Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2023

Changes from December 15, 2015 to November 9, 2016

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Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senate Committees, FY2001-FY2014

~~December 15, 2015~~FY2015 November 9, 2016 (R44325)
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Introduction
Data Concerns
Data Tables and Visualizations

Tables

Table 1. Senate Committee Staff Positions and Availability of Pay Data Since FY2001
Table 2. Senate Committee Pay, Annual Maximums, 2001-~~2014~~

2015

Table 3. Selected Senate Committee Staff Change in Pay, Selected Periods
Table 4. Chief Clerk, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

Table 5. Chief Counsel, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

Table 6. Communications Director, FY2007-F20Y13
Table 7. Counsel, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

Table 8. Legislative Assistant, FY2010-FY2014
Table 9. Minority Chief Counsel, FY2010-FY2014
Table 10. Minority Staff Director, FY2005-FY2014
Table 11. Press Secretary, FY2009-FY2014
Table 12. Professional Staff Member, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

Table 13. Senior Counsel, FY2005-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

Table 14. Staff Assistant, FY2001-~~2014~~

2015

Table 15. Staff Director, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

Table 16. Systems Administrator, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

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 committee offices; or comparison of congressional staff pay levels with those of other federal government pay systems.

This report provides pay data for 13 staff position titles used in Senate committees. The positions include the following: Chief Clerk, Chief Counsel, Communications Director, Counsel, Legislative Assistant, Minority Chief Counsel, Minority Staff Director, Press Secretary, Professional Staff Member, Senior Counsel, Staff Assistant, Staff Director, and Systems Administrator.

Tables provide tabular pay data for each Senate committee staff position. 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;
a comparison at 5-, 10-, and 1415-year intervals from ~~FY2014~~FY2015, depending on data availability, of the cumulative percentage change of pay for that position, to the change in pay of Members of Congress and federal civilian workers paid under the General Schedule in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas; and
distributions of ~~FY2014~~FY2015 pay, when available, in $10,000 increments.

In the past five years (~~FY2010 and FY2014~~FY2011 and FY2015), the change in median pay, in constant ~~2015~~2016 dollars, ranged from a ~~2.92~~16.93% increase for ~~systems administrators to a -24.41~~professional staff members to a -16.48% decrease for ~~counsels. Of 11~~staff assistants. Of the seven staff positions for which data were available in ~~FY2010 and FY2014, 2~~FY2011 and FY2015, two saw pay increases while 9five saw declines (data are not available in ~~FY2010 or FY2014 for communications directors~~FY2011 or FY2015 for chief counsels, communications directors, legislative assistants, minority chief counsels, minority staff directors, and press secretaries). This may be compared to changes ~~over approximately the same period (calendar years 2010-2014)~~ to the pay of Members of Congress, -~~7.89~~5.10%, and General Schedule, DC, -~~6.97%~~3.19%, over approximately the same period (calendar years 2011-2015).

Pay data for staff working in House committee offices are available in CRS Report R44322, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Committees, 2001-2014. Data describing the pay of congressional staff working in the personal offices of Senators and Members of the House are available in CRS Report R44324, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senators' Offices, FY2001-FY2014, and CRS Report R44323, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2014, 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 Senate Committees, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

Introduction

The level of pay for congressional staff is a source of recurring questions among Members of Congress, congressional staff, and the public. In Senate committees, the chair and ranking Member set the terms and conditions of employment for majority and minority staff, respectively. This includes job titles and descriptions; rates of pay, subject to minimum and maximum levels;¹ and resources available to staff 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 committee 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. Data in this report are based on official Senate reports, which afford the opportunity to use consistently collected data. Pay³ 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 31,⁴ as collected and organized by LegiStorm, a private entity that provides some congressional data by subscription.⁵ Additionally, this report provides annual data by fiscal year, which allows for observations about the nature of Senate committee staff compensation over time.

This report provides pay data for 13 staff position titles that are used in Senate committees, and for which sufficient data could be identified. Position titles and the years for which data are available since FY2001 are provided in Table 1. Titles were identified through a two-step process. The first step identified 302 job titles used in Senate committees in FY2014. Of those titles, 277, or 91.7%, were filled by only one staff member and excluded. In the second step, the remaining 25 titles were assessed to determine how many of the 20 Senate committees for which data were available⁶ employed staff with each title. Twelve position titles that were used by six or fewer panels (five for minority positions) were excluded.

Pay data were then collected for the remaining 13 positions. In order to be included, annual pay data for each position needed to be available from at least five committees (four for minority positions). When committees had more than one staff member with the same job title, data for no more than two staff per committee were collected.⁷ Senate committee staff had to hold a position with the same job title in the same committee for the entire fiscal year examined, and not receive pay from any other congressional employing authority for their data to be included. Every recorded payment ascribed in the LegiStorm data to those staff for the fiscal year is tabulated. Data collected for this report may differ from an employee's stated annual salary due to the inclusion of overtime, bonuses, or other payments⁸ in addition to base salary paid in the course of a year.

Table 1. Senate Committee Staff Positions and Availability of Pay Data Since FY2001

Position Title	Available data
Chief Clerk	FY2001-~~FY2014~~ FY2015
Chief Counsel	FY2001-FY2010, FY2012-~~FY2014~~ FY2015
Communications Director	FY2007-FY2013
Counsel	FY2001-~~FY2014~~ FY2015
Legislative Assistant	FY2010, FY2012-FY2014
Minority Chief Counsel	FY2010-FY2012, FY2014
Minority Staff Director	FY2005-FY2014
Press Secretary	FY2009, FY2011-FY2014
Professional Staff Member	FY2001-~~FY2014~~ FY2015
Senior Counsel	FY2005-~~FY2014~~ FY2015
Staff Assistant	FY2001-~~FY2014~~ FY2015
Staff Director	FY2001-~~FY2014~~ FY2015
Systems Administrator	FY2001-~~FY2014~~ FY2012, FY2014-FY2015

Source: CRS. Available data column provides years in which sufficient data (annual pay data for each position from at least five committees, four for minority positions), were available.

