Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2023

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected
September 29, 2022
Positions, FY2001-FY2021
R. Eric Petersen
The level of pay for congressional staff is a source of recurring interest among Members of
Specialist in American
Congress, congressional staff, and the public. There may be interest in congressional pay data
National Government
from multiple perspectives, including assessment of the costs of congressional operations;

guidance in setting pay levels for staff in committee offices; consideration by staff when
Tyler L. Wolanin
negotiating compensation for a new position or promotion; or comparison of congressional staff
Research Assistant
pay levels with those of other federal government pay systems.

This report provides pay data for the following 14 staff position titles that are used in Senate

committees: Archivist; Chief Clerk; Chief Counsel; Communications Director; Counsel; Deputy
Staff Director; General Counsel; Minority Staff Director; Professional Staff Member; Senior Counsel; Senior Professional
Staff Member; Staff Assistant; Staff Director; and Systems Administrator. The following table provides FY2021 pay levels
and the change in median pay levels for these positions in constant 2022 dollars, between FY2020 and FY2021.
FY2021 Median Pay and Percentage Change for Selected Staff Positions in Senate Committees in
2022 Dollars and Percentage Change, FY2020-FY2021
FY2021 Pay,
Change,
FY2021 Pay,
Change,
Position
Constant
FY2020-
Position
Constant
FY2020-
2022$
FY2021
2022$
FY2021
Archivist
$87,824
6.34%
Minority Staff Director
$184,075
-4.64%
Chief Clerk
$160,584
5.82%
Professional Staff Member
$117,497
-5.79%
Chief Counsel
$182,808
-2.59%
Senior Counsel
$134,878
-13.86%
Communications Director
$140,318
-11.31%
Senior Professional Staff Member
$142,646
-2.56%
Counsel
$120,701
2.21%
Staff Assistant
$50,014
-1.25%
Deputy Staff Director
$178,419
-6.27%
Staff Director
$184,380
-4.48%
General Counsel
$182,965
-3.71%
Systems Administrator
$94,707
-14.13%
Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. FY2021 median pay
provided in constant 2022 dol ars.
Report tables provide aggregate statistics on pay for each staff position for FY2001, FY2007, FY2012, and FY2017-FY2021,
including quartiles, median pay, and average pay, based on available data. Graphic displays are also included, providing
representations of pay from the following two perspectives:
 a line graph showing change in median pay, FY2001-FY2021, in nominal (current) and constant, 2022
dollars; and
 distributions of FY2021 pay in constant 2022 dollars, in $10,000 increments.
Other data, which may not represent the entire FY2001-FY2021 period, are available to congressional staff upon request.
The Congressional Research Service provides a number of products on staffing issues. These can be found in CRS Report
R44688, Congressional Staff: CRS Products on Size, Pay, Job Tenure, and Duties, Congressional Staff: CRS Products on
Size, Pay, Job Tenure, and Duties.
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Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Data Concerns ................................................................................................................................. 2
Data Tables and Visualizations ........................................................................................................ 2
Senate Committee Staff Pay Tables ................................................................................................. 3

Tables
Table 1. Senate Committee Staff Pay, Annual Maximums, 2001-2022........................................... 4
Table 2. FY2021 Median Pay in Constant 2022 Dollars, and Changes in Pay for Selected
Staff In Senate Committees, Members Of Congress, and Selected General Schedule
Employees, Selected Periods ........................................................................................................ 5
Table 3. Archivist............................................................................................................................. 6
Table 4. Chief Clerk ........................................................................................................................ 7
Table 5. Chief Counsel .................................................................................................................... 8
Table 6. Communications Director .................................................................................................. 9
Table 7. Counsel ............................................................................................................................ 10
Table 8. Deputy Staff Director ....................................................................................................... 11
Table 9. General Counsel .............................................................................................................. 12
Table 10. Minority Staff Director .................................................................................................. 13
Table 11. Professional Staff Member ............................................................................................ 14
Table 12. Senior Counsel ............................................................................................................... 15
Table 13. Senior Professional Staff Member ................................................................................. 16
Table 14. Staff Assistant ................................................................................................................ 17
Table 15. Staff Director ................................................................................................................. 18
Table 16. Systems Administrator ................................................................................................... 19

Contacts
Author Information ........................................................................................................................ 20


