Money in politics is always messy. When people ask how much does Kristi Noem make, they usually expect a single, clean number. They want the salary of a Governor or a Cabinet Secretary. But honestly? It is never that simple.
Kristi Noem isn't just a government employee. She is a brand, a rancher, an author, and now a high-ranking official in the federal government. Her income streams have shifted wildly over the last few years, especially as she moved from the Governor’s mansion in Pierre to the halls of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Washington, D.C.
To understand her actual earnings, you have to look past the base salary. You have to look at book deals, family insurance businesses, and even some controversial side hustles that have kept ethics experts busy.
The Big Jump: Kristi Noem’s Salary in 2026
If you’re looking at her bank account today, the biggest change is her federal paycheck. As the Secretary of Homeland Security in 2026, Noem is making significantly more than she ever did in South Dakota.
Basically, her pay is now tied to the federal Executive Schedule. For 2026, the salary for Level I executives—which includes Cabinet Secretaries—is $253,100. This is a small bump from the $250,600 she was slated to earn in 2025.
Compare that to her time as Governor. In South Dakota, she was making roughly $122,000 to $139,100 depending on the fiscal year.
She effectively doubled her primary income overnight.
It’s a massive raise. But for someone with Noem's national profile, that quarter-million-dollar salary is often just the baseline. Most people at this level of government have "side" assets that dwarf their bi-weekly paycheck.
Beyond the Paycheck: The "Noem Insurance" Factor
You can't talk about Kristi Noem’s wealth without talking about her husband, Bryon Noem. In the world of high-level financial disclosures, "what's yours is mine" is the standard rule.
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The couple’s net worth—estimated to be at least $5 million according to Forbes—is heavily tied to Noem Insurance. This is a family-owned brokerage that Bryon operates. According to recent 2024 and 2025 financial disclosures, the business is valued between $1 million and $5 million.
It’s a solid, local business that has provided a safety net for years.
Then there’s the real estate. Bryon owns commercial property in Pierre valued at over $1 million. They also have pasture land in Castlewood, South Dakota, worth up to $500,000. That land isn't just sitting there, either; it brings in up to $50,000 a year in rent and royalties.
How Much Does Kristi Noem Make from Books and Media?
Politics is a great way to sell books. Noem has leaned into this hard.
Most people know about her memoirs, but they don't realize how much cash changed hands before the books even hit the shelves. Her financial disclosures revealed some pretty eye-popping advances:
- $40,000 for her first book, Not My First Rodeo.
- $140,000 for her follow-up, No Going Back.
That is $180,000 just in advances. That doesn't include royalties if the books sell well. For a lot of families in South Dakota, that total advance is more than they make in two or three years of hard work.
There was also that weird moment with the dental office. Remember the social media video she posted praising a dental practice in Texas? A consumer advocacy group actually sued her over it, claiming it was an undisclosed advertisement. While it’s unclear if she was paid directly for that specific "Smile Texas" video, it highlighted how much her "influencer" status has grown.
The Side Hustles and the $80,000 Mystery
This is where things get kinda murky.
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An investigative report by ProPublica found that in 2023, while she was still Governor, Noem reportedly accepted $80,000 through her private company, Ashwood Strategies LLC.
The money came from a nonprofit called the American Resolve Policy Fund. This group was basically a "dark money" entity that supported her political brand. Experts were floored because this income wasn't initially included in her public ethics disclosures.
Her legal team says she followed the law. Critics say it was a secret way to pad her $130,000 governor salary.
Either way, it’s a clear example of how much does Kristi Noem make when you count the stuff that isn't on a standard W-2. If you add that $80,000 to her official salary, her 2023 income was actually over **$210,000**.
Farm Subsidies: The Long-Term Revenue Stream
Long before she was a household name, Noem was a rancher. Her family’s business, Racota Valley Ranch, has been a major recipient of federal help.
Between 1995 and 2016, the ranch received over $3.7 million in government farm subsidies. Noem herself has had varying degrees of ownership in the ranch over the years. Even when she was in Congress, she was listed as a partner.
She has often defended these subsidies as a vital part of the agricultural economy, even while advocating for smaller government. From a purely financial standpoint, these payments played a huge role in building the family's initial wealth.
Breaking Down the Net Worth in 2026
If you’re trying to tally it all up for 2026, here is the rough breakdown of where the money sits:
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- Federal Salary: $253,100 (Annual)
- Business Assets: $1 million - $5 million (Noem Insurance)
- Cash Savings: Up to $265,000 (Reported in late 2024)
- Investments: Mutual funds and ETFs valued between $174,000 and $560,000.
- Livestock/Equipment: Up to $100,000.
She’s wealthy, but by D.C. standards, she’s actually on the "poorer" end of the Cabinet. Some of her colleagues are billionaires. Compared to the average American, though, she is doing incredibly well.
The interesting part is how much of her wealth is tied to "passive" or "family" income. She doesn't just rely on her government check. Between the insurance business, the land rentals, and the book deals, she has a diversified portfolio that keeps the money moving regardless of what happens in the next election.
What This Means for You
Understanding a politician's income isn't just about being nosy. It’s about seeing where their interests lie.
If you want to track this yourself, you should look at the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE). They host the Form 278e, which is the detailed financial disclosure every Cabinet member has to file.
You can also check South Dakota’s state auditor reports for her past earnings, though be warned: South Dakota has some of the most relaxed disclosure laws in the country, which is why that $80,000 payment stayed hidden for so long.
Next time you see a headline about a politician's "salary," remember to look for the LLCs. That's usually where the real story is.
Check the federal OGE portal for the most recent 2026 filings to see if any new book deals or consulting fees have been added to her portfolio since she took the DHS job.