⁹

Data Concerns

Data presented here are subject to some challenges that could affect findings presented or their interpretation. Some of the concerns include the following:

Given the large number of positions with titles held by one Senate employee, data provided here almost certainly do not represent all of the jobs carried out by Senate committee staff.
The manner in which staff titles are assigned might have implications about the representativeness of the data provided. Of positions for which data were collected, two broad categories emerge. The first category identifies ~~positions~~position titles that usually apply to one staff member per committee~~,⁹ while the second category includes positions for which committees might hire two or more staff members.¹⁰~~ Consequently, pay data that include all staff working in that position are likely to be more representative of what Senate committees pay staff in those positions than positions for which a smaller sample of pay data may have been collected. ¹⁰ Since almost all available data were collected for those positions, pay information provided is likely to be highly representative of what Senate committees pay staff in those positions. The second category includes positions for which committees might hire two or more staff members,¹¹ Since pay data were collected for no more than two staff per committee for each position, it is more likely that data for those positions is a sample of staff in those positions rather than nearly complete data, which may be less closely representative of what all staff in those positions are paid.
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.
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."¹¹

12Data 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 2 provides the maximum payable rates for Senate committee staff since 2001 in both nominal (current) and constant ~~2015~~2016 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, ~~2015~~2016 dollars.¹²

Table 3 provides the available cumulative percentage changes in median pay for each of the 13 positions, Members of Congress, and salaries paid under the General Schedule in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas.¹³14 Table 4- - Table 16 provide tabular pay data for each Senate committee staff position. 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 ~~2015~~2016 dollars;
a comparison at 5-, 10-, and 1415-year intervals from ~~FY2014,¹⁴~~FY2015,¹⁵ depending on data availability, of the cumulative percentage change of that position to changes in pay, in constant ~~2015~~2016 dollars, of Members of Congress and federal civilian workers paid under the General Schedule in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas;¹⁵16 and
distributions of ~~FY2014~~FY2015 pay, when available, in ~~2015~~2016 dollars, in $10,000 increments.

Between ~~FY2010 and FY2014~~FY2011 and FY2015, the change in median¹⁶17 pay, in constant ~~2015~~2016 dollars, ranged from a ~~2.92~~16.93% increase for ~~systems administrators to a -24.41~~professional staff members to a -16.48% decrease for ~~counsels. Of 11~~staff assistants. Of the seven staff positions for which data were available in ~~FY2010 and FY2014,¹⁷~~ 2FY2011 and FY2015,¹⁸ two positions saw pay increases while 9seven saw declines. This may be compared to changes to the pay of Members of Congress, -~~7.89~~5.10%, and General Schedule, DC, -~~6.97~~3.19%, over approximately the same period (calendar years ~~2010-2014~~2011-2015).

Between ~~FY2005 and FY2014~~FY2006 and FY2015, the change in median pay, in constant ~~2015~~2016 dollars, ranged from a ~~14.04~~22.01% increase for ~~systems administrators to a -13.26~~senior counsels to a -26.72% decrease for staff assistants. Of ~~nine~~the eight staff positions for which data were available in ~~FY2005 and FY2014,¹⁸~~ ~~two~~FY2006 and FY2015,¹⁹ four positions saw pay increases ~~while seven~~and four saw declines. This may be compared to changes to the pay of Members of Congress, -~~11.45~~10.41%, and General Schedule, DC, -0.8013%, over approximately the same period (calendar years ~~2005-2014~~2006-2015).

Between FY2001 and ~~FY2014~~FY2015, the change in median pay, in constant ~~2015~~2016 dollars, ranged from a ~~45.68~~30.88% increase for systems administrators to a -~~19.81~~26.67% decrease for staff assistants. Of seven staff positions for which data were available in ~~FY2010 and FY2014,¹⁹~~ ~~four~~FY2001 and FY2015,²⁰ five positions saw pay increases while ~~three~~two saw declines. This may be compared to changes to the pay of Members of Congress, -10.2940%, and General Schedule, DC, ~~6.42~~7.36%, over approximately the same period (calendar years 2001-~~2014~~2015).

Table 2. Senate Committee Pay, Annual Maximums, 2001-~~2014~~

2015

$172,591

Year	Nominal $	Constant ~~2015~~2016 $
2001	$142,415	$~~190,282~~ 192,017
2002	$147,315	$~~193,765~~ 195,532
2003	$152,015	$~~195,492~~ 197,274
2004	$155,415	$~~194,680~~ 196,455
2005	$159,415	$~~193,147~~ 194,907
2006	$162,515	$~~190,750~~ 192,488
2007	$162,515	$~~185,467~~ 187,158
2008	$166,615	$~~183,115~~ 184,785
2009	$171,315	$~~188,953~~ 190,675
2010	$171,315	$~~185,904~~ 187,598
2011	$171,315	$~~180,215~~ 181,858
2012	$171,315	$~~176,561~~ 178,171
2013	$171,315	$~~174,012~~ 175,599
2014	$171,315	$~~171,235~~ 172,796	2015	$171,315

Source: 2 U.S.C. 4571, 2 U.S.C. 4575, note, CRS calculations. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."

