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Staff Pay, Selected Positions in Senators’ Offices, FY2001-FY2023

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Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senators' Offices, FY2001-FY2014

December 15, 2015FY2015 November 9, 2016 (R44324)
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Summary

The level of pay for congressional staff is a source of recurring questions among Members of Congress, congressional staff, and the public. There may be interest in congressional pay data from multiple perspectives, including assessment of the costs of congressional operations; guidance in setting pay levels for staff in Member offices; or comparison of congressional staff pay levels with those of other federal government pay systems.

This report provides pay data for 16 staff position titles that are typically used in Senators' offices. The positions include the following: Administrative Director, Casework Supervisor, Caseworker, Chief of Staff, Communications Director, Counsel, Executive Assistant, Field Representative, Legislative Assistant, Legislative Correspondent, Legislative Director, Press Secretary, Scheduler, "Specials Director" (a combined category that includes the job titles Director of Projects, Director of Special Projects, Director of Federal Projects, Director of Grants, Projects Director, or Grants Director), Staff Assistant, and State Director.

Tables provide tabular pay data for each of the selected staff positions in a Senator's office. Graphic displays are also included, providing representations of pay from three perspectives, including the following:

  • a line graph showing change in pay;
  • a comparison at 5-, 10-, and 1415-year intervals from FY2014FY2015, depending on data availability, of the cumulative percentage change in pay for that position to changes in pay of Members of Congress and federal civilian workers paid under the General Schedule in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas; and
  • distributions of FY2014FY2015 pay in $10,000 increments.

In the past five years (FY2010 and FY2014FY2011 and FY2015), the change in median pay, in constant 20152016 dollars, ranged from a 0.789.86% increase for state directors to a -20.21% decrease for legislative assistants. All staff positions other than state directorspress secretaries to a -26.05% decrease for specials directors. Eight of the 16 positions experienced increases in pay, while the remaining eight positions saw declines in pay. This may be compared to changes to the pay of Members of Congress, -7.895.10%, and General Schedule, DC, -6.973.19%, over approximately the same period (calendar years 2010-20142011-2015).

Pay data for staff working in House Member offices are available in CRS Report R44323, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2014. Data describing the pay of congressional staff working in House and Senate committee offices are available in CRS Report R44322, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Committees, 2001-2014, and CRS Report R44325, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senate Committees, FY2001-FY2014, respectively.

Information about the duration of staff employment is available in CRS Report R44683, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in House Committees, 2006-2016, CRS Report R44685, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in Senate Committees, 2006-2016, CRS Report R44682, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2006-2016, and CRS Report R44684, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in Senators' Offices, 2006-2016.
Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senators' Offices, FY2001-FY2014
FY2015

Introduction

Levels of pay for congressional staff are a source of recurring questions among Members of Congress, congressional staff, and the public. Senators set the terms and conditions of employment for staff in their offices. This includes job titles and descriptions, rates of pay, subject to minimum and maximum levels,1 and resources available to them to carry out their official duties.2 There may be interest in congressional pay data from multiple perspectives, including assessment of the costs of congressional operations, guidance in setting pay levels for staff in Member offices, or comparison of congressional staff pay levels with those of other federal government pay systems.

Publicly available information sources do not provide aggregated congressional staff pay data in a readily retrievable form. The most recent publicly available Senate staff compensation report was issued in 2006,3 and relied on anonymous, self-reported survey data. Data in this report are based on official Senate reports, which afford the opportunity to use consistently collected data from a consistent source. Pay4 information in this report is based on the Senate's Report of the Secretary of the Senate, published semiannually, in periods from April 1 to September 30, and October 1 to March 31,5 as collated by LegiStorm, a private entity that provides some congressional data by subscription.6 Additionally, this report provides annual data, which allows for observations about the nature of Senators' personal staff compensation over time.

This report provides pay data for 16 staff position titles that are typically used in Senators' offices.7 The positions include the following:

  • Administrative Director8
  • Casework Supervisor9
  • Caseworker10
  • Chief of Staff
  • Communications Director
  • Counsel11
  • Executive Assistant
  • Field Representative12
  • Legislative Assistant
  • Legislative Correspondent
  • Legislative Director
  • Press Secretary
  • Scheduler
  • "Specials Director," a combined category that includes the job titles Director of Projects, Director of Special Projects, Director of Federal Projects, Director of Grants, Projects Director, or Grants Director
  • Staff Assistant
  • State Director

Senators' staff pay data for FY2001-FY2014FY2015 were derived from a random sampling of Senators' offices in which at least one staff member worked in a position in each year. For each fiscal year, FY2001-FY2014FY2015, a random sample13 of 25 Senators' offices was taken for each position. In order to be included, Senate staff had to hold a position with the same job title in the Senator's office for the entire fiscal year examined, and not receive pay from any other congressional employing authority. For some positions, it was not possible to identify 25 offices that employed staff for an entire year. In circumstances when data for 14 or fewer staff were identified for a position, this report provides no data. Every recorded payment ascribed in the LegiStorm data to those staff for the fiscal year is included.14 Data collected for this report may differ from an employee's stated annual salary due to the inclusion of overtime, bonuses, or other payments15 in addition to base salary paid in the course of a year. Generally, each position has no more than one observation per Senator's office each fiscal year.

Pay data for staff working in House Member offices are available in CRS Report R44323, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2014. Data describing the pay of congressional staff working in House and Senate committee offices are available in CRS Report R44322, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Committees, 2001-2014, and CRS Report R44325, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senate Committees, FY2001-FY2014, respectively.

16

Data Concerns

There may be some advantages to relying on official salary expenditure data instead of survey findings, but data presented here are subject to some challenges that could affect findings or their interpretation. Some of the concerns include the following:

  • Data are lacking for first-term Senators in the first session of a Congress. The periods of time covered by the Report of the Secretary of the Senate overlap the end of one Congress and convening of the next. This report provides no data for first-term Senators in the first nine months of their service.16
    • 17
  • Pay data provide no insight into the education, work experience, position tenure, full- or part-time status of staff, or other potential explanations for levels of compensation.
  • Staff could be based in Washington, DC, state offices, or both.
  • Potential differences might exist in the job duties of positions with the same title. Aggregation of pay by job title rests on the assumption that staff with the same title carry out the same or similar tasks. Given the wide discretion congressional employing authorities have in setting the terms and conditions of employment, there may be differences in the duties of similarly titled staff that could have effects on their levels of pay. Acknowledging the imprecision inherent in congressional job titles, an older edition of the Senate Handbook states, "Throughout the Senate, individuals with the same job title perform vastly different duties."17

18Data Tables and Visualizations

Tables in this section provide background information on Senate pay practices, comparative data for each position, and detailed data and visualizations for each position. Table 1 provides the maximum payable rates for staff in Senators' offices since 2001 in both nominal (current) and constant 20152016 dollars.