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Introduction
Levels of pay for congressional staff are a source of recurring interest 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 maximum levels;1 and resources
available to carry out their official duties. 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; consideration by staff when negotiating
compensation for a new position or promotion; 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.2 Pay information in this report is based on the Senate Report of the
Secretary of the Senate, published semiannually by the Senate,3 as collated by LegiStorm, a
private entity that provides some congressional data by subscription.4 Data in this report are based
on official Senate reports, which afford the opportunity to use consistently collected data from a
single, authoritative source. 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 14 staff position titles that are used in Senate committees, and
for which sufficient data could be identified. The positions include the following:
Archivist
Deputy Staff Director
Senior Professional Staff Member
Chief Clerk
General Counsel
Staff Assistant
Chief Counsel
Minority Staff Director
Staff Director
Communications Director
Professional Staff Member
Systems Administrator
Counsel
Senior Counsel

When committees had more than two staff members with the same job title, data for no more than
two staff per committee were collected. Senate committee staff had to hold a position with the
same job title in the same committee for the entire 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 payments in addition to base salary paid in the course of a year.5

1 The maximum annual pay for staff in Senate committees is $203,700. See Salary Directive of President pro tempore
of the Senate, March 15, 2022, set out as a note following 2 U.S.C. 4575. Maximum payable rates for Senate
committee staff since 2001 are available in Table 1.
2 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.
3 Volumes of the Report of the Secretary of the Senate since April 2011 are available at https://www.senate.gov/
legislative/common/generic/report_secsen.htm.
4 http://www.legistorm.com/.
5 Other forms of payment do not appear to be recorded in a consistent manner. Sometimes overtime and other pay are
listed as separate entries and in other instances, significant one-time changes in a semiannual total may suggest
payments in addition to regular salary.
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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:
 A large number of position titles in Senate committees are held by only 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 position
titles that usually appear to apply to one staff member per committee.6 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.7 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 are a sample of staff in those positions rather than nearly
complete data. Those data 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,
and full- or part-time status of staff, or other potential explanations for levels of
compensation.
 Differences might exist in the job duties of staff in 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 affect
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.”8
Data 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 Senate committee staff since FY2001 in both nominal (current) and
constant, 2022 dollars. Constant dollar calculations throughout the report are based on the
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), various years, expressed in 2022
dollars.9

6 Positions that typically employ one staff member per committee include staff director and systems administrator.
7 Positions that typically employ two or more staff members per committee include counsel, staff assistant, and
professional staff member.
8 U.S. Senate, Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Handbook (Washington: 1996), pp. I-13, available to
congressional clients from the authors.
9 U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, at https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/
CUUR0000SA0.
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Table 2 provides FY2021 pay levels in median pay in constant 2022 dollars and percentage
changes for each of the 14 positions; for Members of Congress;10 and for salaries paid under the
General Schedule in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas and in the Rest of the United States
(RUS) area.11 Table 3 through Table 16 provide available tabular pay data for each staff position
for FY2001, FY2007, FY2012, and FY2017-FY2021, including data distributed by quartile,
median pay, and average pay. The numbers of staff for which data were counted are identified as
“#” in the data tables. Staff pay tables also provide a comparison, at various intervals to FY2021,
based on data availability, of the cumulative percentage change in median pay for that position, in
constant, 2022 dollars.
Graphic displays are also included for each position, providing representations of pay from the
following two perspectives:
 distributions of FY2021 pay in 2022 dollars, in $10,000 increments; and
 a line graph showing change in median pay, FY2001-FY2021 (or available data),
in nominal (current) and constant 2022 dollars.
Senate Committee Staff Pay Tables
Interpreting Pay Tables: Statistics Describing Pay Data
For each year that data are available, statistical values for staff positions are included in Table 3 through Table
16, including the fol owing:
Minimum & Maximum
The smallest and largest pay level, respectively, for each position
Average (Mean)
The mean is the average of a list of numbers, in which the sum of all the values is
divided by the total number of values. For example, if three salaries, $30,000,
$45,000, and $90,000, were identified for a given staff position, the average (mean)
would be ($30,000 + $45,000 + $90,000) ÷ 3 = $55,000.
Median
The midpoint at which half of the numbers in a list are higher and the other half
lower. For example, if three salaries, $30,000, $45,000, and $90,000, were identified
for a given staff position, the midpoint (median) would be $45,000.
Statistical Quartiles
Statistical values that divide data into quarters for more detailed analysis. In a list of
numbers, Quartile 1 (Q1) is a number that falls in the middle between the lowest
number, or minimum, and the median. For example, if Q1 for a given staff position
was $50,000, this would indicate that 25% of employees in that position make
$50,000 or less. Quartile 2 (Q2) is also the median. Quartile 3 (Q3) is a number
that falls in the middle between the median and the highest number in the list, or
maximum. Numbers between Q1 and Q3 compose the interquartile range, the
difference between the largest and smallest values in the middle 50% of a list of
numbers. Quartiles might also be described as percentiles, as shown below.


