The Wisconsin Legislature is technically in session for most of the two years between elections. But only 50 members — or fewer than half — consider the job full-time, according to a survey by the Legislative Reference Bureau of the 99 members of the Assembly and the 33 senators sworn in Jan. 5.

Defining part- and full-time when it comes to legislatures is complicated. The National Conference of State Legislatures groups legislatures by how much time lawmakers spend working — including running for re-election — compared to a typical full-time job.

Wisconsin is among 10 states, including New York and Illinois, in which serving in the Legislature is considered an 80 percent or more full-time job.

In 2008, Wisconsin lawmakers earned an average of $59,029 — including daily allowances for expenses — compared to the average salary and expense payments of $68,599 among the other top-tier states, according to Karl Kurtz, director of the NCSL Trust for Representative Democracy.

In February, the amount Wisconsin lawmakers earn in salary alone is due to rise from $47,413 to $49,943.
Legislators in 17 states work about half time, earning an average in salary and expense payments of $15,984 a year, the NCSL said.