Constant dollar calculations throughout the report are based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for various years, expressed in constant, 20152016 dollars.18

19

Table 2 provides the available cumulative percentage changes in pay in constant 20152016 dollars for each of the 16 positions, Members of Congress,1920 and salaries paid under the General Schedule in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas.2021 Table 3-Table 18 provide tabular pay data for Senators' staff positions. The numbers of staff whose data were counted are identified as observations in the data tables. Graphic displays are also included, providing representations of pay from three perspectives, including the following:

  • a line graph showing change in pay, depending on data availability, in nominal (current) and constant 20152016 dollars;
  • a comparison at 5-, 10-, and 1415-year intervals from FY2014,21FY2015,22 depending on data availability, of the cumulative percentage change in pay of that position to changes in pay, in constant 20152016 dollars, of Members of Congress and federal civilian workers paid under the General Schedule in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas; and
  • distributions of FY2014FY2015 pay, in 20152016 dollars, in $10,000 increments.

Between FY2010 and FY2014FY2011 and FY2015, the change in median2223 pay, in constant 20152016 dollars, ranged from a 0.789.86% increase for state directors to a -20.21% decrease for legislative assistants. All staff positions other than state directors saw declines in paypress secretaries to a -26.05% decrease for specials directors. Of the 16 positions, half saw pay increases, while the other half saw pay decreases during the five-year period. This may be compared to changes in the pay of Members of Congress, -7.895.1%, and General Schedule, DC, -6.973.19%, over approximately the same period (calendar years 2010-20142011-2015).

Between FY2005 and FY2014FY2006 and FY2015, the change in median pay, in constant 20152016 dollars, ranged from a 7.0715.69% increase for field representatives to a -26.5118.96% decrease for press secretariesexecutive assistants. Of the 16 staff positions, 54 saw pay increases while 1112 saw declines. This may be compared to changes in the pay of Members of Congress, -11.4510.41%, and General Schedule, DC, -0.8013%, over approximately the same period (calendar years 2005-20142006-2015).

Between FY2001 and FY2014FY2015, the change in median pay, in constant 20152016 dollars, ranged from a 19.9127.09% increase for state directors to a -29.3619.64% decrease for press secretaries. Of 15 staff positions for which data were available in FY2010 and FY2014,23 7 between FY2001 and FY2015,24 7 positions saw pay increases while 8 saw declines. This may be compared to changes in the pay of Members of Congress, -10.294%, and General Schedule, DC, 6.427.36%, over approximately the same period (calendar years 2001-20142015).


Table 1. Annual Maximum Pay for Selected Staff In Senators' Offices, 2001-2014

2015

$170,721

Year

Nominal $

Constant 20152016 $

2001

$140,559

$187,802

189,514

2002

$145,459

$191,324

193,068

2003

$150,159

$193,105

194,866

2004

$153,559

$192,355

194,109

2005

$157,559

$190,898

192,638

2006

$160,659

$188,571

190,290

2007

$160,659

$183,349

185,020

2008

$164,759

$181,075

182,726

2009

$169,459

$186,906

188,610

2010

$169,459

$183,890

185,566

2011

$169,459

$178,263

179,888

2012

$169,459

$174,648

176,240

2013

$169,459

$172,127

173,696

2014

$169,459

$169,380

170,924

2015

$169,459

Source: 2 U.S.C. 4575, note, CRS calculations. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 2. Change in Pay for Selected Staff In Senators' Offices, Selected Periods

 

5 Years
FY10-14

Change(Based on Constant, 2016 Dollars)  

5 Years

FY11-15

10 Years
FY05-14

FY06-15

14 Years
FY01-14

15 Years

FY01-15

Administrative Director

-6.057.37%

3.052.31%

—

Casework Supervisor

-14.341.75%

-4.2724%

9.3014.62%

Caseworker

-1.524.72%

-5.049.20%

0.583.32%

Chief of Staff

-85.10%

-9.188.48%

-6.075.95%

Communications Director

-14.755.83%

-3.811.85%

-2.628.74%

Counsel

-8.050.44%

-8.097.12%

-8.8939%

Executive Assistant

-17.697.92%

-13.8418.96%

-2.157.70%

Field Representative

-11.483.91%

7.0715.69%

2.187.87%

Legislative Assistant

-20.218.78%

-5.9806%

-7.246.42%

Legislative Correspondent

-5.880.82%

-3.193.92%

4.15-1.22%

Legislative Director

-9.600.01%

-8.790.44%

1.815.55%

Press Secretary

-17.339.86%

-26.514.65%

-29.3619.64%

Scheduler

-9.507.44%

4.58-7.22%

11.003.76%

Specials Director

-15.8926.05%

-7.7411.17%

-16.3617.14%

Staff Assistant

-5.590.09%

-17.0812.47%

-5.674.62%

State Director

0.783.89%

2.1713.53%

19.9127.09%

Members of Congress

-7.895.10%

-11.4510.41%

-10.2940%

General Schedule, DC

-6.973.19%

-0.8013%

6.427.36%

Source: CRS calculations, based on pay data provided in Table 3--Table 18 for congressional positions in constant, 2016 dollars, CRS Report 97-1011, Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables, by [author name scrubbed], for Members of Congress, and the Office of Personnel Management for federal civilian workers in the District of Columbia and surrounding areas, various years. No data were available for administrative directors for FY2001. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."

Table 3. Administrative Director

   

$151,643

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY04

18

  

$33,750

$83,942

$83,080

$142,968

  

$42,212

662

$104,990

106,109

$103,912

105,019

$178,816

180,721

FY05

15

  

$33,200

$87,806

$85,875

$150,223

  

$40,164

592

$106,224

107,355

$103,888

104,994

$181,733

183,669

FY06

22

  

$38,597

$84,438

$86,821

$124,264

  

$45,234

715

$98,957

100,011

$101,750

102,834

$145,631

147,183

FY07

19

  

$65,453

$95,393

$95,271

$126,242

  

$74,583

75,377

$108,700

109,858

$108,560

109,717

$143,851

145,384

FY08

25

  

$71,706

$100,159

$98,179

$140,250

  

$78,687

79,525

$109,911

111,082

$107,738

108,886

$153,905

155,544

FY09

25

  

$46,459

$96,479

$95,164

$140,250

  

$51,164

709

$106,250

107,382

$104,802

105,918

$154,454

156,100

FY10

25

  

$64,772

$102,624

$105,167

$150,811

  

$70,180

928

$111,194

112,378

$113,949

115,163

$163,404

165,145

FY11

25

  

$54,375

$104,195

$107,000

$153,506

  

$57,113

721

$109,441

110,607

$112,388

113,585

$161,235

162,953

FY12

25

  

$58,000

$104,323

$107,000

$135,521

  

$59,685

60,321

$107,354

108,498

$110,109

111,282

$139,459

140,944

FY13

25

  

$42,667

$102,752

$103,200

$169,000

  

$43,272

733

$104,211

105,321

$104,665

105,780

$171,400

173,226

FY14

25

  

$50,937

$103,458

$107,265

$139,080

  