Table 3. Selected Senate Committee Staff Change in Pay, Selected Periods

	Change (Based on Constant, 2016 Dollars)
	5 Years ~~FY10-14~~ FY11-15	10 Years ~~FY05-14~~ FY06-15	~~14 Years~~ ~~FY01-14~~ 15 Years FY01-15
Chief Clerk	-~~8.08~~11.80%	~~2.65~~4.77%	~~27.34~~22.55%
Chief Counsel	~~2.47%~~ —	-~~10.94~~2.35%	~~16.25~~20.05%
Communications Director	—	—	—
Counsel	~~-24.41~~0.87%	-~~15.17~~4.59%	~~-9.42~~2.85%
Legislative Assistant	~~-12.19%~~ —	—	—
Minority Chief Counsel	~~-2.84%~~ —	—	—
Minority Staff Director	~~-8.52%~~ —	~~-11.06%~~ —	—
Press Secretary	—	—	—
Professional Staff Member	~~-2.59~~16.93%	~~-12.94~~5.03%	~~0.28~~20.18%
Senior Counsel	-~~11.83~~2.45%	~~-1.42~~22.01%	—
Staff Assistant	-~~10.27~~16.48%	-~~13.26~~26.72%	-~~19.81~~26.67%
Staff Director	-~~7.92~~5.01%	-~~9.43~~8.63%	-3.5652%
Systems Administrator	~~2.92~~-7.82%	~~14.04~~0.82%	~~45.68~~30.88%
Members of Congress	-~~7.89~~5.10%	-~~11.45~~10.41%	-10.2940%
General Schedule, DC	-~~6.97~~3.19%	-0.8013%	~~6.42~~7.36%

Source: CRS calculations, based on data provided in Table 4 - -Table 16 for congressional positions, 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. "—" indicates no data available. Notes: Insufficient data were available for communications directors for FY2014-FY2015. Between FY2007 and FY2013, change in pay for that position was ~~-14.85~~17.43%. Insufficient data were available for legislative assistants for FY2011 and FY2015. Between FY2010 and FY2014, change in pay for that position was -12.19%. Insufficient data were available for minority chief counsels for FY2015. Between FY2010 and FY2014, change in pay for that position was -2.84%. Insufficient data were available for minority staff directors for FY2015. Between FY2005 and FY2014, change in pay for that position was -8.52%. Insufficient data were available for press secretaries for FY2010 and FY2015. Between FY2009 and FY2014, change in pay for that position was 38.10%. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."

Table 4. Chief Clerk, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

$172,273

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

$61,583

$80,403

$76,604

$103,271

$~~82,157~~

83,032

$~~107,264~~

108,407

$~~102,196~~

103,285

$~~137,772~~

139,240

FY02

14
15

$66,562

$88,542

$86,431

$113,739

$~~87,417~~

88,349

$~~116,283~~

117,522

$~~113,511~~

114,720

$~~149,375~~

150,966

FY03

$70,431

$94,909

$89,524

$135,000

$~~90,437~~

91,400

$~~121,868~~

123,167

$~~114,953~~

116,178

$~~173,346~~

175,193

FY04

$34,704

$97,442

$95,339

$149,295

$43,~~405~~

868

$~~121,874~~

123,173

$~~119,245~~

120,515

$~~186,730~~

188,719

FY05

$40,558

$100,062

$104,792

$142,402

$49,~~066~~

588

$~~121,050~~

122,340

$~~126,773~~

128,123

$~~172,271~~

174,106

FY06

$41,878

$100,753

$101,996

$146,260

$49,~~078~~

601

$~~118,078~~

119,335

$~~119,534~~

120,808

$~~171,409~~

173,235

FY07

$69,966

$114,958

$108,688

$162,515

$~~79,726~~

80,576

$~~130,994~~

132,390

$~~123,849~~

125,169

$~~185,185~~

187,157

FY08

$76,761

$113,709

$113,782

$162,473

$~~84,234~~

85,131

$~~124,780~~

126,109

$~~124,860~~

126,190

$~~178,292~~

180,191

FY09

$81,166

$126,366

$128,157

$168,757

$~~89,386~~

90,338

$~~139,164~~

140,646

$~~141,137~~

142,640

$~~185,849~~

187,829

FY10

$83,962

$134,475

$130,663

$171,000

$~~90,973~~

91,942

$~~145,704~~

147,256

$~~141,575~~

143,083

$~~185,280~~

187,253

FY11

$87,078

$138,801

$135,185

$171,000

$~~91,462~~

92,437

$~~145,789~~

147,343

$~~141,992~~

143,505

$~~179,610~~

181,524

FY12

$48,227

$132,908

$135,083

$171,000

$~~49,628~~

50,157

$~~136,769~~

138,226

$~~139,008~~

140,489

$~~175,969~~

177,843

FY13

$~~119,189~~

117,090

$139,721

$133,680

$171,000

$120,~~882~~

018

$~~141,705~~

143,215

$~~135,578~~

137,022

$~~173,428~~

175,276

FY14

$75,540

$126,002

$130,396

$171,000

$~~75,390~~

$125,751

$130,136

~~$170,660~~
76,193

$127,091

$131,523

$172,478

FY15

$88,270

$127,237

$125,640

$171,000

$88,928

$128,185

$126,576

Change

5 Years, ~~FY10-FY14:~~

FY11-FY15

-8 .08%

-11.80%

10 Years, ~~FY05-FY14:~~

FY06-FY15

2 .65%

4.77%

1415 Years, FY01-~~FY14~~FY15:

27 .34%

22.55%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

~~FY14~~FY15 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 ~~2015~~2016 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 5. Chief Counsel, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

