Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2018

Updated June 11, 2019 (R44323)
Jump to Main Text of Report

Contents

Tables

Summary

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

This report provides pay data for 15 staff position titles that are typically used in House Members' offices. The positions include the following: Caseworker, Chief of Staff, Communications Director, Constituent Services Representative, Counsel, District Director, Executive Assistant, Field Representative, Legislative Assistant, Legislative Correspondent, Legislative Director, Office Manager, Press Secretary, Scheduler, and Staff Assistant. The following table provides the change in median pay levels for these positions in constant 2019 dollars, between 2017 and 2018.

Percentage Change in Median Pay for Selected Staff In House Members' Offices, 2017-2018

 

2017-2018

 

2017-2018

Caseworker

4.68%

Legislative Assistant

-4.88%

Chief of Staff

-0.61%

Legislative Correspondent

12.03%

Communications Director

-5.52%

Legislative Director

-1.83%

Constituent Services Representative

2.60%

Office Manager

-5.37%

Counsel

2.75%

Press Secretary

-2.20%

District Director

-5.15%

Scheduler

-2.93%

Executive Assistant

-4.97%

Staff Assistant

7.39%

Field Representative

-4.92%

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Change is based on constant 2019 dollars.

Report tables provide aggregate statistics on pay for each staff position for 2001, 2004, 2009, and 2014-2018, including quartiles, the median, and average pay. Complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request. Graphic displays are also included, providing representations of pay from two perspectives, including the following:

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, and Job Tenure.


Introduction

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

Publicly available resources do not provide aggregated congressional staff pay data in a readily retrievable form. The most recent, publicly available staff compensation report was issued in 2010,3 which, like previous compensation reports, relied on anonymous, self-reported survey data. Pay4 information in this report is based on the Statement of Disbursements of the House (SOD), published quarterly by the Chief Administrative Officer,5 as collated by LegiStorm, a private entity that provides some congressional data by subscription.6 Data in this report are based on official House reports, which afford the opportunity to use consistently collected data from a single, authoritative source. Additionally, this report provides annual data, which allows for observations about the nature of House Member staff compensation over time.

This report provides pay data for 15 staff position titles that are typically used in House Members' offices.7 The positions include the following:

The collection of House Members' staff pay data for the years 2001-2018 proceeded as follows. For each year, a random sample10 of 45 offices was taken for each position. House staff had to hold a position with the same job title in the Member's office for the entire calendar year examined, and not receive pay from any other congressional employing authority to be included. Generally, each position has no more than one observation per House Member's office each year.

Every recorded payment ascribed in the LegiStorm data to those staff for the calendar year is included.11 Data collected for this report may differ from an employee's stated annual salary due to the inclusion of overtime, bonuses, or other payments12 in addition to base salary paid in the course of a year.

For some positions, it was not possible to identify 45 employees who held that title for the entire year. In circumstances when data for 18 or fewer staff were identified for a position, this report provides no data.

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, and Job Tenure.

Data Concerns

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

Data Tables and Visualizations

Tables in this section provide background information on House pay practices, comparative data for each position, and detailed pay data and visualizations for each position. Table 1 provides the maximum payable rates for House Member staff since 2001 in both nominal (current) and constant 2019 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 2019 dollars.15

Table 2 provides available percentage changes in median pay in constant 2019 dollars for each of the 15 positions, Members of Congress,16 salaries paid under the General Schedule in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas, and in the Rest of the United States (RUS) area.17 Table 3 through Table 17 provide tabular pay data for each staff position for 2001, 2004, 2009, and 2014-2018, including data distributed by quartile, including the median, and average pay. The numbers of staff for which data were counted are identified as "Number" in the data tables. Staff pay tables also provide a comparison, at various intervals to 2018, based on data availability, of the cumulative percentage change in median pay for that position, in constant, 2019 dollars.