$50,836

$103,252

$107,052

$138,803

51,378

$104,352

$108,192

$140,282

FY15

25

$56,375

$106,212

$104,433

$150,522

$56,795

$107,003

$105,211

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-6.05%

-7.37%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

3.05%

2.31%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 4. Casework Supervisor

   

$119,382

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$23,928

$50,594

$51,828

$83,000

  

$31,922

32,262

$67,496

68,215

$69,142

878

$110,728

111,908

FY02

25

  

$28,334

$57,812

$55,667

$87,625

  

$37,211

608

$75,925

76,734

$73,108

886

$115,079

116,305

FY03

24

  

$27,620

$58,399

$60,956

$82,750

  

$35,466

844

$74,987

75,786

$78,270

79,104

$106,255

107,387

FY04

25

  

$27,500

$60,683

$62,549

$88,679

  

$34,395

762

$75,899

76,708

$78,232

79,066

$110,915

112,096

FY05

25

  

$33,933

$65,254

$65,250

$137,450

  

$41,050

488

$78,941

79,782

$78,936

79,777

$166,281

168,052

FY06

25

  

$33,933

$67,610

$70,611

$102,768

  

$39,767

40,191

$79,235

80,079

$82,753

83,634

$120,439

121,722

FY07

25

  

$33,741

$69,613

$70,599

$103,461

  

$38,447

857

$79,324

80,169

$80,448

81,305

$117,893

119,149

FY08

25

  

$50,708

$73,334

$71,789

$109,333

  

$55,645

56,238

$80,474

81,331

$78,778

79,617

$119,978

121,256

FY09

25

  

$55,750

$79,269

$79,000

$109,356

  

$61,396

62,050

$87,297

88,227

$87,001

928

$120,432

121,715

FY10

25

  

$40,773

$80,992

$81,416

$120,697

  

$44,178

648

$87,755

88,690

$88,215

89,154

$130,775

132,169

FY11

25

  

$40,773

$76,233

$74,154

$122,000

  

$42,826

43,282

$80,071

924

$77,888

78,718

$128,143

129,508

FY12

25

  

$40,000

$74,940

$76,000

$127,000

  

$41,162

601

$77,118

939

$78,208

79,041

$130,690

132,082

FY13

25

  

$34,187

$68,184

$72,000

$95,583

  

$34,672

35,041

$69,153

889

$73,022

800

$96,941

97,973

FY14

25

  

$35,500

$74,974

$75,719

$113,875

  

$35,429

$74,824

$75,569

$113,648

807

$75,622

$76,374

$114,859

FY15

25

$37,829

$79,051

$79,500

$118,500

$38,111

$79,640

$80,092
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-14.34%

1.75%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

-4.27%

-4.24%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

9.30%

14.62%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. In the visualizations, position pay information is based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on median change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 5. Caseworker

   

$83,703

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$23,802

$34,979

$33,197

$50,200

  

$31,754

32,092

$46,664

47,162

$44,288

760

$66,971

67,684

FY02

25

  

$23,414

$34,963

$33,500

$59,968

  

$30,750

31,077

$45,917

46,407

$43,996

44,465

$78,757

79,596

FY03

25

  

$25,985

$37,602

$35,135

$58,964

  

$33,366

722

$48,283

797

$45,116

596

$75,713

76,519

FY04

25

  

$25,896

$39,605

$38,822

$63,100

  

$32,389

734

$49,535

50,063

$48,556

49,074

$78,922

79,763

FY05

25

  

$25,251

$39,871

$38,777

$57,500

  

$30,547

872

$48,234

748

$46,911

47,411

$69,561

70,302

FY06

25

  

$29,956

$44,725

$43,000

$74,313

  

$35,107

481

$52,415

974

$50,394

930

$87,091

88,019

FY07

25

  

$26,833

$43,262

$41,503

$65,603

  

$30,576

902

$49,297

823

$47,292

796

$74,754

75,551

FY08

25

  

$26,601

$46,851

$44,685

$72,337

  

$29,190

501

$51,413

960

$49,035

558

$79,379

80,225

FY09

25

  

$19,583

$44,897

$42,629

$76,847

  

$21,567

796

$49,444

971

$46,946

47,446

$84,630

85,532

FY10

25

  

$23,500

$47,926

$41,745

$90,800

  

$25,462

734

$51,928

52,481

$45,231

712

$98,382

99,430

FY11

25

  

$28,237

$44,809

$41,603

$87,450

  

$29,659

975

$47,065

567

$43,698

44,163

$91,853

92,832

FY12

25

  

$30,000

$44,187

$43,365

$87,465

  

$30,872

31,200

$45,471

956

$44,625

45,100

$90,006

965

FY13

25

  

$30,000

$46,201

$44,125

$85,000

  

$30,426

750

$46,857

47,357

$44,751

45,228

$86,207

87,125

FY14

25

  

$32,500

$48,662

$44,633

$89,179

  

$32,435

781

$48,566

49,083

$44,544

45,019

$89,001

949

FY15

25

$21,167

$47,047

$45,904

$83,084

$21,324

$47,397

$46,246
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-1.52%

4.72%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

-5.04%

-9.20%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

0.58%

3.32%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 6. Chief of Staff

   

$170,721

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$103,657

$130,841

$134,630

$139,609

  

$138,286

139,759

$174,551

176,411

$179,606

181,520

$186,249

188,233

FY02

25

  

$109,875

$133,309

$136,241

$144,234

  

$144,300

145,837

$175,076

176,941

$178,927

180,833

$189,424

191,442

FY03

25

  

$124,000

$140,044

$144,234

$148,984

  

$159,222

160,918

$179,823

181,739

$185,203

187,176

$191,303

193,341

FY04

25

  

$100,000

$145,165

$151,576

$152,709

  

$125,074

126,407

$181,563

183,497

$189,582

191,601

$190,999

193,034

FY05

25

  

$107,100

$148,145

$153,559

$156,742

  

$129,565

130,945

$179,219

181,128

$185,769

187,748

$189,619

191,640

FY06

25

  

$130,600

$152,445

$157,486

$160,659

  

$153,056

154,687

$178,658

180,562

$184,565

186,532

$188,284

190,290

FY07

25

  

$138,871

$156,287

$160,659

$160,659

  

$158,242

159,928

$178,088

179,985

$183,070

185,020

$183,070

185,020

FY08

25

  

$145,833

$158,701

$159,863

$163,734

  

$160,032

161,737

$174,152

176,007

$175,427

177,296

$179,675

181,589

FY09

25

  

$147,960

$164,532

$166,926

$167,305

  

$162,945

164,681

$181,196

183,126

$183,832

185,791

$184,249

186,212

FY10

25

  

$156,930

$166,654

$169,428

$169,459

  

$170,035

171,846

$180,571

182,494

$183,576

185,532

$183,610

185,566

FY11

25

  

$138,500

$166,692

$169,459

$169,459

  

$145,474

147,023

$175,086

176,951

$177,991

179,888

$177,991

179,888

FY12

25

  

$140,417

$166,399

$169,459

$169,459

  

$144,496

146,036

$171,234

173,058

$174,383

176,240

$174,383

176,240

FY13

25

  