10 Member pay data are taken from CRS Report 97-1011, Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and
Historical Tables.
11 General Schedule pay change is based on changes in pay levels, and not the pay of individuals. General Schedule pay
tables for various years are available at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/. For a
complete description of areas covered under the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA and
RUS locality pay tables in 2022, see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2022/
locality-pay-area-definitions/.
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Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2021

Statistical Measures Used in Pay Tables
Quartile 1
Quartile 2
Quartile 3
Minimum
(Q1)
(Q2) Median
(Q3)
Maximum
Average
Lowest
25th Percentile
50th Percentile
75th percentile
Highest
The mean,
number in
number in a
or number
a list
25% of staff
50% of staff make less than
75% of staff
list
expressing
make less than
Q2
make less than
the central
Q1
Q3
value in a
set of data
Middle number
Median—midpoint at which
Middle number
between
half of the numbers in a list
between
Minimum and
are higher and the other half
Median and
Median
lower
Maximum
Lower Quartile
Interquartile Range = Q3-Q1 Upper Quartile


Table 1. Senate Committee Staff Pay, Annual Maximums, 2001-2022
Constant
Constant
Year Nominal $
2022 $
Year Nominal $
2022 $
2001
$142,415
$231,874
2012
$171,315
$215,154
2002
$147,315
$236,119
2013
$171,315
$212,048
2003
$152,015
$238,223
2014
$171,315
$208,664
2004
$155,415
$237,234
2015
$171,315
$208,416
2005
$159,415
$235,365
2016
$171,315
$205,820
2006
$162,515
$232,444
2017
$171,315
$201,526
2007
$162,515
$226,007
2018
$171,315
$196,722
2008
$166,615
$223,141
2019
$173,900
$196,136
2009
$171,315
$230,255
2020
$173,900
$193,746
2010
$171,315
$226,539
2021
$173,900
$185,052
2011
$171,315
$219,607
2022
$203,700
$203,700
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.”


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Table 2. FY2021 Median Pay in Constant 2022 Dollars, and Changes in Pay for
Selected Staff In Senate Committees, Members Of Congress, and Selected General
Schedule Employees, Selected Periods
FY2021 Pay,
Constant
FY20-
FY17-
FY12-
FY07-
FY01-
2022$
FY21
FY21
FY21
FY21
FY21

Archivist
$87,824
6.34%
6.48%
18.50%
—
—
Chief Clerk
$160,584
5.82%
-0.52%
-5.34%
6.24%
28.75%
Chief Counsel
$182,808
-2.59%
3.06%
-6.91%
-5.60%
10.95%
Communications Director
$140,318
-11.31%
-20.70%
-16.64%
-7.57%
—
Counsel
$120,701
2.21%
4.60%
-10.46%
-17.32%
-11.89%
Deputy Staff Director
$178,419
-6.27%
-8.08%
14.49%
—
—
General Counsel
$182,965
-3.71%
—
—
—
—
Minority Staff Director
$184,075
-4.64%
-8.66%
-14.44%
—
—
Professional Staff Member
$117,497
-5.79%
3.24%
-3.85%
4.94%
-1.08%
Senior Counsel
$134,878
-13.86%
-5.64%
-18.40%
-22.55%
—
Senior Professional Staff Member
$142,646
-2.56%
-9.06%
-17.47%
—
—
Staff Assistant
$50,014
-1.25%
5.96%
13.78%
-15.76%
-18.04%
Staff Director
$184,380
-4.48%
-8.34%
-13.98%
-16.88%
-13.99%
Systems Administrator
$94,707
-14.13%
-22.93%
-22.32%
-18.56%
9.75%
Congressional Staff Positions Pay Change Summary

Increase
3
5
3
2
3

Decrease
11
8
10
7
4
Members of Congress, General Schedule Pay Change
MCs
$185,158
-4.49%
-9.54%
-15.27%
-19.41%
-21.62%
General Schedule, DC
Varies
-3.53%
-1.05%
-1.32%
-0.07%
7.21%
General Schedule, Rest of U.S.
Varies
-3.53%
-2.87%
-4.58%
-6.51%
-2.47%
Source: CRS calculations, based on data provided in Table 3-Table 16 for congressional positions; CRS
Report 97-1011, Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables, for Members of Congress;
and the Office of Personnel Management for federal civilian workers in the District of Columbia and surrounding
areas and rest of the U.S. localities, various years. Nominal Member pay in 2022 is $174,000. General Schedule
pay for individuals varies by grade, step and locality, but percentage changes are consistent within each locality.
“—” indicates no data available. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and
Visualizations.”