Graphic displays are also included for each position, providing representations of pay from two perspectives, including the following:

Table 1. Annual Maximum Pay for Selected Staff In House Members' Offices, 2001-2019

Year

Nominal $

Constant 2019 $

2001

$140,451

$201,598

2002

$145,226

$205,207

2003

$149,728

$206,854

2004

$153,022

$205,921

2005

$156,848

$204,153

2006

$159,828

$201,531

2007

$159,828

$195,950

2008

$163,795

$193,388

2009

$168,411

$199,548

2010

$168,411

$196,328

2011

$168,411

$190,320

2012

$168,411

$186,461

2013

$168,411

$183,770

2014

$168,411

$180,836

2015

$168,411

$180,622

2016

$168,411

$178,372

2017

$168,411

$174,649

2018

$168,411

$170,487

2019

$168,411

$168,411

Source: 2 U.S.C. 4532 note, CRS calculations. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."

Table 2. Change in Median Pay for Selected Staff In House Members' Offices, Selected Periods

 

Change Based on Constant 2019 Dollars

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

Caseworker

4.68%

17.35%

2.75%

-10.79%

9.49%

Chief of Staff

-0.61%

4.99%

-1.58%

-6.11%

4.70%

Communications Director

-5.52%

-5.03%

-15.00%

-16.31%

-19.45%

Constituent Services Representative

2.60%

2.85%

-2.73%

1.85%

5.12%

Counsel

2.75%

8.93%

-9.63%

District Director

-5.15%

-1.49%

-10.49%

-9.77%

-10.46%

Executive Assistant

-4.97%

4.93%

-9.46%

-11.74%

-19.12%

Field Representative

-4.92%

-6.09%

-9.85%

-9.51%

-5.67%

Legislative Assistant

-4.88%

0.79%

-10.98%

-9.52%

-9.69%

Legislative Correspondent

12.03%

10.68%

3.81%

2.34%

6.39%

Legislative Director

-1.83%

-0.96%

-9.93%

-4.76%

-5.26%

Office Manager

-5.37%

2.07%

-17.89%

-26.54%

-23.92%

Press Secretary

-2.20%

-5.42%

-16.69%

-15.50%

-14.44%

Scheduler

-2.93%

-5.31%

-18.20%

-16.24%

-16.24%

Staff Assistant

7.39%

6.10%

-7.07%

-15.29%

-7.19%

Members of Congress

-2.38%

-5.72%

-14.56%

-17.21%

-15.43%

General Schedule, DC

-0.14%

1.66%

-4.77%

1.16%

8.19%

General Schedule, Rest of U.S.

-0.75%

-0.46%

-7.29%

-5.91%

-0.34%

Congressional Staff Positions
Pay Change Summary

 

 

 

 

 

Increase

5

9

2

2

4

Decrease

10

6

13

12

10

Source: CRS calculations, based on pay data provided in Table 3 through Table 17 for congressional positions in constant 2019 dollars; CRS Report 97-1011, Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables, by Ida A. Brudnick, 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., various years. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations."

House Member Office 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 17, including the following:

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.

Statistical Measures Used in Pay Tables

Minimum

Quartile1 (Q1)

Quartile2
(Q2) Median

Quartile3 (Q3)

Maximum

Average

Lowest number in a list

25th Percentile

50th Percentile

75th percentile

Highest number in a list

The mean, or number expressing the central value in a set of data

 

25% of staff make less than Q1

50% of staff make less than Q2

75% of staff make less than Q3

 

 

 

Middle number between Minimum and Median

Median-midpoint at which half of the numbers in a list are higher and the other half lower

Middle number between Median and Maximum

 

 

 

Lower Quartile

Interquartile Range = Q3-Q1

Upper Quartile

 

 