$128,844

$161,550

$166,500

$169,459

  

$130,673

132,065

$163,844

165,589

$168,864

170,663

$171,865

173,696

FY14

25

  

$141,050

$164,932

$169,042

$169,459

  

$140,769

$164,604

$168,706

$169,122

142,269

$166,357

$170,503

$170,924

FY15

25

$102,800

$162,671

$169,459

$169,459

$103,565

$163,882

$170,721
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-8-5.10%

%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

-9.18%

-8.48%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

-6.07%

-5.95%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 7. Communications Director

   

$170,721

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$42,189

$83,784

$83,186

$128,974

  

$56,283

883

$111,774

112,964

$110,976

112,159

$172,062

173,895

FY02

25

  

$48,999

$88,399

$89,500

$134,826

  

$64,351

65,036

$116,096

117,332

$117,541

118,794

$177,069

178,955

FY03

25

  

$45,451

$89,453

$84,860

$140,191

  

$58,362

984

$114,862

116,086

$108,964

110,125

$180,013

181,930

FY04

25

  

$56,908

$92,741

$85,733

$142,726

  

$71,177

935

$115,995

117,230

$107,230

108,373

$178,513

180,414

FY05

25

  

$58,083

$94,798

$92,875

$147,206

  

$70,267

71,015

$114,683

115,905

$112,356

113,553

$178,083

179,980

FY06

25

  

$74,431

$103,309

$101,108

$152,000

  

$87,229

88,159

$121,073

122,363

$118,493

119,755

$178,136

180,034

FY07

25

  

$53,068

$98,056

$95,917

$150,942

  

$60,471

61,115

$111,735

112,925

$109,296

110,461

$171,997

173,829

FY08

25

  

$72,500

$102,827

$97,798

$146,878

  

$79,559

80,406

$112,838

114,040

$107,320

108,463

$161,178

162,895

FY09

25

  

$75,400

$111,197

$109,296

$156,687

  

$83,036

921

$122,459

123,764

$120,365

121,647

$172,556

174,394

FY10

25

  

$90,875

$115,873

$116,996

$167,500

  

$98,464

99,513

$125,549

126,886

$126,766

128,116

$181,487

183,421

FY11

25

  

$90,000

$113,114

$108,562

$168,547

  

$94,532

95,539

$118,809

120,075

$114,029

115,243

$177,034

178,920

FY12

25

  

$91,855

$115,597

$117,500

$147,184

  

$94,524

95,531

$118,956

120,223

$120,914

122,202

$151,460

153,074

FY13

25

  

$80,333

$116,213

$115,575

$164,568

  

$81,474

82,342

$117,863

119,119

$117,216

118,465

$166,905

168,683

FY14

25

  

$80,000

$112,337

$108,288

$157,137

  

$79,841

80,691

$112,114

113,308

$108,072

109,223

$156,824

158,495

FY15

25

$95,675

$122,710

$121,065

$169,459

$96,387

$123,624

$121,967
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-14.75%

5.83%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

-3.81%

1.85%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

-2.62%

8.74%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."

Table 8. Counsel

FY15

    
 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

15

  

$25,000

$67,125

$69,875

$93,833

  

$33,352

707

$89,550

90,504

$93,218

94,212

$125,181

126,514

FY02

25

  

$32,886

$67,720

$67,536

$144,234

  

$43,189

649

$88,937

89,885

$88,696

89,641

$189,424

191,442

FY03

21

  

$25,000

$81,319

$82,900

$148,984

  

$32,101

443

$104,417

105,530

$106,448

107,582

$191,303

193,341

FY04

25

  

$45,000

$84,890

$81,127

$152,526

  

$56,283

883

$106,175

107,306

$101,469

102,550

$190,770

192,802

FY05

23

  

$45,000

$81,559

$76,386

$134,375

  

$54,439

55,019

$98,666

99,717

$92,408

93,392

$162,561

164,292

FY06

25

  

$42,458

$86,828

$78,454

$144,792

  

$49,759

50,289

$101,758

102,842

$91,944

92,924

$169,689

171,497

FY07

21

  

$45,000

$92,050

$88,167

$145,000

  

$51,277

824

$104,890

106,007

$100,465

101,536

$165,227

166,987

FY08

25

  

$45,000

$92,195

$91,167

$128,570

  

$49,381

907

$101,171

102,249

$100,043

101,108

$141,088

142,591

FY09

23

  

$45,000

$88,826

$89,000

$129,788

  

$49,558

50,085

$97,822

98,864

$98,014

99,058

$142,933

144,455

FY10

25

  

$45,000

$86,043

$85,250

$141,500

  

$48,758

49,277

$93,228

94,221

$92,369

93,353

$153,316

154,949

FY11

21

  

$45,000

$81,035

$81,663

$138,000

  

$47,266

769

$85,115

86,022

$85,775

86,689

$144,948

146,493

FY12

25

  

$49,750

$87,312

$80,868

$151,275

  

$51,196

741

$89,849

90,806

$83,218

84,104

$155,671

157,329

FY13

21

  

$55,250

$83,353

$83,200

$109,000

  

$56,034

631

$84,537

85,437

$84,381

85,280

$110,548

111,726

FY14

25

  

$53,250

$90,638

$85,100

$153,120

  

$53,144

710

$90,457

91,421

$84,931

85,835

$152,816

154,444
 

 

25

$58,000

$93,777

$85,669

$154,659

$58,432

$94,475

$86,307

$155,811

 

  

  

  

  

  

   

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-8.05%

-0.44%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

-8.09%

-7.12%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

-8.89%

-8.39%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 9. Executive Assistant

   

$170,721

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$36,000

$65,378

$60,480

$124,583

  

$48,027

538

$87,219

88,149

$80,685

81,544

$166,204

167,974

FY02

25

  

$32,880

$62,934

$57,608

$139,492

  

$43,182

642

$82,652

83,532

$75,658

76,464

$183,196

185,148

FY03

25

  

$29,926

$70,414

$66,040

$148,984

  

$38,427

836

$90,415

91,378

$84,798

85,702

$191,303

193,341

FY04

25

  

$32,262

$76,616

$75,250

$152,709

  

$40,351

781

$95,826

96,847

$94,118

95,121

$190,999

193,034

FY05

25

  

$34,000

$72,919

$75,750

$107,705

  

$41,132

570

$88,214

89,154

$91,639

92,615

$130,297

131,685

FY06

25

  

$36,375

$73,189

$78,417

$120,500

  

$42,630

43,084

$85,774

86,687

$91,900

92,879

$141,220

142,724

FY07

25

  

$37,176

$83,038

$81,880

$160,659

  

$42,362

813

$94,622

95,630

$93,302

94,296

$183,070

185,020

FY08

25

  

$40,928

$87,763

$85,833

$163,563

  

$44,913

45,391

$96,308

97,334

$94,190

95,193

$179,488

181,400

FY09

25

  

$42,272

$91,183

$86,817

$167,305

  

