 
Achievement Orientation — A tendency to establish and maintain personally challenging work-related goals, set high work-related standards, and exert high effort toward meeting those goals and standards.
74
 
Initiative — A tendency to be proactive and take on extra responsibilities and tasks that may fall outside of one's required work role.
73
 
Cooperation — A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.
68
 
Tolerance for Ambiguity — A tendency to be comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty at work.
59
 
Empathy — A tendency to show concern for others and be sensitive to others' needs and feelings at work.
57
 
Innovation — A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.
49
 
Attention to Detail — A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
47
 
Optimism — A tendency to exhibit a positive attitude and positive emotions at work, even under difficult circumstances.
36
 
Sincerity — A tendency to be genuine and sincere in interactions with others at work, without concern for personal gain or self-interest.
33
 
Cautiousness — A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related decisions or doing work.

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Workforce Characteristics

Wages & Employment Trends

Median wage data for Top Executives.
Employment data for Top Executives.
Industry data for Top Executives.
Median wages (2025)
$52.17 hourly, $108,510 annual
State wages
Local wages
Employment (2025)
3,904,100 employees
Projected growth (2025-2035)
Faster than average (5% to 6%)
Projected job openings (2025-2035)
305,100
State trends
Top industries (2025)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2025 wage data external site and 2025-2035 employment projections external site. “Projected growth” represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2025-2035). “Projected job openings” represent openings due to growth and replacement.

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Job Openings on the Web

State job openings
Local job openings

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More Information

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Professional Associations

Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.

National Associations

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