Table 3. Caseworker

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

45

$21,750

$30,000

$35,229

$40,122

$61,572

$36,189

$31,219

$43,061

$50,567

$57,590

$88,377

$51,945

2004

45

$28,333

$37,804

$46,120

$50,000

$63,900

$44,992

$38,128

$50,873

$62,064

$67,285

$85,990

$60,545

2009

45

$28,919

$38,750

$45,475

$53,375

$86,210

$47,751

$34,266

$45,914

$53,883

$63,243

$102,149

$56,580

Most Recent Five Years

2014

45

$27,833

$40,075

$43,937

$51,000

$85,000

$46,984

$29,887

$43,032

$47,179

$54,763

$91,271

$50,451

2015

45

$28,000

$40,058

$44,500

$54,500

$84,667

$48,081

$30,030

$42,963

$47,726

$58,452

$90,806

$51,567

2016

45

$29,667

$40,544

$50,300

$56,837

$89,100

$50,290

$31,421

$42,942

$53,275

$60,198

$94,370

$53,265

2017

45

$30,000

$42,750

$51,000

$58,000

$92,567

$51,283

$31,111

$44,333

$52,889

$60,148

$95,995

$53,182

2018

45

$35,000

$47,500

$55,000

$64,000

$94,036

$55,985

$35,233

$47,816

$55,366

$64,425

$94,661

$56,357

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

4.68%

17.35%

2.75%

-10.79%

9.49%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 4. Chief of Staff

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

45

$76,361

$95,000

$104,250

$114,833

$137,020

$106,313

$109,606

$136,359

$149,636

$164,827

$196,673

$152,598

2004

45

$86,500

$110,952

$124,000

$134,524

$151,974

$122,278

$116,403

$149,307

$166,866

$181,029

$204,511

$164,549

2009

45

$42,708

$123,350

$134,344

$153,136

$168,411

$133,877

$50,605

$146,156

$159,183

$181,449

$199,548

$158,629

Most Recent Five Years

2014

45

$89,401

$124,167

$138,968

$161,091

$168,411

$140,803

$95,997

$133,328

$149,221

$172,975

$180,836

$151,191

2015

45

$114,173

$137,924

$146,561

$160,000

$168,411

$147,650

$122,451

$147,925

$157,188

$171,601

$180,622

$158,356

2016

45

$116,534

$133,820

$148,902

$159,700

$168,411

$147,637

$123,427

$141,735

$157,708

$169,145

$178,372

$156,369

2017

45

$112,320

$139,444

$152,000

$160,834

$168,411

$150,185

$116,480

$144,609

$157,630

$166,791

$174,649

$155,748

2018

45

$99,917

$137,000

$155,637

$168,000

$168,411

$149,871

$100,581

$137,911

$156,671

$169,117

$169,530

$150,867

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

-0.61%

4.99%

-1.58%

-6.11%

4.70%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 5. Communications Director

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

32

$35,233

$51,118

$63,563

$72,000

$99,020

$63,538

$50,573

$73,372

$91,235

$103,346

$142,129

$91,200

2004

45

$39,000

$56,489

$65,250

$69,567

$106,690

$65,201

$52,482

$76,017

$87,807

$93,616

$143,572

$87,740

2009

45

$48,233

$64,617

$72,961

$83,273

$128,992

$77,048

$57,151

$76,563

$86,451

$98,670

$152,841

$91,293

Most Recent Five Years

2014

45

$42,500

$63,000

$72,061

$82,000

$115,000

$72,485

$45,636

$67,648

$77,378

$88,050

$123,484

$77,833

2015

45

$43,878

$61,678

$68,078

$77,937

$102,918

$70,327

$47,059

$66,150

$73,014

$83,588

$110,380

$75,427

2016

45

$48,000

$58,546

$68,125

$82,680

$120,300

$73,690

$50,839

$62,008

$72,154

$87,570

$127,415

$78,048

2017

45

$46,500

$69,000

$75,000

$84,250

$106,733

$76,784

$48,222

$71,556

$77,778

$87,371

$110,687

$79,628

2018

45

$52,000

$63,333

$73,001

$89,986

$124,000

$77,436

$52,346

$63,754

$73,486

$90,584

$124,824

$77,951

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

-5.52%

-5.03%

-15.00%

-16.31%

-19.45%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid blue. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, FY2001-FY2018, is available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 6. Constituent Services Representative

