Arizona House Salaries: A Look at 2025 Compensation

Here is who is earning the most money from taxpayers in the Arizona House.

Behind the scenes at the Arizona House of Representatives, a wide range of salaries keeps the legislative machine running. Thanks to newly requested 2025 salary records, we can see just how much the staffers who shape policies and manage day-to-day operations are earning. From leadership pulling in six figures to the backbone roles that handle the details, the data tells a story of stark contrasts and significant pay disparities. It’s not just numbers, it’s a glimpse into the priorities and power dynamics of Arizona’s legislative branch.

Let’s break it down.

Top Salaries in the House

The highest-paid staff member is Michael Hunter, the Republican Chief of Staff, earning $231,000 annually. This puts him more than $40,000 ahead of the next-highest earner, Lisette Flores, the Democratic Chief of Staff, who earns $188,428.

For comparison, Flores’ salary is only slightly higher than the Republican Deputy Chief of Staff, Matthew Specht, who earns $183,750. This demonstrates the disparity in pay scales between top roles in the two parties.

Other top earners include:

• Andrew Wilder (Republican Director of Communications) - $183,750

• Linley Wilson (Republican General Counsel) - $183,750

• Rhonda Barnes (Democratic General Counsel) - $175,193

Raises and Salary Trends Since 2023

Several staff members saw increases in pay compared to 2023:

• Michael Hunter received a $21,000 raise over two years, up from $210,000.

• Security Officers now earn $60,008, a modest $4,000 increase since 2023.

• Steve Matt, House Reader, now earns $49,665, up from $45,000.

Despite these increases, some salaries remain stagnant, such as the Session Pages, who still earn $17,680 annually.

Party Breakdown: Top 10 Salaries

GOP Top Earners:

1. Michael Hunter (Chief of Staff) - $231,000

2. Matthew Specht (Deputy Chief of Staff) - $183,750

3. Andrew Wilder (Director of Communications) - $183,750

4. Linley Wilson (General Counsel) - $183,750

5. Travis Swallow (Chief Financial Officer) - $183,750

6. Jordan Kittleson (Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships) - $183,750

7. Sergio Arellano (Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications) - $165,000

8. Tim Fleming (Rules Attorney) - $144,900

9. Diana Clay (Director of Research) - $161,179

10. Sean McCarthy (Senior Policy Advisor) - $157,500

Depending how long the session goes, newly re-elected AZGOP chair Gina Swoboda could crack the top 10 salaries based on her $15,000/month contract. If it goes through June, she will be paid $120,000, which would put her seventh among the Dems.

Arizona Senate Renews GOP Chair Gina Swoboda’s Controversial Consulting Contract

Democrats Top Earners:

1. Lisette Flores (Chief of Staff) - $188,428

2. Rhonda Barnes (General Counsel) - $175,193

3. Robert Sherwood (Communications Director) - $151,200

4. Brenden Foland (Senior Policy Advisor) - $143,745

5. Magali Bearden (Senior Policy Advisor & Intern Coordinator) - $132,006

6. Vicente Reyna (Senior Policy Advisor) - $128,100

7. Nicole Lovato (Policy Advisor) - $115,085

8. Mykelin Myers (Policy Advisor) - $113,400

9. Israel Kiyogera (Policy Advisor) - $110,000

10. Samantha Klakulak (Policy Advisor) - $109,605

Overall Salary Analysis

• Average salary: $101,474

• Median salary: $89,562.50

The 2025 data reveals that high-ranking positions continue to dominate the salary scale, with substantial pay differences even among leadership roles across parties. While top earners received raises, lower-paid roles like pages and administrative assistants saw little to no changes, maintaining a wide gap between leadership and support staff.

This data offers a snapshot of how compensation varies within the House, reflecting the priorities and structures of legislative operations.