Occupation · SOC 11-1031
Legislators
Develop, introduce, or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, state, or federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.
Median wage
$44,810
$20,380–$137,820
Projected growth
+3.3%
Average growth
Annual openings
90
per year
Employed (US)
26,510
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
385 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringCoordinationWriting
Knowledge areas
Administration and ManagementEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServicePersonnel and Human ResourcesMathematics
Technology & tools
Document management softwareDesktop publishing softwarePresentation softwareWord processing softwareSpreadsheet software
Representative tasks
Alert constituents of government actions and programs by way of newsletters, personal appearances at town meetings, phone calls, and individual meetings.Analyze and understand the local and national implications of proposed legislation.Appoint nominees to leadership posts, or approve such appointments.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.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.Determine campaign strategies for media advertising, positions on issues, and public appearances.Develop expertise in subject matters related to committee assignments.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.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.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.Prepare drafts of amendments, government policies, laws, rules, regulations, budgets, programs and procedures.Promote the industries and products of their electoral districts.Read and review concerns of constituents or the general public and determine if governmental action is necessary.Represent their government at local, national, and international meetings and conferences.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.Speak to students to encourage and support the development of future political leaders.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.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Legislative procedures and parliamentary rules — identify and apply under direct supervision during committee meetings and floor sessions.Budget documents and funding proposals — review and summarize with guidance from senior legislators or staff in a government office setting.Constituent correspondence — draft written responses using word processing software under direction from an experienced legislator.Policy briefs and legislative reports — read and extract key information to support informed decision-making in a legislative chamber.Spreadsheet software and database tools — use to organize basic financial or program data with oversight from administrative staff.Board members, organization officials, and staff — participate in scheduled coordination meetings by taking notes and reporting observations.Presentation software and document management systems — operate to prepare and distribute materials for legislative hearings.Oral communication and active listening — demonstrate in structured public meetings by accurately restating constituent concerns to supervising officials.Organizational policies and administrative guidelines — follow consistently to ensure compliance in day-to-day legislative office operations.Video conferencing and office suite software — use to join and support remote legislative sessions under the direction of senior staff.
developing
Departmental budget proposals — prepare and submit for approval with reduced oversight, incorporating program funding requirements in a municipal or state legislative context.Policy objectives and organizational activities — coordinate across staff teams to ensure continuity of operations within an assigned legislative portfolio.Constituent service issues — resolve routinely by conferring with agency officials and applying active listening and critical thinking in a district office environment.Legislative reports and fiscal analyses — draft using word processing and spreadsheet software, translating data into clear written recommendations for committee review.Committee hearings and stakeholder meetings — facilitate by managing agendas, monitoring discussion, and synthesizing outcomes in a professional legislative setting.Financial and budget activities — monitor expenditures against approved allocations and flag variances for correction in a government agency environment.Cross-functional coordination — manage between legislative offices and external organizations to align program timelines and resource commitments.Oral presentations to boards or public bodies — deliver clearly and persuasively using presentation software, adapting content to varied audiences in legislative forums.Access and database query software — apply to retrieve and analyze legislative data, supporting evidence-based policy decisions with moderate independence.Written communications including legislation summaries and policy memos — produce with attention to detail and accuracy for distribution to officials and the public.
proficient
Organizational financial and budget activities — direct and optimize autonomously to fund legislative operations and maximize return on public investments across a full session cycle.Complex policy initiatives — design and implement by integrating input from board members, agency officials, and community stakeholders in a multi-jurisdictional legislative environment.Comprehensive budget packages — develop and present for legislative approval, including funding models for new or expanded government programs.Non-routine constituent and intergovernmental issues — resolve independently by applying deductive reasoning and judgment across legal, fiscal, and administrative dimensions.Organizational policies and strategic objectives — establish and communicate clearly to guide staff activities and ensure continuity of legislative functions.Legislative testimony and formal hearings — lead as the primary spokesperson, employing advanced oral expression and reading comprehension to respond to expert-level questioning.Critical thinking and problem sensitivity — apply to evaluate proposed legislation for unintended consequences, equity impacts, and fiscal sustainability in a senior legislative role.Interagency and cross-sector negotiations — conduct autonomously, coordinating complex activities and reconciling competing interests to achieve legislative outcomes.Data management and communications server tools — leverage to monitor program implementation and ensure timely, accurate reporting to oversight bodies.Staff development and delegation — oversee by assigning substantive research and drafting tasks, monitoring quality, and providing constructive feedback in a legislative office environment.
advanced
Long-range fiscal and investment strategy — set at organizational scale by directing budget activities that align public resources with multi-year legislative priorities.Governance frameworks and institutional policies — author and champion, establishing the standards that guide operations across an entire legislative body or government sector.Senior legislators, executives, and board members — convene and lead in high-stakes deliberations that shape organizational direction and cross-agency coordination.Complex appropriations and funding legislation — architect from conception through enactment, integrating political, legal, and financial analysis at the highest level of government.Organizational culture of integrity and achievement — model and instill by demonstrating dependability and ethical leadership in all public and internal legislative conduct.Strategic communications and public narratives — develop and deliver through desktop publishing, video conferencing, and media platforms to build consensus on major policy agendas.Emerging legislative challenges and systemic risks — anticipate and address by convening expert panels and directing comprehensive policy reviews across government institutions.Mentorship and succession of future legislators and senior staff — lead through structured coaching, knowledge transfer, and sponsorship in a professional legislative environment.Inter-branch and intergovernmental relationships — manage at the executive level, negotiating agreements that coordinate activities across legislative, executive, and judicial bodies.Organizational performance and legislative outcomes — evaluate through rigorous monitoring and accountability systems, redirecting strategy based on evidence to achieve sustained public impact.
Also known as
28 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
AldermanAssembly MemberAssembly PersonAssemblymanAssemblywomanCity AldermanCity Council MemberCity CouncilmanCongress MemberCongressional Marine Liaison (Marine Corps 8018)Congressional RepresentativeCongressmanCongresswomanCouncil MemberCouncilmanCouncilorCouncilpersonCouncilwomanDelegateLegislative Counsel (Navy 2530)LegislatorRepresentativeSelectmanSenatorTribal Council MemberTribal DelegateU.S. Representative (United States Representative)U.S. Senator (United States Senator)