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

30

$25,894

$28,789

$32,791

$37,401

$46,880

$33,815

$37,168

$41,322

$47,067

$53,684

$67,290

$48,537

2004

45

$24,247

$30,300

$36,100

$42,667

$63,333

$36,983

$32,629

$40,775

$48,580

$57,416

$85,227

$49,768

2009

45

$27,125

$33,833

$42,928

$52,000

$86,558

$43,815

$32,140

$40,089

$50,865

$61,614

$102,562

$51,915

Most Recent Five Years

2014

45

$26,250

$35,000

$44,800

$50,833

$88,833

$46,912

$28,187

$37,582

$48,105

$54,584

$95,387

$50,373

2015

45

$28,500

$36,000

$44,000

$50,322

$77,250

$44,186

$30,566

$38,610

$47,190

$53,971

$82,851

$47,389

2016

45

$22,903

$39,775

$44,000

$56,400

$74,417

$46,874

$24,257

$42,127

$46,602

$59,736

$78,818

$49,647

2017

45

$20,425

$41,000

$46,500

$52,500

$64,000

$47,104

$21,182

$42,519

$48,222

$54,445

$66,371

$48,849

2018

45

$23,833

$42,925

$49,150

$54,972

$73,567

$49,145

$23,992

$43,210

$49,477

$55,338

$74,056

$49,472

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

2.60%

2.85%

-2.73%

1.85%

5.12%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 7. Counsel, 2010-2018

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2010

30

$45,250

$61,013

$75,502

$87,724

$127,981

$76,884

$52,751

$71,126

$88,017

$102,266

$149,196

$89,628

2011

23

$34,792

$58,250

$74,417

$79,500

$100,375

$70,824

$39,318

$65,828

$84,098

$89,842

$113,433

$80,038

2012

20

$49,236

$60,804

$72,167

$81,640

$130,833

$73,390

$54,513

$67,321

$79,902

$90,390

$144,856

$81,256

2013

19

$41,667

$51,125

$58,692

$71,750

$126,546

$63,416

$45,467

$55,787

$64,044

$78,293

$138,087

$69,199

2014

19

$45,200

$52,917

$62,250

$77,500

$119,868

$67,088

$48,535

$56,821

$66,843

$83,218

$128,711

$72,038

2015

23

$41,000

$61,000

$70,678

$80,324

$108,142

$71,155

$43,973

$65,423

$75,802

$86,148

$115,983

$76,314

2016

28

$44,500

$53,425

$60,333

$68,000

$91,097

$61,538

$47,132

$56,585

$63,902

$72,022

$96,485

$65,178

2017

21

$29,000

$52,000

$68,333

$77,841

$88,000

$64,413

$30,074

$53,926

$70,864

$80,725

$91,259

$66,799

2018

25

$46,000

$61,750

$72,333

$81,333

$99,000

$70,871

$46,306

$62,160

$72,814

$81,874

$99,658

$71,342

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2.75%

8.93%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are complete; no data are available prior to 2010.

Table 8. District Director

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

45

$49,538

$58,667

$72,844

$78,240

$101,624

$70,062

$71,105

$84,208

$104,558

$112,302

$145,867

$100,564

2004

45

$42,500

$70,750

$77,100

$83,050

$116,568

$77,877

$57,192

$95,208

$103,753

$111,760

$156,865

$104,799

2009

45

$60,000

$80,680

$88,274

$98,115

$120,450

$90,238

$71,093

$95,597

$104,595

$116,255

$142,720

$106,922

Most Recent Five Years

2014

45

$45,000

$75,400

$88,500

$107,083

$144,667

$93,519

$48,320

$80,963

$95,029

$114,984

$155,340

$100,419

2015

45

$59,433

$78,000

$95,167

$112,000

$162,600

$97,911

$63,743

$83,655

$102,067

$120,121

$174,389

$105,010

2016

45

$58,417

$79,500

$89,750

$105,917

$145,265

$94,988

$61,872

$84,202

$95,058

$112,181

$153,856

$100,606

2017

45

$56,000

$85,638

$95,172

$105,000

$163,028

$97,105

$58,074

$88,810

$98,697

$108,889

$169,066

$100,701

2018

45

$62,200

$81,250

$93,000

$105,000

$138,000

$94,042

$62,613

$81,790

$93,618

$105,698

$138,917

$94,667

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

-5.15%

-1.49%

-10.49%

-9.77%

-10.46%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 9. Executive Assistant