$172,591

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

$84,486

$107,951

$101,201

$136,993

$~~112,711~~113,912

$~~144,015~~145,550

$~~135,010~~136,448

$~~182,759~~184,706

FY02

$61,650

$113,507

$122,944

$146,090

$~~80,965~~81,828

$~~149,071~~150,659

$~~161,465~~163,185

$~~191,862~~193,906

FY03

$90,508

$123,015

$123,692

$150,840

$~~116,217~~117,455

$~~157,957~~159,640

$~~158,827~~160,519

$~~193,686~~195,749

FY04

$120,165

$144,151

$152,992

$154,382

$~~150,295~~151,896

$~~180,296~~182,217

$~~191,354~~193,392

$~~193,091~~195,148

FY05

$91,457

$136,380

$145,667

$158,032

$~~110,641~~111,820

$~~164,986~~166,744

$~~176,222~~178,099

$~~191,179~~193,216

FY06

$79,000

$132,776

$141,617

$161,740

$~~92,584~~93,570

$~~155,607~~157,265

$~~165,968~~167,736

$~~189,551~~191,570

FY07

$88,208

$135,139

$139,245

$161,776

$~~100,513~~101,583

$~~153,990~~155,630

$~~158,669~~160,359

$~~184,342~~186,306

FY08

$102,844

$140,442

$146,107

$163,542

$~~112,857~~114,059

$~~154,115~~155,757

$~~160,332~~162,040

$~~179,464~~181,376

FY09

$115,811

$147,836

$151,134

$168,091

$~~127,540~~128,899

$~~162,808~~164,543

$~~166,441~~168,214

$~~185,115~~187,088

FY10

$104,500

$141,385

$141,350

$171,315

$~~113,226~~114,433

$~~153,191~~154,823

$~~153,154~~154,786

$~~185,621~~187,598

FY11

—

FY12

$~~48,227~~

82,588

$144,430

$156,360

$171,~~000~~

315

$~~49,628~~85,893

$~~148,626~~150,209

$~~160,903~~162,617

$~~175,969~~178,171

FY13

$117,667

$151,158

$157,650

$171,315

$~~119,337~~120,609

$~~153,304~~154,938

$~~159,889~~161,592

$~~173,748~~175,599

FY14

$56,250

$144,077

$157,255

$171,315

$56,138

$143,791

$156,943

~~$170,974~~

$56,736

$145,323

$158,615

$172,795

FY15

$103,000

$154,973

$162,590

$171,315

$103,767

$156,127

$163,800

Change

56 Years, FY10-~~FY14:~~

FY15

2 .47%

5.82%

10 Years, ~~FY05-FY14:~~

FY06-FY15

-10 .94%

-2.35%

1415 Years, FY01-~~FY14:~~

FY15:

~~16 .25%~~

20.05%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

~~FY14~~FY15 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. "—" indicates insufficient data were available. 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 ~~2015~~2016 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. Communications Director, FY2007-F20Y13

FY15

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY07

$73,556

$107,862

$109,160

$134,132

$~~83,817~~

84,709

$~~122,909~~

124,218

$~~124,387~~

125,712

$~~152,842~~

154,471

FY08

$85,026

$119,613

$122,042

$145,043

$~~93,304~~

94,298

$~~131,259~~

132,657

$~~133,924~~

135,351

$~~159,164~~

160,860

FY09

$96,248

$131,961

$135,050

$158,855

$~~105,996~~

107,125

$~~145,326~~

146,874

$~~148,728~~

150,312

$~~174,943~~

176,807

FY10

$100,995

$139,589

$142,102

$163,230

$~~109,429~~

110,595

$~~151,246~~

152,857

$~~153,968~~

155,609

$~~176,861~~

178,745

FY11

$116,096

$128,866

$125,214

$153,024

$~~121,942~~

123,241

$~~135,354~~

136,796

$~~131,519~~

132,920

$~~160,729~~

162,441

FY12

$45,555

$122,498

$134,026

$171,000

$~~46,879~~

47,379

$~~126,057~~

127,400

$~~137,920~~

139,390

$~~175,969~~

177,843

FY13

$85,000

$139,038

$144,026

$171,000

$~~86,207~~

87,125

$~~141,012~~

142,515

$~~146,071~~

147,628

$~~173,428~~

175,276

FY14

—

Change

87 Years, FY07-FY13:

~~-14 .85%~~

17.43%

Median Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 7. Counsel, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

$162,871

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

$45,667

$82,655

$84,134

$113,854

$~~60,923~~

61,572

$~~110,268~~

111,443

$~~112,241~~

113,437

$~~151,890~~

153,508

FY02

$64,750

$88,242

$86,862

$133,302

$85,~~037~~

943

$~~115,889~~

117,124

$~~114,077~~

115,292

$~~175,068~~

176,933

FY03

$46,625

$94,565

$92,492

$144,254

$~~59,869~~

60,506

$~~121,426~~

122,719

$~~118,764~~

120,029

$~~185,229~~

187,202

FY04

$52,750

$96,079

$94,462

$149,251

$~~65,977~~

66,679

$~~120,169~~

121,450

$~~118,148~~

119,406

$~~186,674~~

188,663

FY05

$58,926

$100,903

$99,076

$158,248

$~~71,286~~

72,046

$~~122,068~~

123,369

$~~119,858~~

121,135

$~~191,442~~

193,481

FY06

$57,500

$107,137

$103,245

$161,611

$~~67,387~~

68,105

$~~125,559~~

126,897

$~~120,998~~

122,287

$~~189,400~~

191,417

FY07

$51,083

$108,590

$104,969

$151,620

$58,~~209~~

829

$~~123,738~~

125,056

$~~119,612~~

120,886

$~~172,770~~

174,611

FY08

$82,694

$120,259

$122,423

$155,544

$~~90,745~~

91,712

$~~131,967~~

133,373

$~~134,342~~

135,773

$~~170,687~~

172,506

FY09

$68,347

$118,728

$118,751

$168,189

$~~75,269~~

76,071

$~~130,753~~

132,146

$~~130,778~~

132,171

$~~185,223~~

187,196

FY10

$53,125

$115,834

$124,146

$161,504

$~~57,561~~

58,174

$~~125,506~~

126,843

$~~134,513~~

135,946

$~~174,990~~

176,855

FY11

$65,587

$115,139

$108,961

$171,147

$~~68,889~~

69,623

$~~120,937~~

122,225

$~~114,447~~

115,666

$~~179,764~~

181,679

FY12

$62,167

$112,031

$107,330

$157,000

$~~63,973~~

64,654

$~~115,286~~

116,514

$~~110,448~~

111,625

$~~161,562~~

163,283

FY13

10
11

$53,000

$113,373

$105,000

$160,300

$~~53,753~~

54,325

$~~114,983~~

116,208

$~~106,491~~

107,625

$~~162,576~~

164,308

FY14

$53,000

$103,676

$101,875

$148,087

$~~52,894~~

$103,469

$101,672

~~$147,793~~
53,458

$104,572

$102,755

$149,367

FY15

$63,425

$110,316

$115,812

$161,667

$63,897

$111,138

$116,675

Change

5 Years, ~~FY10-FY14:~~

FY11-FY15

~~-24 .41%~~

0.87%

10 Years, ~~FY05-FY14:~~

FY06-FY15

~~-15 .17%~~

-4.59%

1415 Years, FY01-~~FY14~~

FY15:

-9 .42%

2.85%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

~~FY14~~FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 8. Legislative Assistant, FY2010-FY2014

Median

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY10

$44,000

$54,821

$52,795

$75,698

$~~47,674~~

48,182

$~~59,399~~

60,032

$57,~~204~~

813

$82,~~019~~

892

FY11

—

FY12

$44,167

$51,990

$49,285

$69,091

$45,~~450~~

934

$~~53,501~~

54,071

$~~50,717~~

51,258

$71,~~098~~

856

FY13

$34,500

$45,915

$46,186

$60,623

$~~34,990~~

35,363

$~~46,567~~

47,063

$~~46,842~~

47,341

$~~61,484~~

62,139

FY14

$38,262

$51,101

$50,333

$75,250

$38,~~186~~

593

$51,~~000~~

543

$50,~~233~~

768

$75,~~100~~

900

FY15

—

~~Change~~
—

—

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14

-12.19%

5 Years, FY10-FY14

~~-12 .19%~~

~~Median Pay~~

~~Change in Pay~~

~~FY14 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. "—" indicates insufficient data were available. 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 ~~2015~~2016 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. Minority Chief Counsel, FY2010-FY2014

Median

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY10

$155,750

$160,401

$158,359

$169,136

$~~168,756~~

170,554

$~~173,795~~

175,647

$~~171,583~~

173,411

$~~183,260~~

185,213

FY11

$~~38,642~~

145,083

$161,337

$160,054

$~~62,000~~

171,187

$~~40,588~~

154,012

$~~169,461~~

171,266

$~~168,113~~

169,904

$~~65,122~~

181,722

FY12

$159,030

$164,649

$164,125

$171,315

$~~163,651~~

165,394

$~~169,433~~

171,238

$~~168,894~~

170,693

$~~176,293~~

178,171

FY13

—

FY14

$50,000

$142,659

$167,041

$171,315

$~~49,900~~

50,432

$~~142,375~~

143,892

$~~166,709~~

168,485

$~~170,974~~

172,795

FY15

—

~~Change~~
—

—

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14

-2.84%

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

~~-2 .84%~~

~~Median Pay~~

~~Change in Pay~~

~~FY14 Distrib~~~~ution of~~ Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 10. Minority Staff Director, FY2005-FY2014

—

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY05

$153,248

$156,659

$157,487

$158,415

$~~185,393~~

187,368

$~~189,519~~

191,538

$~~190,520~~

192,550

$~~191,643~~

193,685

FY06

$142,577

$156,150

$158,976

$161,740

$~~167,094~~

168,874

$~~183,000~~

184,949

$~~186,312~~

188,297

$~~189,551~~

191,570

FY07

$146,354

$158,185

$161,936

$162,515

$~~166,770~~

168,546

$~~180,251~~

182,171

$~~184,525~~

186,491

$~~185,185~~

187,157

FY08

$86,829

$155,917

$165,419

$165,590

$~~95,283~~

96,298

$~~171,097~~

172,920

$~~181,524~~

183,458

$~~181,712~~

183,648

FY09

$164,496

$167,310

$167,489

$169,161

$~~181,156~~

183,086

$~~184,255~~

186,218

$~~184,452~~

186,417

$~~186,293~~

188,278

FY10

$98,583

$162,978

$170,947

$171,315

$~~106,816~~

107,953

$~~176,588~~

178,469

$~~185,222~~

187,195

$~~185,621~~

187,598

FY11

$103,750

$160,060

$170,900

$171,315

$~~108,974~~

110,135

$~~168,119~~

169,910

$~~179,505~~

181,417

$~~179,941~~

181,858

FY12

$125,000

$164,312

$171,315

$~~128,632~~

130,002

$~~169,086~~

170,887

$~~176,293~~

178,171

$~~176,293~~

178,171

FY13

$143,497

$164,241

$168,276

$171,315

$~~145,535~~

147,085

$~~166,573~~

168,347

$~~170,666~~

172,484

$~~173,748~~

175,599

FY14

$90,500

$160,094

$169,785

$171,315

$~~90,320~~

91,282

$~~159,775~~

161,477

$~~169,447~~

171,252

$~~170,974~~

172,795

FY15

—

Change

5 Years, FY10-FY14:

~~- 8 .52%~~

-8.52%

10 Years, FY05-FY14:

-11

-11.06%

Median ~~Pay~~

~~Change in Pay~~

~~FY14 Distribution of~~ Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 11. Press Secretary, FY2009-FY2014

—

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY09

$45,070

$69,463

$63,500

$108,072

$~~49,634~~

50,163

$~~76,498~~

77,313

$~~69,931~~

70,676

$~~119,018~~

120,285

FY10

—

FY11

$55,263

$82,915

$86,500

$101,146

$58,~~046~~

664

$~~87,090~~

88,018

$~~90,855~~

91,823

$~~106,239~~

107,370

FY12

$61,333

$89,138

$86,275

$140,225

$63,~~115~~

788

$~~91,728~~

92,705

$~~88,782~~

89,728

$~~144,299~~

145,836

FY13

$48,833

$86,476

$87,000

$141,520

$~~49,527~~

50,054

$~~87,703~~

88,638

$~~88,235~~

89,175

$~~143,530~~

145,059

FY14

$51,049

$96,271

$96,768

$144,277

$~~50,947~~

51,490

$~~96,079~~

97,103

$~~96,576~~

97,605

$~~143,990~~

145,524

FY15

—

Change

6 Years, FY09-FY14

38 .10%

38.10%

Median ~~Pay~~

~~FY14 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. "—" indicates insufficient data were available. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant ~~2015~~2016 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in blue. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."