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Table 3. Archivist


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year
# Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY2011 5
$56,331
$61,024
$63,000
$63,083
$64,119
$61,511
$72,210
$78,226
$80,759
$80,866
$82,193
$78,851
FY2012 8
$44,500
$56,010
$59,012
$65,389
$68,452
$59,238
$55,887
$70,343
$74,113
$82,122
$85,969
$74,398
Most Recent Five Years
FY2017 4
$62,336
$67,849
$70,117
$73,909
$84,000
$71,642
$73,329
$79,815
$82,482
$86,943
$98,813
$84,276
FY2018 5
$67,297
$71,375
$73,700
$80,700
$82,750
$75,164
$77,277
$81,960
$84,630
$92,668
$95,022
$86,311
FY2019 4
$64,659
$70,191
$75,099
$79,810
$84,750
$74,902
$72,927
$79,166
$84,701
$90,015
$95,587
$84,479
FY2020 5
$65,000
$73,500
$74,125
$84,744
$90,000
$77,474
$72,418
$81,888
$82,584
$94,415
$100,271
$86,315
FY2021 4
$78,500
$80,422
$82,531
$86,792
$95,167
$84,682
$83,534
$85,579
$87,824
$92,357
$101,270
$90,113
Change
FY20-FY21
6.34%
FY17-FY21
6.48%
FY12-FY21
18.50%








Dol ars in figures


are in thousands.
Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

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Table 4. Chief Clerk


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY01 13
$61,583
$74,115
$76,604
$90,812 $103,271
$80,403
$100,267
$120,671
$124,724
$147,857
$168,142
$130,909
FY07 13
$69,966
$101,564
$108,688
$125,173 $162,515
$114,958
$97,301
$141,243
$151,151
$174,076
$226,007
$159,871
FY12 18
$48,227
$121,424
$135,083
$152,940 $171,000
$132,908
$60,568
$152,496
$169,651
$192,078
$214,759
$166,919
Most Recent Five Years
FY17 14
$93,263
$113,750
$137,218
$157,851 $171,315
$135,302
$109,709
$133,810
$161,417
$185,688
$201,526
$159,163
FY18 15 $100,200 $119,000
$141,154
$165,941 $171,315
$139,903
$115,060
$136,648
$162,088
$190,551
$196,721
$160,651
FY19 14 $102,900 $121,756
$134,743
$157,133 $171,315
$138,190
$116,057
$137,324
$151,972
$177,226
$193,220
$155,859
FY20 15 $102,917 $125,125
$136,213
$163,450 $169,633
$141,243
$114,662
$139,404
$151,758
$182,103
$188,991
$157,362
FY21 13 $101,235 $131,627
$150,907
$164,308 $168,709
$147,769
$107,727
$140,068
$160,584
$174,845
$179,528
$157,246
Change
FY20-FY21
5.82%
FY17-FY21
-0.52%
FY12-FY21
-5.34%
FY07-FY21
6.24%
FY01-FY21
28.75%




Dol ars in figures
are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

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Table 5. Chief Counsel


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY01
7
$84,486
$96,958
$101,201
$119,531 $136,993
$107,951
$137,557
$157,863
$164,771
$194,616
$223,046
$175,762
FY07
6
$88,208
$135,827
$139,245
$145,565 $161,776
$135,139
$122,670
$188,892
$193,645
$202,434
$224,979
$187,935
FY12
7
$82,588
$132,604
$156,360
$167,768 $171,315
$144,430
$103,722
$166,537
$196,372
$210,700
$215,154
$181,389
Most Recent Five Years
FY17 12
$99,583
$132,768
$150,782
$164,392 $171,315
$146,824
$117,145
$156,182
$177,372
$193,383
$201,526
$172,716
FY18 14 $125,000 $144,674
$153,937
$160,367 $171,315
$150,898
$143,538
$166,129
$176,767
$184,150
$196,721
$173,276
FY19 14 $126,117 $161,302
$164,078
$170,969 $171,315
$161,491
$142,243
$181,927
$185,058
$192,830
$193,220
$182,140
FY20 15 $125,000 $163,861
$168,450
$170,975 $173,254
$164,667
$139,265
$182,562
$187,674
$190,487
$193,026
$183,459
FY21
8
$123,908 $165,389
$171,791
$173,015 $173,900
$164,776
$131,854
$175,995
$182,808
$184,110
$185,052
$175,343
Change
FY20-FY21
-2.59%
FY17-FY21
3.06%
FY12-FY21
-6.91%
FY07-FY21
-5.60%
FY01-FY21
10.95%