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

45

$27,583

$44,750

$53,136

$65,917

$104,167

$56,922

$39,592

$64,232

$76,269

$94,614

$149,517

$81,704

2004

45

$27,446

$41,957

$51,933

$68,600

$87,602

$55,603

$36,934

$56,461

$69,887

$92,315

$117,885

$74,824

2009

45

$30,000

$46,000

$57,500

$66,000

$108,047

$58,062

$35,547

$54,505

$68,131

$78,203

$128,023

$68,796

Most Recent Five Years

2014

30

$32,000

$46,625

$54,750

$64,612

$89,167

$55,748

$34,361

$50,065

$58,789

$69,379

$95,745

$59,861

2015

38

$21,000

$44,412

$54,917

$66,125

$92,426

$55,918

$22,523

$47,633

$58,898

$70,919

$99,127

$59,973

2016

42

$21,000

$48,667

$56,799

$64,768

$93,291

$57,936

$22,242

$51,545

$60,158

$68,599

$98,808

$61,362

2017

28

$21,000

$49,125

$62,590

$73,845

$96,500

$61,742

$21,778

$50,945

$64,908

$76,580

$100,074

$64,028

2018

34

$35,041

$49,250

$61,278

$78,246

$166,137

$67,677

$35,274

$49,577

$61,685

$78,766

$167,241

$68,127

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

-4.97%

4.93%

-9.46%

-11.74%

-19.12%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 10. Field Representative

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

45

$22,131

$31,250

$35,500

$40,795

$75,275

$38,242

$31,765

$44,855

$50,955

$58,555

$108,047

$54,891

2004

45

$26,017

$35,558

$39,472

$49,000

$78,967

$42,892

$35,011

$47,851

$53,117

$65,939

$106,265

$57,719

2009

45

$34,033

$40,300

$45,000

$51,021

$81,917

$47,299

$40,326

$47,751

$53,320

$60,455

$97,062

$56,044

Most Recent Five Years

2014

45

$25,750

$42,000

$47,667

$55,417

$94,625

$48,428

$27,650

$45,099

$51,183

$59,505

$101,606

$52,001

2015

45

$22,100

$40,994

$46,544

$55,000

$100,000

$49,031

$23,702

$43,967

$49,919

$58,988

$107,251

$52,586

2016

45

$25,000

$39,050

$47,667

$56,250

$71,890

$48,188

$26,479

$41,360

$50,486

$59,577

$76,142

$51,038

2017

45

$21,500

$44,500

$48,750

$57,489

$81,400

$50,091

$22,296

$46,148

$50,556

$59,618

$84,415

$51,946

2018

45

$29,250

$41,000

$47,750

$54,750

$72,128

$48,707

$29,444

$41,272

$48,067

$55,114

$72,607

$49,031

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

-4.92%

-6.09%

-9.85%

-9.51%

-5.67%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 11. Legislative Assistant