Table 12. Professional Staff Member, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

$142,567

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

$39,833

$77,309

$72,950

$132,792

$53,~~141~~

707

$~~103,135~~

104,234

$~~97,321~~

98,358

$~~177,154~~

179,041

FY02

$45,310

$77,372

$67,750

$142,500

$~~59,506~~

60,140

$~~101,614~~

102,696

$~~88,977~~

89,925

$~~187,147~~

189,141

FY03

$52,241

$84,021

$75,431

$130,622

$67,~~080~~

795

$~~107,887~~

109,037

$~~96,857~~

97,889

$~~167,725~~

169,512

FY04

$34,065

$85,743

$85,378

$134,736

$~~42,607~~

43,061

$~~107,242~~

108,385

$~~106,786~~

107,923

$~~168,520~~

170,315

FY05

$43,750

$90,783

$92,670

$146,717

$~~52,927~~

53,490

$~~109,825~~

110,995

$~~112,108~~

113,302

$~~177,491~~

179,382

FY06

$46,383

$90,325

$95,025

$132,982

$54,~~359~~

938

$~~105,856~~

106,984

$~~111,365~~

112,551

$~~155,848~~

157,508

FY07

$50,011

$88,776

$80,515

$154,750

$~~56,987~~

57,595

$~~101,160~~

102,238

$~~91,747~~

92,724

$~~176,337~~

178,215

FY08

$50,667

$93,804

$88,375

$160,473

$~~55,599~~

56,192

$~~102,937~~

104,034

$~~96,979~~

98,012

$~~176,097~~

177,973

FY09

$18,224

$101,308

$96,104

$169,161

$20,~~070~~

284

$~~111,568~~

112,756

$~~105,837~~

106,965

$~~186,293~~

188,278

FY10

$18,952

$94,800

$92,474

$169,839

$20,~~535~~

754

$~~102,716~~

103,811

$~~100,196~~

101,264

$~~184,021~~

185,982

FY11

16
17

$20,065

$97,814

$95,228

$171,184

$21,~~075~~

300

$~~102,739~~

103,834

$~~100,022~~

101,088

$~~179,803~~

181,719

FY12

$40,250

$97,808

$94,597

$168,500

$41,~~419~~

861

$~~100,650~~

101,722

$~~97,345~~

98,382

$~~173,396~~

175,243

FY13

$46,089

$102,714

$82,000

$170,837

$~~46,743~~

47,241

$~~104,172~~

105,282

$~~83,164~~

84,050

$~~173,263~~

175,109

FY14

14
15

$19,208

$96,447

$97,792

$165,659

$19,~~170~~

$96,255

$97,597

~~$165,329~~
374

$97,281

$98,637

$167,090

FY15

$50,000

$103,805

$117,333

$141,513

$50,372

$104,578

$118,207

Change

5 Years, ~~FY10-FY14:~~

FY11-FY15

~~-2 .59%~~

16.93%

10 Years, ~~FY05-FY14:~~

FY06-FY15

-12 .94%

5.03%

1415 Years, FY01-~~FY14:~~

FY15:

~~0 .28%~~

20.18%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

~~FY14~~FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 13. Senior Counsel, FY2005-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

$160,646

-2.45%

22.01%

			Nominal $					Constant $
Year	Committees	Observations	Minimum	Average		Median	Maximum	Minimum		Average	Median	Maximum
FY05	5	6	$76,979	$112,844		$110,836	$139,937	$~~93,126~~ 94,118		$~~136,514~~ 137,968	$~~134,084~~ 135,513	$~~169,289~~ 171,093
FY06	5	8	$87,268	$104,884		$99,871	$143,270	$~~102,274~~ 103,364		$~~122,919~~ 124,229	$~~117,044~~ 118,291	$~~167,905~~ 169,694
FY07	7 6	7	$97,000	$125,969		$125,221	$162,515	$~~110,531~~ 111,708		$~~143,541~~ 145,070	$~~142,688~~ 144,208	$~~185,185~~ 187,157
FY08	6	8	$113,665	$131,615		$130,872	$151,715	$~~124,732~~ 126,061		$~~144,429~~ 145,968	$~~143,614~~ 145,144	$~~166,486~~ 168,260
FY09	8	13	$97,585	$131,288		$134,472	$158,651	$~~107,468~~ 108,613		$~~144,585~~ 146,125	$~~148,092~~ 149,669	$~~174,719~~ 176,581
FY10	5	9	$111,026	$139,345		$138,367	$165,567	$~~120,298~~ 121,579		$~~150,981~~ 152,589	$~~149,921~~ 151,518	$~~179,393~~ 181,304
FY11	6	10	$79,792	$131,807		$139,372	$171,315	$~~83,809~~ 84,702		$~~138,444~~ 139,919	$~~146,389~~ 147,949	$~~179,941~~ 181,858
FY12	7	12	$95,917	$130,086		$130,992	$165,070	$~~98,703~~ 99,755		$~~133,866~~ 135,292	$~~134,798~~ 136,234	$~~169,866~~ 171,676
FY13	7	11	$92,417	$130,145		$134,000	$167,320	$~~93,729~~ 94,727		$~~131,993~~ 133,399	$~~135,903~~ 137,351	$~~169,696~~ 171,504
FY14	8	12	$~~28,760~~ 86,690	$133,079		$~~127,788~~ 132,443	$170,650	$~~28,702~~ 87,439		$~~132,814~~ 134,229	$~~127,534~~ 133,587	$~~170,310~~ 172,125	FY15	8	12	$112,179	$136,273	$143,259	$159,458	$113,014	$137,288	$144,326
								Change				5 Years, FY11-FY15
												10 Years, FY06-FY15
Median Pay					Change in Pay				~~FY14~~FY15 Distribution of Pay
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 14. Staff Assistant, FY2001-~~2014~~