Dol ars in figures
are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

CRS-8

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link to page 5


Table 6. Communications Director


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY07 10
$73,556
$95,992
$109,160
$122,735 $134,132
$107,862
$102,293
$133,494
$151,807
$170,686
$186,535
$150,002
FY12
8
$45,555
$105,812
$134,026
$146,906 $171,000
$122,498
$57,213
$132,890
$168,323
$184,499
$214,759
$153,845
Most Recent Five Years
FY17
6
$122,000 $129,068
$150,417
$152,312 $171,315
$144,841
$143,515
$151,829
$176,943
$179,172
$201,526
$170,383
FY18
6
$107,500 $132,651
$152,018
$161,781 $171,315
$145,680
$123,443
$152,323
$174,563
$185,774
$196,721
$167,285
FY19
5
$118,125 $126,417
$133,667
$171,315 $171,315
$144,168
$133,229
$142,581
$150,758
$193,220
$193,220
$162,602
FY20
7
$98,042
$126,500
$142,000
$158,407 $173,254
$140,444
$109,230
$140,936
$158,205
$176,485
$193,026
$156,472
FY21
6
$98,917
$107,243
$131,862
$141,181 $142,330
$124,716
$105,260
$114,121
$140,318
$150,234
$151,457
$132,714
Change
FY20-FY21
-11.31%
FY17-FY21
-20.70%
FY12-FY21
-16.64%
FY07-FY21
-7.57%






Dol ars in figures
are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

CRS-9

---

link to page 5


Table 7. Counsel


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY01 15
$45,667
$71,588
$84,134
$92,014 $113,854
$82,655
$74,353
$116,556
$136,984
$149,814
$185,373
$134,575
FY07 17
$51,083
$97,957
$104,969
$127,915 $151,620
$108,590
$71,041
$136,227
$145,979
$177,890
$210,856
$151,015
FY12 23
$62,167
$87,400
$107,330
$138,443 $157,000
$112,031
$78,075
$109,765
$134,795
$173,870
$197,176
$140,700
Most Recent Five Years
FY17 11
$57,738
$85,021
$98,092
$141,635 $168,049
$109,826
$67,920
$100,014
$115,390
$166,613
$197,684
$129,194
FY18 16
$53,571
$78,906
$103,000
$125,114 $168,998
$103,426
$61,515
$90,608
$118,275
$143,669
$194,061
$118,764
FY19 19
$59,833
$91,158
$107,954
$134,379 $171,147
$113,992
$67,484
$102,814
$121,757
$151,562
$193,031
$128,568
FY20 22
$72,624
$84,450
$106,000
$132,833 $172,912
$112,912
$80,912
$94,088
$118,097
$147,992
$192,645
$125,798
FY21 14
$70,037
$100,861
$113,427
$129,418 $173,500
$118,085
$74,528
$107,330
$120,701
$137,718
$184,626
$125,658
Change
FY20-FY21
2.21%
FY17-FY21
4.60%
FY12-FY21
-10.46%
FY07-FY21
-17.32%
FY01-FY21
-11.89%




Dol ars in figures
are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

CRS-10

---

link to page 5


Table 8. Deputy Staff Director


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY12
4
$92,000
$112,750
$124,083
$139,204 $171,315
$127,870
$115,543
$141,603
$155,836
$174,826
$215,154
$160,592
Most Recent Five Years
FY17
9
$155,000 $161,160
$165,000
$171,315 $171,315
$165,108
$182,334
$189,581
$194,098
$201,526
$201,526
$194,225
FY18 12
$87,671
$159,937
$166,304
$171,315 $171,315
$159,058
$100,673
$183,657
$190,967
$196,721
$196,721
$182,647
FY19 11
$93,333
$140,956
$166,337
$170,139 $171,315
$149,410
$105,267
$158,980
$187,606
$191,894
$193,220
$168,515
FY20 15 $120,000 $153,894
$170,860
$172,534 $173,254
$161,467
$133,695
$171,456
$190,359
$192,224
$193,026
$179,894
FY21
8
$124,667 $162,080
$167,667
$172,332 $173,900
$162,770
$132,661
$172,474
$178,419
$183,384
$185,052
$173,208
Change
FY20-FY21
-6.27%
FY17-FY21
-8.08%
FY12-FY21
14.49%








Dol ars in figures
are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

CRS-11

---

link to page 5

Table 9. General Counsel


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Q2,
Q2,
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY18
7
$132,500
$141,093
$150,500
$170,157
$171,315
$153,831
$152,150
$162,017
$172,819
$195,392
$196,721
$176,644
FY19 —
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
FY20
7
$150,558
$165,336
$170,547
$171,072
$171,514
$166,491
$167,740
$184,205
$190,010
$190,595
$191,087
$185,491
FY21
4
$167,225
$170,166
$171,938
$172,837
$173,158
$171,065
$177,949
$181,079
$182,965
$183,921
$184,263
$182,035






Change
FY20-FY21
-3.71%



















Dol ars in figures are




in thousands.

























Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. “—” indicates insufficient data available. Percentage change is
based on change in median pay for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in
those levels, is presented in solid purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”


CRS-12

---

link to page 5


Table 10. Minority Staff Director


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY12 14 $125,000 $168,661
$171,315
$171,315 $171,315
$164,312
$156,987
$211,821
$215,154
$215,154
$215,154
$206,359
Most Recent Five Years
FY17
7
$101,903 $171,315
$171,315
$171,315 $171,315
$161,399
$119,873
$201,526
$201,526
$201,526
$201,526
$189,862
FY18
6
$169,459 $171,315
$171,315
$171,315 $171,315
$171,006
$194,590
$196,721
$196,721
$196,721
$196,721
$196,366
FY19
7
$109,675 $164,817
$171,315
$171,315 $171,315
$160,653
$123,699
$185,891
$193,220
$193,220
$193,220
$181,195
FY20
6
$153,573 $170,408
$173,254
$173,254 $173,254
$169,341
$171,099
$189,855
$193,026
$193,026
$193,026
$188,667
FY21
5
$111,675 $155,154
$172,982
$173,900 $173,900
$157,522
$118,836
$165,104
$184,075
$185,052
$185,052
$167,624
Change
FY20-FY21
-4.64%
FY17-FY21
-8.66%
FY12-FY21
-14.44%








Dol ars in figures
are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

CRS-13

---

link to page 5


Table 11. Professional Staff Member


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY01 20
$39,833
$60,937
$72,950
$89,726 $132,792
$77,309
$64,855
$99,216
$118,775
$146,089
$216,206
$125,871
FY07 34
$50,011
$65,528
$80,515
$108,512 $154,750
$88,776
$69,550
$91,128
$111,971
$150,905
$215,208
$123,460
FY12 32
$40,250
$68,889
$97,298
$122,994 $168,500
$98,786
$50,550
$86,518
$122,197
$154,468
$211,619
$124,066
Most Recent Five Years
FY17 26
$48,650
$74,988
$96,751
$127,200 $169,000
$100,776
$57,229
$88,212
$113,813
$149,632
$198,803
$118,548
FY18 31
$19,783
$64,750
$96,944
$129,197 $169,865
$95,809
$22,717
$74,353
$111,321
$148,358
$195,056
$110,018
FY19 27
$19,895
$77,758
$103,224
$116,278 $152,000
$96,765
$22,439
$87,701
$116,422
$131,146
$171,436
$109,138
FY20 29
$43,625
$80,336
$111,945
$132,458 $162,400
$102,113
$48,604
$89,504
$124,721
$147,575
$180,934
$113,767
FY21 28
$61,000
$95,167
$110,417
$132,396 $163,362
$111,521
$64,912
$101,270
$117,497
$140,886
$173,839
$118,673
Change
FY20-FY21
-5.79%
FY17-FY21
3.24%
FY12-FY21
-3.85%
FY07-FY21
4.94%
FY01-FY21
-1.08%




Dol ars in figures
are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

CRS-14

---

link to page 5


Table 12. Senior Counsel


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY07
7
$97,000
$107,759
$125,221
$140,764 $162,515
$125,969
$134,896
$149,859
$174,142
$195,758
$226,007
$175,183
FY12 11
$97,075
$116,202
$131,609
$148,877 $165,070
$133,193
$121,916
$145,938
$165,288
$186,975
$207,311
$167,277
Most Recent Five Years
FY17 12
$85,000
$105,309
$121,514
$141,723 $162,532
$122,147
$99,990
$123,880
$142,943
$166,716
$191,195
$143,688
FY18 10
$96,803
$114,725
$132,917
$144,266 $171,315
$130,494
$111,160
$131,739
$152,629
$165,661
$196,721
$149,847
FY19
9
$112,333 $120,250
$127,828
$151,638 $157,500
$133,767
$126,697
$135,626
$144,172
$171,028
$177,639
$150,871
FY20 14
$98,958
$119,687
$140,542
$154,537 $173,254
$136,408
$110,252
$133,346
$156,580
$172,174
$193,026
$151,975
FY21 11
$98,302
$112,280
$126,750
$147,724 $163,475
$129,051
$104,606
$119,480
$134,878
$157,198
$173,958
$137,327
Change
FY20-FY21
-13.86%
FY17-FY21
-5.64%
FY12-FY21
-18.40%
FY07-FY21
-22.55%






