I’ve learned two things about state-level government this evening.

One: Attorney Generals don’t receive as high of a salary as I thought. Still quite high, obviously, but lower than I figured.

Two: If you’re an elected official, there are worse states to have signing your paycheck than Alabama. In fact, top attorneys are riding quite high in the Yellowhammer State.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama is neither the richest nor the biggest state in the U.S., but it now has the highest paid state attorney general.

The former No. 1, California Attorney General Jerry Brown, took a pay cut that moved Alabama’s Troy King into first place. Brown dropped from slightly more than $184,000 to $151,000 on Monday.

A national ranking of pay for attorneys general shows King’s is highest, at $168,000.

King’s salary is directly tied to that of the associate justices of the Alabama Supreme Court, so it wasn’t a matter of just increasing his pay. In related news, being an associate justice in Alabama ain’t too shabby on the ol’ bank account, either.