$46,553

47,049

$100,418

101,488

$95,610

96,628

$184,249

186,212

FY10

25

  

$33,458

$90,428

$88,531

$169,459

  

$36,252

638

$97,979

99,023

$95,924

96,946

$183,610

185,566

FY11

25

  

$37,500

$84,788

$77,000

$169,459

  

$39,388

808

$89,057

90,006

$80,877

81,739

$177,991

179,888

FY12

25

  

$37,500

$87,805

$86,000

$169,459

  

$38,589

39,001

$90,357

91,319

$88,499

89,441

$174,383

176,240

FY13

22

  

$37,667

$85,565

$81,372

$169,459

  

$38,201

608

$86,780

87,705

$82,528

83,407

$171,865

173,696

FY14

23

  

$32,750

$85,535

$79,110

$169,459

  

$32,685

$85,364

$78,953

$169,122

33,033

$86,274

$79,794

$170,924

FY15

21

$42,983

$85,603

$74,710

$169,459

$43,303

$86,240

$75,266

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-17.69%

-7.92%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

-13.84%

-18.96%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

-2.15%

-7.70%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 10. Field Representative

   

$90,124

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$20,519

$42,290

$41,337

$70,466

  

$27,374

666

$56,418

57,019

$55,146

734

$94,007

95,009

FY02

25

  

$22,746

$38,968

$38,625

$56,250

  

$29,873

30,191

$51,177

722

$50,727

51,267

$73,874

74,661

FY03

25

  

$23,898

$43,528

$45,292

$73,897

  

$30,686

31,013

$55,892

56,487

$58,157

777

$94,887

95,898

FY04

25

  

$21,518

$46,831

$49,562

$87,500

  

$26,913

27,200

$58,574

59,198

$61,990

62,650

$109,440

110,606

FY05

25

  

$26,228

$44,154

$43,500

$68,608

  

$31,729

32,067

$53,415

984

$52,624

53,185

$82,999

83,883

FY06

25

  

$29,199

$47,152

$43,875

$73,075

  

$34,220

585

$55,260

848

$51,419

967

$85,640

86,552

FY07

25

  

$19,562

$49,139

$47,931

$76,250

  

$22,291

529

$55,994

56,590

$54,617

55,199

$86,886

87,812

FY08

25

  

$36,113

$53,956

$52,859

$80,750

  

$39,629

40,052

$59,210

840

$58,005

623

$88,612

89,556

FY09

25

  

$29,495

$55,405

$53,500

$91,750

  

$32,483

829

$61,017

667

$58,918

59,546

$101,042

102,119

FY10

25

  

$30,712

$58,025

$58,750

$102,500

  

$33,277

632

$62,870

63,540

$63,656

64,334

$111,059

112,242

FY11

25

  

$32,250

$54,968

$54,504

$74,927

  

$33,874

34,235

$57,736

58,351

$57,248

858

$78,700

79,538

FY12

25

  

$31,750

$55,790

$53,768

$79,670

  

$32,673

33,021

$57,411

58,023

$55,330

919

$81,985

82,858

FY13

25

  

$33,500

$55,482

$53,000

$83,000

  

$33,976

34,337

$56,270

869

$53,753

54,325

$84,179

85,075

FY14

25

  

$34,833

$60,554

$56,458

$93,948

  

$34,764

35,134

$60,434

61,078

$56,346

$93,762

946

$94,760

FY15

25

$35,615

$58,997

$59,678

$89,458

$35,881

$59,437

$60,122

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-11.48%

3.91%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

7.07%

15.69%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

2.18%

7.87%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 11. Legislative Assistant

FY15

    
 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$31,916

$55,641

$54,032

$83,533

  

$42,578

43,032

$74,230

75,021

$72,082

850

$111,439

112,626

FY02

25

  

$32,706

$54,456

$52,592

$92,917

  

$42,954

43,411

$71,517

72,279

$69,069

805

$122,029

123,329

FY03

25

  

$29,996

$57,178

$52,337

$117,500

  

$38,516

926

$73,419

74,201

$67,204

920

$150,876

152,483

FY04

25

  

$30,203

$66,495

$58,500

$135,000

  

$37,776

38,178

$83,167

84,053

$73,168

948

$168,850

170,649

FY05

25

  

$38,933

$62,584

$58,788

$113,636

  

$47,100

601

$75,711

76,517

$71,119

876

$137,471

138,936

FY06

25

  

$35,376

$64,299

$60,625

$129,356

  

$41,459

900

$75,355

76,158

$71,049

806

$151,599

153,214

FY07

25

  

$40,333

$64,727

$68,000

$128,270

  

$45,960

46,449

$73,756

74,542

$77,486

78,311

$146,163

147,720

FY08

25

  

$49,688

$69,144

$66,971

$106,532

  

$54,525

55,106

$75,876

76,684

$73,491

74,274

$116,904

118,150

FY09

25

  

$50,042

$69,293

$66,125

$106,916

  

$55,110

697

$76,310

77,123

$72,822

73,598

$117,744

118,998

FY10

25

  

$55,021

$75,900

$77,344

$110,528

  

$59,615

60,250

$82,238

83,114

$83,803

84,696

$119,758

121,033

FY11

25

  

$46,042

$70,272

$70,396

$112,078

  

$48,360

875

$73,810

74,596

$73,940

74,728

$117,721

118,975

FY12

25

  

$46,667

$73,228

$74,000

$120,828

  

$48,022

534

$75,355

76,158

$76,150

961

$124,339

125,663

FY13

25

  

$42,333

$65,043

$65,640

$87,750

  

$42,934

43,392

$65,967

66,669

$66,572

67,281

$88,996

89,944

FY14

25

  

$30,333

$66,806

$67,000

$87,500

  

$30,273

595

$66,673

67,383

$66,867

67,579

$87,326

88,256
 

 

25

$58,755

$71,209

$67,667

$103,375

$59,193

$71,739

$68,170

$104,145

 

  

  

  

  

  

   

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-20.21%

-8.78%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

-5.98%

-5.06%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

-7.24%

-6.42%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 12. Legislative Correspondent

   

$52,387

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$22,344

$30,560

$29,250

$41,250

  

$29,808

30,126

$40,770

41,204

$39,022

437

$55,031

617

FY02

25

  

$25,833

$31,677

$29,874

$44,525

  

$33,927

34,289

$41,601

42,044

$39,234

652

$58,475

59,098

FY03

25

  

$25,391

$32,950

$32,000

$46,853

  

$32,603

951

$42,309

760

$41,090

527

$60,162

803

FY04

25

  

$25,327

$34,350

$31,994

$56,467

  

$31,678

32,015

$42,963

43,420

$40,017

443

$70,625

71,377

FY05

25

  

$27,000

$32,787

$32,327

$43,585

  

$32,663

33,011

$39,664

40,086

$39,108

525

$52,727

53,289

FY06

25

  

$26,823

$34,706

$33,973

$47,070

  

$31,436

770

$40,674

41,108

$39,815

40,239

$55,164

751

FY07

25

  