Dol ars in figures
are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

CRS-15

---

link to page 5


Table 13. Senior Professional Staff Member


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY12
8
$106,831 $115,411
$137,623
$140,383 $163,000
$132,145
$134,169
$144,944
$172,840
$176,307
$204,712
$165,961
Most Recent Five Years
FY17 12
$78,500
$97,484
$133,342
$139,519 $151,906
$120,757
$92,343
$114,676
$156,857
$164,123
$178,695
$142,053
FY18 10
$61,033
$91,302
$103,812
$132,613 $143,207
$107,686
$70,085
$104,842
$119,208
$152,280
$164,445
$123,657
FY19 10
$77,257
$119,002
$141,795
$150,714 $161,807
$132,421
$87,136
$134,218
$159,926
$169,985
$182,496
$149,353
FY20 11 $103,391 $120,984
$131,400
$142,877 $166,283
$132,517
$115,190
$134,791
$146,395
$159,182
$185,259
$147,640
FY21 10
$83,250
$121,410
$134,050
$144,175 $164,321
$131,539
$88,589
$129,196
$142,646
$153,421
$174,858
$139,975
Change
FY20-FY21
-2.56%
FY17-FY21
-9.06%
FY12-FY21
-17.47%








Dol ars in figures
are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

CRS-16

---

link to page 5


Table 14. Staff Assistant


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY01 19
$25,750
$32,297
$37,480
$48,082
$62,500
$40,255
$41,925
$52,585
$61,023
$78,285
$101,760
$65,541
FY07 15
$20,379
$34,642
$42,693
$64,107
$82,667
$49,025
$28,341
$48,176
$59,372
$89,153
$114,963
$68,178
FY12 17
$26,081
$32,138
$35,000
$38,826
$45,436
$35,667
$32,755
$40,363
$43,956
$48,761
$57,063
$44,794
Most Recent Five Years
FY17 13
$34,083
$38,452
$40,125
$47,880
$113,000
$49,370
$40,094
$45,233
$47,201
$56,324
$132,928
$58,076
FY18 19
$31,758
$36,878
$42,110
$47,576
$56,432
$42,318
$36,468
$42,347
$48,355
$54,632
$64,801
$48,594
FY19 14
$34,187
$37,451
$40,908
$52,656
$107,175
$51,547
$38,559
$42,240
$46,139
$59,389
$120,879
$58,138
FY20 20
$33,000
$40,613
$45,460
$50,786
$62,438
$45,689
$36,766
$45,248
$50,648
$56,582
$69,563
$50,903
FY21 14
$33,500
$41,946
$47,000
$58,203
$112,164
$54,962
$35,648
$44,636
$50,014
$61,936
$119,357
$58,487
Change
FY20-FY21
-1.25%
FY17-FY21
5.96%
FY12-FY21
13.78%
FY07-FY21
-15.76%
FY01-FY21
-18.04%




Dol ars in figures
are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

CRS-17

---

link to page 5


Table 15. Staff Director


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year #
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY01
7
$122,300 $127,396
$131,658
$139,564 $141,465
$132,763
$199,125
$207,421
$214,360
$227,232
$230,327
$216,159
FY07 15 $112,500 $153,779
$159,500
$161,147 $162,515
$151,560
$156,452
$213,858
$221,814
$224,105
$226,007
$210,772
FY12 14 $132,985 $166,044
$170,681
$171,311 $171,315
$166,485
$167,015
$208,535
$214,358
$215,150
$215,154
$209,089
Most Recent Five Years
FY17 15 $158,433 $169,229
$171,000
$171,315 $171,315
$169,211
$186,372
$199,073
$201,156
$201,526
$201,526
$199,051
FY18 16
$97,250
$166,525
$171,315
$171,315 $171,315
$163,143
$111,672
$191,221
$196,721
$196,721
$196,721
$187,338
FY19 16 $135,148 $168,000
$171,315
$171,315 $171,315
$166,718
$152,429
$189,481
$193,220
$193,220
$193,220
$188,035
FY20 19 $159,221 $170,157
$173,254
$173,254 $173,254
$170,279
$177,391
$189,576
$193,026
$193,026
$193,026
$189,711
FY21 16 $123,750 $168,045
$173,269
$173,900 $186,942
$167,963
$131,686
$178,821
$184,380
$185,052
$198,931
$178,734
Change
FY20-FY21
-4.48%
FY17-FY21
-8.34%
FY12-FY21
-13.98%
FY07-FY21
-16.88%
FY01-FY21
-13.99%