2015

$55,409

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

$25,750

$40,255

$37,480

$62,500

$34,~~352~~

718

$~~53,703~~

54,275

$50,~~001~~

533

$~~83,380~~

84,268

FY02

$15,017

$38,281

$34,275

$67,500

$19,~~721~~

931

$50,~~275~~

811

$45,~~014~~

493

$~~88,649~~

89,593

FY03

$15,875

$35,769

$33,648

$59,252

$20,~~384~~

601

$~~45,929~~

46,418

$43,~~206~~

666

$76,~~082~~

893

FY04

$24,374

$40,718

$36,510

$74,208

$30,~~486~~

811

$~~50,927~~

51,470

$~~45,664~~

46,151

$~~92,815~~

93,803

FY05

$27,031

$44,228

$38,210

$74,760

$~~32,701~~

33,049

$~~53,505~~

54,075

$46,~~225~~

717

$~~90,441~~

91,404

FY06

$20,379

$49,025

$42,693

$82,667

$~~23,883~~

24,138

$~~57,455~~

58,067

$50,~~034~~

567

$~~96,881~~

97,913

FY07

$20,379

$49,025

$42,693

$82,667

$23,~~222~~

469

$~~55,864~~

56,459

$~~48,648~~

49,167

$~~94,198~~

95,202

FY08

$18,057

$41,565

$36,767

$82,055

$~~19,815~~

20,026

$~~45,612~~

46,098

$40,~~347~~

777

$~~90,044~~

91,003

FY09

$29,405

$45,395

$39,156

$85,670

$32,~~383~~

728

$~~49,992~~

50,525

$43,~~122~~

582

$~~94,346~~

95,351

FY10

$30,250

$46,016

$41,237

$90,145

$~~32,776~~

33,125

$~~49,859~~

50,390

$~~44,680~~

45,156

$~~97,673~~

98,713

FY11

$32,169

$43,959

$41,793

$87,002

$~~33,788~~

34,148

$46,~~173~~

665

$~~43,898~~

44,365

$~~91,383~~

92,356

FY12

$26,081

$41,748

$38,543

$85,000

$~~26,839~~

27,125

$~~42,961~~

43,419

$~~39,662~~

40,085

$~~87,470~~

88,401

FY13

$32,750

$45,196

$40,455

$99,000

$33,~~215~~

569

$~~45,838~~

46,327

$41,~~029~~

466

$~~100,406~~

101,475

FY14

$30,081

$48,008

$40,174

$99,667

$30,~~021~~

$47,913

$40,094

~~$99,468~~
341

$48,423

$40,521

$100,528

FY15

$31,458

$39,836

$36,780

$55,000

$31,692

$40,133

$37,054

Change

5 Years, ~~FY10-FY14:~~

FY11-FY15

-10 .27%

-16.48%

10 Years, ~~FY05-FY14:~~

FY06-FY15

-13 .26%

-26.72%

1415 Years, FY01-~~FY14~~FY15:

-19 .81%

-26.67%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

~~FY14~~FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 15. Staff Director, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

$172,591

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

$122,300

$132,763

$131,658

$141,465

$~~163,158~~

164,896

$~~177,116~~

179,003

$~~175,641~~

177,513

$~~188,725~~

190,735

FY02

$124,538

$141,015

$144,234

$146,090

$~~163,558~~

165,300

$~~185,196~~

187,169

$~~189,424~~

191,442

$~~191,862~~

193,906

FY03

$70,500

$135,431

$142,182

$150,840

$~~90,525~~

91,490

$~~173,900~~

175,753

$~~182,569~~

184,514

$~~193,686~~

195,749

FY04

$95,875

$145,224

$152,015

$154,565

$~~119,915~~

121,192

$~~181,638~~

183,573

$~~190,131~~

192,157

$~~193,321~~

195,380

FY05

$103,500

$148,838

$154,594

$158,415

$~~125,209~~

126,543

$~~180,057~~

181,976

$~~187,020~~

189,013

$~~191,643~~

193,685

FY06

$101,512

$146,915

$158,261

$161,740

$~~118,967~~

120,234

$~~172,177~~

174,011

$~~185,473~~

187,449

$~~189,551~~

191,570

FY07

$112,500

$151,560

$159,500

$162,515

$~~128,193~~

129,559

$~~172,702~~

174,542

$~~181,749~~

183,685

$~~185,185~~

187,157

FY08

$101,790

$148,983

$155,671

$165,590

$~~111,701~~

112,891

$~~163,489~~

165,230

$~~170,827~~

172,647

$~~181,712~~

183,648

FY09

$108,585

$154,373

$167,386

$169,161

$~~119,582~~

120,856

$~~170,008~~

171,819

$~~184,338~~

186,302

$~~186,293~~

188,278

FY10

$114,197

$163,801

$169,776

$171,315

$~~123,734~~

125,052

$~~177,479~~

179,370

$~~183,954~~

185,913

$~~185,621~~

187,598

FY11

$102,000

$160,654

$169,838

$171,315

$~~107,136~~

108,277

$~~168,743~~

170,541

$~~178,389~~

180,290

$~~179,941~~

181,858

FY12

$115,000

$163,053

$170,647

$171,315

$~~118,341~~

119,602

$~~167,790~~

169,578

$~~175,605~~

177,476

$~~176,293~~

178,171

FY13

$91,890

$159,899

$170,573

$171,315

$~~93,195~~

94,187

$~~162,169~~

163,897

$~~172,996~~

174,839

$~~173,748~~

175,599

FY14

$96,250

$153,548

$169,729

$171,315

$~~96,058~~

$153,243

$169,392

~~$170,974~~
97,082

$154,875

$171,196

$172,795

FY15

$101,875

$154,371

$169,999

$171,315

$102,634

$155,520

$171,265

Change

5 Years, ~~FY10-FY14:~~

FY11-FY15

~~-7 .92%~~

-5.01%

10 Years, ~~FY05-FY14:~~

FY06-FY15

~~-9 .43%~~

-8.63%

1415 Years, FY01-~~FY14~~FY15:

~~-3 .56%~~

-3.52%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

~~FY14~~FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 16. Systems Administrator, FY2001-~~FY2014~~