$30,337

$36,061

$34,689

$44,500

  

$34,569

937

$41,091

529

$39,528

949

$50,707

51,248

FY08

25

  

$31,350

$38,316

$38,000

$52,250

  

$34,403

769

$42,046

494

$41,700

42,144

$57,337

948

FY09

25

  

$30,156

$38,093

$36,786

$49,750

  

$33,210

563

$41,951

42,398

$40,511

943

$54,789

55,372

FY10

25

  

$30,484

$39,817

$39,850

$50,500

  

$33,029

381

$43,142

602

$43,178

638

$54,717

55,300

FY11

25

  

$31,500

$37,460

$37,000

$51,250

  

$33,086

439

$39,347

766

$38,863

39,277

$53,830

54,404

FY12

25

  

$29,250

$37,616

$35,786

$53,417

  

$30,100

421

$38,709

39,122

$36,826

37,218

$54,969

55,554

FY13

25

  

$34,000

$39,396

$37,787

$49,083

  

$35,712

34,850

$41,380

40,381

$39,690

38,732

$51,555

50,311

FY14

25

  

$32,388

$40,412

$40,722

$58,333

  

$32,324

668

$40,331

$40,641

$58,217

761

$41,073

$58,837

FY15

25

$33,875

$39,794

$38,668

$52,000

$34,127

$40,090

$38,956

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-5.88%

-0.82%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

3.92%

-3.19%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

4.15%

-1.22%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 13. Legislative Director

   

$163,836

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$70,417

$97,697

$96,988

$138,459

  

$93,941

94,942

$130,336

131,724

$129,389

130,768

$184,715

186,683

FY02

25

  

$88,750

$106,021

$104,925

$140,542

  

$116,556

117,798

$139,239

140,722

$137,799

139,267

$184,575

186,542

FY03

25

  

$63,821

$102,688

$106,396

$130,986

  

$81,949

82,823

$131,857

133,262

$136,617

138,072

$168,193

169,985

FY04

25

  

$67,401

$107,803

$105,695

$140,245

  

$84,301

85,200

$134,834

136,271

$132,197

133,605

$175,410

177,279

FY05

25

  

$46,028

$114,528

$119,391

$156,559

  

$55,682

56,275

$138,551

140,027

$144,434

145,973

$189,398

191,415

FY06

25

  

$87,083

$118,402

$117,038

$152,430

  

$102,057

103,144

$138,762

140,240

$137,163

138,624

$178,640

180,544

FY07

25

  

$76,166

$114,607

$117,333

$146,601

  

$86,791

87,716

$130,594

131,985

$133,701

135,125

$167,051

168,831

FY08

25

  

$88,042

$125,774

$122,500

$160,395

  

$96,613

97,643

$138,020

139,490

$134,427

135,859

$176,012

177,887

FY09

25

  

$98,743

$135,702

$134,583

$167,305

  

$108,743

109,902

$149,445

151,037

$148,214

149,793

$184,249

186,212

FY10

25

  

$105,000

$138,951

$134,500

$169,459

  

$113,768

114,980

$150,554

152,158

$145,731

147,284

$183,610

185,566

FY11

25

  

$96,458

$129,435

$130,000

$169,459

  

$101,315

102,394

$135,952

137,400

$136,546

138,000

$177,991

179,888

FY12

25

  

$99,667

$133,606

$131,500

$169,459

  

$102,562

103,655

$137,488

138,953

$135,321

136,762

$174,383

176,240

FY13

25

  

$94,854

$128,555

$130,000

$156,205

  

$96,201

97,226

$130,380

131,769

$131,846

133,250

$158,423

160,111

FY14

25

  

$100,000

$128,618

$132,000

$155,750

  

$99,801

$128,362

$131,737

$155,440

100,864

$129,730

$133,141

$157,096

FY15

25

$106,583

$132,473

$137,000

$162,625

$107,377

$133,460

$138,020
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-9.60%

0.01%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

-8.79%

-0.44%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

1.81%

5.55%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 14. Press Secretary

   

$128,765

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$21,120

$64,528

$66,625

$92,242

  

$28,176

476

$86,086

87,003

$88,883

89,830

$123,058

124,369

FY02

25

  

$38,042

$69,220

$72,533

$102,667

  

$49,960

50,493

$90,907

91,876

$95,258

96,273

$134,833

136,270

FY03

25

  

$41,983

$70,863

$68,893

$100,000

  

$53,909

54,483

$90,992

91,961

$88,462

89,404

$128,405

129,773

FY04

25

  

$41,098

$67,127

$62,523

$109,734

  

$51,403

950

$83,959

84,854

$78,200

79,033

$137,248

138,711

FY05

25

  

$47,280

$73,719

$70,625

$116,347

  

$57,197

807

$89,182

90,132

$85,439

86,349

$140,751

142,251

FY06

25

  

$38,667

$65,042

$63,917

$112,446

  

$45,315

798

$76,227

77,039

$74,907

75,705

$131,781

133,185

FY07

25

  

$44,958

$70,928

$61,000

$125,644

  

$51,230

775

$80,822

81,683

$69,509

70,250

$143,171

144,696

FY08

25

  

$53,333

$70,951

$66,323

$147,569

  

$58,526

59,149

$77,859

78,689

$72,780

73,555

$161,936

163,661

FY09

25

  

$38,452

$71,592

$67,453

$131,000

  

$42,346

797

$78,843

79,683

$74,285

75,076

$144,267

145,804

FY10

25

  

$41,000

$73,021

$70,096

$138,419

  

$44,424

897

$79,118

961

$75,949

76,758

$149,977

151,575

FY11

24

  

$46,808

$65,442

$61,896

$110,591

  

$49,165

689

$68,737

69,470

$65,012

705

$116,160

117,397

FY12

25

  

$40,000

$64,934

$59,083

$118,000

  

$41,162

601

$66,821

67,533

$60,800

61,448

$121,428

122,722

FY13

25

  

$39,221

$64,690

$59,500

$127,500

  

$39,778

40,202

$65,609

66,308

$60,345

988

$129,310

130,688

FY14

25

  

$50,333

$71,385

$62,914

$130,000

  

$50,233

$71,243

$62,789

$129,741

768

$72,002

$63,458

$131,123

FY15

25

$53,610

$73,754

$71,650

$127,813

$54,009

$74,303

$72,183

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-17.33%

9.86%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

-26.51%

-4.65%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

-29.36%

-19.64%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 15. Scheduler

   

$135,925

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$29,690

$50,705

$50,917

$75,308

  

$39,609

40,031

$67,644

68,365

$67,927

68,650

$100,466

101,537

FY02

25

  

$31,625

$54,661

$52,875

$83,000

  

$41,533

976

$71,788

72,552

$69,441

70,181

$109,005

110,166

FY03

25

  

$20,000

$55,495

$51,292

$86,488

  

$25,681

954

$71,258

72,017

$65,861

66,563

$111,054

112,237

FY04

25

  

$39,583

$64,745

$63,167

$120,280

  