Dol ars in figures
are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

CRS-18

---

link to page 5


Table 16. Systems Administrator


Nominal, Current $
Constant 2022 $
Year # Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
Minimum
Q1
Q2, Median
Q3
Maximum
Average
FY01 7
$37,766
$47,907
$53,000
$60,723
$79,902
$55,418
$61,489
$78,000
$86,292
$98,867
$130,093
$90,230
FY07 7
$70,677
$83,019
$83,624
$87,558 $104,631
$85,727
$98,290
$115,453
$116,295
$121,765
$145,509
$119,218
FY12 5
$75,802
$90,513
$97,083
$110,918 $116,773
$98,218 $98,218
$95,199 $95,199
$113,675 $113,675
$121,927 $121,927
$139,302 $139,302
$146,655 $146,655
$123,352 $123,352
Most Recent Five Years
FY17 5 FY17 5
$72,572 $72,572
$76,856 $76,856
$104,458 $104,458
$107,988 $118,285 $107,988 $118,285
$96,032 $96,032
$85,370 $85,370
$90,409 $90,409
$122,879 $122,879
$127,032 $127,032
$139,144 $139,144
$112,967 $112,967
FY18 7 FY18 7
$76,202 $76,202
$96,541 $96,541
$109,843 $109,843
$116,202 $121,735 $116,202 $121,735
$104,752 $104,752
$87,503 $87,503
$110,859 $110,859
$126,133 $126,133
$133,435 $133,435
$139,789 $139,789
$120,287 $120,287
FY19 4 FY19 4
$77,103 $77,103
$97,838 $97,838
$108,546 $108,546
$115,175 $123,676 $115,175 $123,676
$104,468 $104,468
$86,962 $86,962
$110,348 $110,348
$122,425 $122,425
$129,903 $129,903
$139,490 $139,490
$117,826 $117,826
FY20 7 FY20 7
$82,603 $82,603
$90,277 $90,277
$99,000 $99,000
$117,984 $139,650 $117,984 $139,650
$105,397 $105,397
$92,030 $92,030
$100,580 $100,580
$110,298 $110,298
$131,449 $131,449
$155,587 $155,587
$117,425 $117,425
FY21 5 FY21 5
$79,603 $79,603
$86,333 $86,333
$89,000 $89,000
$133,333 $133,724 $133,333 $133,724
$104,399 $104,399
$84,708 $84,708
$91,870 $91,870
$94,707 $94,707
$141,884 $141,884
$142,300 $142,300
$111,094 $111,094
Change
FY20-FY21 FY20-FY21
-14.13% -14.13%
FY17-FY21 FY17-FY21
-22.93% -22.93%
FY12-FY21 FY12-FY21
-22.32% -22.32%
FY07-FY21 FY07-FY21
-18.56% -18.56%
FY01-FY21 FY01-FY21
9.75% 9.75%




Dol ars in figures Dol ars in figures
are in thousands. are in thousands.


Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the , as col ated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change is based on change in median pay for the
periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2022 dol ars in thousands of dol ars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid
purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in purple. Detailed information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”

CRS-19 CRS-19

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Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2021



Author Information

R. Eric Petersen R. Eric Petersen
Tyler L. Wolanin Tyler L. Wolanin
Specialist in American National Government Specialist in American National Government
Research Assistant Research Assistant



Acknowledgments
A number of CRS staff made substantial contributions to this report. Barbara L. Schwemle, Analyst in A number of CRS staff made substantial contributions to this report. Barbara L. Schwemle, Analyst in
American National Government, provided technical assistance. William T. Egar, former Analyst in American National Government, provided technical assistance. William T. Egar, former Analyst in
American National Government, provided technical assistance, and authored a section of the report. Sandra American National Government, provided technical assistance, and authored a section of the report. Sandra
L. Edwards, User Support Specialist, Jonathan P Kardashian, User Support Specialist, and Andrew M. L. Edwards, User Support Specialist, Jonathan P Kardashian, User Support Specialist, and Andrew M.
Schaefer, Editor, provided formatting, editorial, and production support. Schaefer, Editor, provided formatting, editorial, and production support.
Previous versions of the report were supported by the following: Casey Burgat, former Research Assistant, Previous versions of the report were supported by the following: Casey Burgat, former Research Assistant,
provided update support; Claudia Guidi, formerly a User Support Specialist, and Alex Marine, former provided update support; Claudia Guidi, formerly a User Support Specialist, and Alex Marine, former
Editor, provided formatting, editorial, and production support; and Jacobo Licona, Brian Hamel, Joe Editor, provided formatting, editorial, and production support; and Jacobo Licona, Brian Hamel, Joe
Wisniewski, and Claire Laurence, former CRS interns, collected data for this report. Wisniewski, and Claire Laurence, former CRS interns, collected data for this report.

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