FY2015

FY15

Nominal $

Constant $

Year

Committees

Observations

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

Minimum

Average

Median

Maximum

FY01

$37,766

$55,418

$53,000

$79,902

$50,~~383~~

920

$~~73,932~~

74,720

$~~70,706~~

71,459

$~~106,595~~

107,731

FY02

$41,866

$53,576

$55,982

$65,386

$~~54,984~~

55,569

$~~70,362~~

71,112

$~~73,522~~

74,306

$~~87,872~~

86,787

FY03

$46,175

$60,691

$59,910

$72,926

$59,~~291~~

922

$~~77,931~~

78,761

$~~76,928~~

77,747

$~~93,640~~

94,638

FY04

$57,215

$65,508

$64,965

$75,258

$~~71,561~~

72,323

$~~81,934~~

82,807

$~~81,254~~

82,120

$~~94,128~~

95,131

FY05

$66,000

$75,151

$74,667

$84,447

$~~79,844~~

80,694

$~~90,914~~

91,882

$~~90,329~~

91,291

$~~102,160~~

103,248

FY06

$61,917

$79,205

$78,318

$104,374

$~~72,563~~

73,336

$~~92,825~~

93,814

$~~91,785~~

92,762

$~~122,321~~

123,624

FY07

$70,677

$86,261

$85,579

$104,631

$~~80,536~~

81,394

$~~98,294~~

99,341

$~~97,517~~

98,556

$~~119,227~~

120,497

FY08

$66,755

$87,822

$86,062

$104,286

$~~73,254~~

74,035

$~~96,372~~

97,399

$~~94,441~~

95,447

$~~114,239~~

115,658

FY09

$70,344

$93,240

$94,181

$112,571

$~~77,468~~

78,294

$~~102,683~~

103,777

$~~103,720~~

104,825

$~~123,972~~

125,293

FY10

$75,788

$93,062

$92,375

$109,958

$82,~~117~~

992

$~~100,833~~

101,908

$~~100,089~~

101,155

$~~119,140~~

120,410

FY11

$79,802

$95,981

$95,578

$112,625

$~~83,820~~

84,713

$~~100,814~~

101,888

$~~100,390~~

101,460

$~~118,296~~

119,556

FY12

$75,802

$98,218

$97,083

$116,773

$78,~~004~~

835

$~~101,072~~

102,148

$~~99,904~~

100,968

$~~120,166~~

121,446

FY13

—

FY14

$77,563

$98,631

$103,212

$124,791

$~~77,408~~

78,233

$~~98,435~~

99,484

$~~103,007~~

104,104

$~~124,543~~

125,870

$79,635

$95,415

$92,833

$116,870

$80,228

$96,126

$93,525

$117,740

Change

5 Years, ~~FY10-FY14:~~

FY11-FY15

~~2 .92%~~

-7.82%

10 Years, ~~FY05-FY14:~~

FY06-FY15

~~14 .04%~~

0.82%

1415 Years, FY01-~~FY14:~~

FY15:

~~45 .68%~~

30.88%

Median Pay

Change in Pay

~~FY14~~FY15 Distribution of Pay

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

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

~~Jacobo Licona and Brian Hamel, former CRS interns, collected data for this report~~[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

Positions that typically employ one staff member per committee include staff director and systems administrator.

1.	Since 2014, the minimum level of gross pay has been $2,267 for Senate staff. The maximum annual pay for Senate committee staff has since 2009 been $171,315, 2 U.S.C. 4571, 2 U.S.C. 4575. Maximum payable rates for Senate committee staff since 2001 are available in Table 2.
2.	For discussion of resources available to committees, and their distribution, see CRS Report R43160, Senate Committee Funding: Description of Process and Analysis of Disbursements, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]
3.	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.
4.	The Report of the Secretary of the Senate since April, 2011, is available at https://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/generic/report_secsen.htm.
5.	http://www.legistorm.com/.
6.	The Reports of the Secretary provided data for the following panels in ~~FY2014~~FY2015: Aging; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Appropriations; Armed Services; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Budget; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works; Ethics; Finance; Foreign Relations; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Indian Affairs; Intelligence; Judiciary; Rules and Administration; Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and Veterans' Affairs.
7.	The numbers of staff whose data were counted are identified as observations in the data tables.
8.	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.
9.	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.	10.
1011.	Positions that typically employ two or more staff members per committee include counsel, staff assistant, and professional staff member.
1112.	U.S. Senate, Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Handbook (Washington: 1996), pp. I-13, available from the authors.
1213.	U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, at http://www.bls.gov/cpi/tables.htm.
1314.	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.
1415.	5 years, ~~FY2010-FY2014~~FY2011-FY2015; 10 years, ~~FY2005-FY2014; and 14~~FY2006-FY2015; and 15 years, FY2001-~~FY2014~~FY2015.
1516.	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.
1617.	The median is the midpoint at which half of the numbers in a list are higher and the other half lower.
1718.	Sufficient data are not available in ~~FY2010 and FY2014 for communications directors~~FY2011 and FY2015 for chief counsels, communications directors, legislative assistants, minority chief counsels, minority staff directors, and press secretaries.
1819.	Sufficient data are not available in ~~FY2005 and FY2014~~FY2006 and FY2015 for communications directors, legislative assistants, minority chief counsels, minority staff directors, and press secretaries.
1920.	Sufficient data are not available in FY 2001 and FY ~~2014~~2015 for communications directors, legislative assistants, minority chief counsels, minority staff directors, senior counsels, and press secretaries.

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2023

Changes from December 15, 2015 to November 9, 2016

Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senate Committees, FY2001-FY2014

Contents

Tables

Summary

Introduction

Data Concerns

12Data Tables and Visualizations

Footnotes