$49,508

50,036

$80,980

81,842

$79,005

847

$150,439

152,042

FY05

25

  

$35,508

$60,678

$59,594

$93,865

  

$42,956

43,413

$73,406

74,188

$72,094

862

$113,554

114,764

FY06

25

  

$44,026

$64,998

$64,825

$102,673

  

$51,596

52,146

$76,174

985

$75,971

76,781

$120,327

121,609

FY07

25

  

$29,021

$61,579

$62,357

$106,447

  

$33,069

421

$70,168

916

$71,056

812

$121,296

122,588

FY08

25

  

$37,975

$72,018

$74,594

$112,096

  

$41,672

42,116

$79,030

872

$81,857

82,729

$123,010

124,320

FY09

25

  

$28,468

$76,762

$78,250

$162,986

  

$31,351

685

$84,537

85,437

$86,175

87,093

$179,493

181,405

FY10

25

  

$34,916

$78,105

$76,887

$125,701

  

$37,832

38,235

$84,627

85,528

$83,308

84,195

$136,197

137,648

FY11

25

  

$38,000

$76,168

$72,500

$159,333

  

$39,913

40,339

$80,003

855

$76,150

962

$167,356

169,139

FY12

25

  

$38,792

$77,970

$76,000

$135,000

  

$39,919

40,344

$80,236

81,091

$78,208

79,041

$138,922

140,402

FY13

25

  

$33,641

$72,157

$67,500

$130,000

  

$34,119

482

$73,182

962

$68,458

69,188

$131,846

133,251

FY14

25

  

$35,262

$77,111

$75,546

$131,812

  

$35,192

$76,957

$75,396

$131,550

567

$77,777

$76,199

$132,952

FY15

25

$42,925

$76,226

$70,708

$134,921

$43,245

$76,794

$71,235

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-9.50%

-7.44%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

4.58%

-7.22%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

11.00%

3.76%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 16. Specials Director

FY15

    
 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

23

  

$32,322

$55,308

$49,538

$107,883

  

$43,119

579

$73,785

74,571

$66,087

791

$143,924

145,457

FY02

25

  

$25,167

$54,933

$49,498

$116,095

  

$33,052

404

$72,144

913

$65,006

699

$152,470

154,094

FY03

22

  

$26,667

$53,825

$47,619

$122,214

  

$34,241

606

$69,114

850

$61,145

796

$156,928

158,600

FY04

25

  

$33,040

$55,154

$49,082

$98,051

  

$41,324

764

$68,983

69,718

$61,389

62,043

$122,636

123,943

FY05

25

  

$30,508

$57,955

$49,525

$133,860

  

$36,907

37,301

$70,111

858

$59,914

60,552

$161,938

163,663

FY06

25

  

$34,875

$58,483

$52,598

$105,933

  

$40,872

41,307

$68,539

69,269

$61,642

62,299

$124,148

125,471

FY07

22

  

$32,753

$63,093

$58,978

$109,000

  

$37,322

720

$71,895

72,661

$67,205

921

$124,205

125,528

FY08

21

  

$39,700

$63,145

$58,167

$123,875

  

$43,566

44,030

$69,293

70,031

$63,830

64,510

$135,935

137,384

FY09

25

  

$16,810

$64,690

$59,246

$134,557

  

$18,513

710

$71,242

72,001

$65,246

942

$148,185

149,764

FY10

25

  

$25,088

$63,544

$60,653

$139,788

  

$27,183

473

$68,851

69,584

$65,718

66,418

$151,461

153,075

FY11

19

  

$38,000

$67,259

$70,500

$96,655

  

$39,913

40,338

$70,645

71,398

$74,050

838

$101,522

102,603

FY12

22

  

$33,825

$65,481

$60,962

$97,083

  

$34,808

35,179

$67,383

68,101

$62,733

63,402

$99,904

100,968

FY13

15

  

$40,600

$60,860

$55,000

$105,083

  

$41,176

615

$61,724

62,382

$55,781

56,375

$106,575

107,711

FY14

20

  

$39,338

$64,122

$55,386

$129,000

  

$39,260

678

$63,995

64,676

$55,276

865

$128,743

130,115
 

22

$33,833

$61,688

$54,934

$108,020

$34,085

$62,147

$55,343

$108,824

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-15.89%

-26.05%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

-7.74%

-11.17%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

-16.36%

-17.14%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 17. Staff Assistant

   

$75,559

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$22,000

$31,205

$28,985

$51,275

  

$29,350

662

$41,630

42,074

$38,669

39,081

$68,405

69,133

FY02

25

  

$21,746

$34,269

$31,500

$67,250

  

$28,559

864

$45,006

485

$41,369

810

$88,320

89,261

FY03

25

  

$21,500

$37,073

$34,095

$72,250

  

$27,607

901

$47,604

48,111

$43,779

44,245

$92,773

93,761

FY04

25

  

$21,000

$36,668

$36,107

$62,917

  

$26,266

545

$45,862

46,351

$45,161

642

$78,692

79,531

FY05

25

  

$21,153

$38,744

$36,365

$66,333

  

$25,590

863

$46,871

47,370

$43,993

44,461

$80,247

81,102

FY06

25

  

$22,781

$39,231

$35,954

$84,136

  

$26,698

983

$45,977

46,467

$42,136

585

$98,603

99,654

FY07

25

  

$25,962

$41,297

$39,275

$83,998

  

$29,584

899

$47,058

559

$44,754

45,230

$95,715

96,735

FY08

25

  

$19,600

$44,694

$40,104

$81,750

  

$21,508

737

$49,046

568

$44,008

477

$89,709

90,665

FY09

25

  

$18,683

$37,386

$35,216

$56,500

  

$20,575

794

$41,172

611

$38,782

39,196

$62,222

885

FY10

25

  

$18,781

$36,566

$35,661

$61,500

  

$20,349

566

$39,619

40,041

$38,639

39,051

$66,636

67,346

FY11

25

  

$27,668

$37,963

$35,083

$59,300

  

$29,061

371

$39,874

40,299

$36,850

37,242

$62,286

949

FY12

25

  

$22,000

$37,968

$33,583

$72,000

  

$22,639

880

$39,071

487

$34,559

927

$74,092

881

FY13

25

  

$24,431

$35,959

$35,062

$60,300

  

$24,778

25,042

$36,469

858

$35,560

939

$61,156

808

FY14

25

  

$28,114

$39,920

$36,551

$75,000

  

$28,058

357

$39,840

40,265

$36,478

866

$74,851

75,648

FY15

25

$27,025

$38,956

$37,000

$75,000

$27,226

$39,246

$37,275

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

-5.59%

0.09%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

-17.08%

-12.47%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

-5.67%

-4.62%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Table 18. State Director

   

$170,721

 

  

  

Nominal $

  

Constant $

Year

Observations

Obs 		 

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

  

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

25

  

$56,000

$82,660

$79,521

$122,533

  

$74,708

75,504

$110,275

111,450

$106,087

107,217

$163,469

165,210

FY02

25

  

