USVI Governor and Lieutenant Governor Now Rank Among Top-Paid in U.S., Far Outpacing Puerto Rico as Pay Raises Spark Outcry

The Virgin Islands governor and lieutenant governor now rank among the highest-paid chief executives in the United States, following the implementation of salary increases recommended by the V.I. Public Officials Compensation Commission (VIPOCC). Governor Albert Bryan Jr.’s salary rose from $150,000 to $192,000, while Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach now earns $168,000—placing them 10th and 5th nationwide, respectively, among their counterparts.

The raises, which took effect quietly on December 2, 2024, triggered public uproar particularly in the wake of ongoing issues with healthcare, energy costs and infrastructure among other deficiencies. Lawmakers in the 36th Legislature are now scheduled to convene a formal session on June 4 to consider legislation aimed at rescinding the salary hikes, which were implemented automatically due to the Legislature’s failure to act within a 90-day review window as outlined in VIPOCC’s enabling statute.

Governor Bryan’s new annual compensation of $192,000 surpasses the salaries of 41 out of 50 U.S. state governors and every other territorial chief executive except the USVI itself. In stark contrast, Puerto Rico’s governor earns $70,000—a figure unchanged since 1989. The lieutenant governor’s salary of $168,000 trails only those of New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and far exceeds the national average of approximately $118,000 for the position.

Unlike Puerto Rico, which has no official lieutenant governor position, the USVI maintains both roles with full-time statutory salaries. The discrepancy in pay between the two neighboring territories—just 30 minutes apart by air—has further fueled debate about fiscal responsibility, transparency, and public service ethos in the Virgin Islands.