$61,604

$87,459

$84,567

$130,104

  

$80,905

81,767

$114,861

116,085

$111,063

112,246

$170,868

172,688

FY03

25

  

$57,083

$85,785

$88,700

$109,667

  

$73,298

74,079

$110,152

111,325

$113,895

115,108

$140,817

142,317

FY04

25

  

$70,000

$96,097

$99,000

$123,126

  

$87,552

88,484

$120,193

121,473

$123,823

125,142

$153,998

155,639

FY05

25

  

$77,017

$104,232

$102,927

$139,312

  

$93,172

94,165

$126,095

127,438

$124,516

125,843

$168,534

170,329

FY06

25

  

$54,398

$104,504

$101,328

$159,755

  

$63,752

64,431

$122,474

123,779

$118,751

120,016

$187,224

189,219

FY07

25

  

$79,146

$106,843

$99,707

$160,659

  

$90,186

91,147

$121,747

123,044

$113,615

114,826

$183,070

185,020

FY08

25

  

$73,750

$112,563

$110,006

$163,563

  

$80,930

81,792

$123,522

124,838

$120,717

122,003

$179,488

181,400

FY09

25

  

$81,132

$118,890

$113,975

$167,305

  

$89,349

90,301

$130,931

132,325

$125,518

126,855

$184,249

186,212

FY10

25

  

$79,429

$120,986

$116,496

$169,459

  

$86,062

979

$131,089

132,485

$126,225

127,569

$183,610

185,566

FY11

25

  

$81,500

$126,386

$123,557

$169,459

  

$85,604

86,516

$132,749

134,163

$129,779

131,161

$177,991

179,888

FY12

25

  

$83,500

$123,006

$116,500

$169,459

  

$85,926

86,841

$126,580

127,928

$119,885

121,162

$174,383

176,240

FY13

25

  

$56,167

$125,491

$120,400

$169,459

  

$56,964

57,571

$127,273

128,629

$122,110

123,410

$171,865

173,696

FY14

25

  

$78,833

$132,613

$127,467

$169,459

  

$78,676

$132,350

$127,213

$169,122

79,515

$133,760

$128,568

$170,924

FY15

25

$93,500

$134,582

$135,250

$169,459

$94,196

$135,584

$136,257

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

FY11-FY15

0.78%

3.89%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

FY06-FY15

2.17%

13.53%
 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

1415 Years, FY01-FY14:

FY15

19.91%

27.09%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

FY14FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Tabular change is based on change in median pay expressed in constant dollars for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 20152016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Change in Pay visualizations for General Schedule, Washington, DC, and Members of Congress are based on calendar year change calculated in constant, 2015 2016 dollars; staff position is based on change by fiscal year. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."


Author Contact Information

[author name scrubbed], Coordinator, Specialist in American National Government ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
[author name scrubbed], Research Assistant ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

Acknowledgments

[author name scrubbed], Research Assistant, provided update support. Jacobo Licona, Brian Hamel, Joe Wisniewski, and Claire Laurence, former CRS interns, collected data for this report. [author name scrubbed], Visual Information Specialist, created the visualizations for this report. Claudia Guidi and Sandra L. Edwards, User Support Specialists, and Alex Marine, Publications Editor, provided formatting and editorial support.

Footnotes

For information on the number of first-term Members in each Congress, see, First-Term Members of the House of Representatives and Senate, 64th - 113th Congresses, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].

1.

Since 2014, the minimum level of gross pay has been $2,267 for Senate staff. The maximum annual pay for staff in a Senator's personal office has since 2009 been $169,459, 2 U.S.C. 4575. Maximum payable rates for staff in a Senator's office since 2001 are available in Table 1.
2.

For discussion of resources available to Members to carry out their official duties, see, Congressional Salaries and Allowances, by [author name scrubbed].
3.

U.S. Senate, Secretary of the Senate, 2006 U.S. Senate Employment, Compensation, Hiring and Benefits Study (Washington: 2006).
4.

In this report, pay refers to monies paid by the Senate to staff, and excludes other components of total compensation, which might include paid leave or employer contributions to various insurance and retirement benefits.
5.

The Report of the Secretary of the Senate since April 2011 is available at https://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/generic/report_secsen.htm.
6.

http://www.legistorm.com/.
7.

For a discussion of staff roles in Members' offices, see, Congressional Staff: Duties and Functions of Selected Positions, by [author name scrubbed].
8.

Other job titles which may indicate similar duties, and for which pay data were collected for this category, include Office Manager, Office Administrator, and Administrative Manager. No data are available for administrative directors in FY2001-FY2003.
9.

Other job titles which may indicate similar duties, and for which pay data were collected for this category, include Casework Director, Casework Coordinator, and Director of Constituent Services.
10.

Other job titles which may indicate similar duties, and for which pay data were collected for this category, include Constituent Services Representative and Federal Caseworker.
11.

Other job titles which may indicate similar duties, and for which pay data were collected for this category, include Legal Counsel, Legislative Counsel, Senior Counsel, Chief Counsel, and General Counsel.
12.

Another job title which may indicate similar duties, and for which pay data were collected for this category, was Regional Representative.
13.

Obtaining the salaries of every congressional staff member from every Senator's office listed in the Report of the Secretary of the Senate was beyond the capacity of available resources. Each year, a different, random sample of Senators' offices was taken for each position. The large random samples of positions in Senators' offices mean that a full accounting would be unlikely to yield significantly different results. At the same time, a study that examines pay data based on different job titles, or which combines pay data from positions of similar titles or duties (e.g., legislative assistant and senior legislative assistant, or executive assistants, schedulers, and executive assistant/schedulers), could result in findings that are different from those provided here.
14.

The numbers of staff whose data were counted are identified as observations in the data tables.
15.

Other forms of payment do not appear to be recorded in a consistent manner. Sometimes overtime and other pay is listed as separate entries and in other instances, significant one-time changes in a quarterly total may suggest payments in addition to regular salary.
16.

Information about the duration of staff employment is available in CRS Report R44683, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in House Committees, 2006-2016, CRS Report R44685, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in Senate Committees, 2006-2016, CRS Report R44682, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2006-2016, and CRS Report R44684, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in Senators' Offices, 2006-2016.

17.
1718.

U.S. Senate, Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Handbook (Washington: 1996), pp. I-13.
1819.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, at http://www.bls.gov/cpi/tables.htm.
1920.

Member pay data are taken from CRS Report 97-1011, Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables, by [author name scrubbed].
2021.

General Schedule pay change is based on changes in pay levels, and not the pay of individuals. General Schedule pay tables are available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2015/general-schedule/. For a complete description of areas covered under the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality pay table, see http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2014/locality-pay-area-definitions/#w.

2122.

5 years, FY2010-FY2014FY2011-FY2015; 10 years, FY2005-FY2014FY2006-FY2015; and 14 years, FY2001-FY2014FY2015.
2223.

The median is the midpoint at which half of the numbers in a list are higher and the other half lower.
2324.

Data are not available in FY2001 for administrative directors.