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

45

$30,154

$37,748

$41,092

$45,676

$70,000

$43,493

$43,282

$54,182

$58,981

$65,561

$100,475

$62,428

2004

45

$30,081

$37,813

$43,750

$49,242

$95,585

$46,008

$40,479

$50,884

$58,874

$66,264

$128,628

$61,913

2009

45

$34,000

$44,595

$50,500

$54,950

$63,500

$49,982

$40,286

$52,840

$59,837

$65,110

$75,240

$59,223

Most Recent Five Years

2014

45

$31,333

$44,667

$49,219

$55,400

$90,833

$50,854

$33,645

$47,962

$52,851

$59,487

$97,535

$54,606

2015

45

$30,000

$43,850

$48,760

$52,667

$83,336

$49,860

$32,175

$47,029

$52,296

$56,485

$89,378

$53,476

2016

45

$36,896

$46,500

$49,400

$59,583

$72,967

$52,276

$39,078

$49,250

$52,322

$63,107

$77,282

$55,367

2017

45

$41,746

$48,833

$54,000

$60,961

$91,033

$56,951

$43,292

$50,642

$56,000

$63,219

$94,405

$59,061

2018

45

$37,163

$50,000

$52,917

$57,500

$96,417

$55,304

$37,410

$50,332

$53,268

$57,882

$97,058

$55,672

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

-4.88%

0.79%

-10.98%

-9.52%

-9.69%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 12. Legislative Correspondent

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

31

$24,500

$27,750

$31,313

$33,167

$84,267

$33,552

$35,166

$39,831

$44,945

$47,606

$120,953

$48,160

2004

40

$25,372

$31,933

$34,720

$39,139

$66,667

$36,524

$34,143

$42,971

$46,722

$52,669

$89,713

$49,150

2009

45

$29,085

$35,653

$38,875

$42,689

$75,917

$41,173

$34,463

$42,245

$46,062

$50,582

$89,953

$48,785

Most Recent Five Years

2014

45

$30,000

$35,000

$40,233

$44,500

$63,000

$41,122

$32,213

$37,582

$43,202

$47,783

$67,648

$44,156

2015

45

$25,000

$36,250

$40,000

$43,750

$77,000

$41,290

$26,813

$38,878

$42,900

$46,922

$82,583

$44,284

2016

45

$25,000

$37,000

$40,255

$43,000

$58,667

$40,713

$26,479

$39,188

$42,636

$45,543

$62,136

$43,121

2017

41

$30,729

$38,000

$41,156

$45,917

$63,000

$42,420

$31,867

$39,408

$42,680

$47,617

$65,333

$43,991

2018

45

$35,833

$42,900

$47,500

$52,125

$78,250

$48,217

$36,071

$43,185

$47,816

$52,471

$78,770

$48,538

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

12.03%

10.68%

3.81%

2.34%

6.39%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 13. Legislative Director

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

45

$47,000

$60,000

$66,250

$72,458

$91,412

$66,932

$67,462

$86,122

$95,093

$104,003

$131,209

$96,071

2004

45

$51,761

$62,667

$70,300

$78,316

$124,833

$73,294

$69,655

$84,330

$94,602

$105,389

$167,988

$98,632

2009

45

$51,500

$77,125

$84,417

$94,750

$127,411

$85,883

$61,022

$91,384

$100,024

$112,268

$150,967

$101,761

Most Recent Five Years

2014

45

$50,417

$77,750

$84,718

$99,417

$127,000

$87,256

$54,136

$83,486

$90,968

$106,751

$136,370

$93,693

2015

45

$55,133

$76,875

$86,500

$90,083

$132,800

$84,862

$59,131

$82,449

$92,772

$96,615

$142,429

$91,015

2016

45

$63,722

$77,000

$85,500

$94,359

$128,150

$87,306

$67,491

$81,554

$90,557

$99,940

$135,729

$92,470

2017

45

$54,000

$77,123

$88,500

$96,920

$132,167

$87,830

$56,000

$79,980

$91,778

$100,510

$137,062

$91,083

2018

45

$62,500

$82,868

$89,500

$102,500

$139,333

$93,114

$62,916

$83,419

$90,095

$103,181

$140,259

$93,732

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

-1.83%

-0.96%

-9.93%

-4.76%

-5.26%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 14. Office Manager

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

45

$22,949

$33,583

$46,167

$51,500

$84,750

$44,639

$32,939

$48,204

$66,266

$73,921

$121,647

$64,073

2004

43

$20,024

$41,846

$51,000

$61,192

$86,650

$52,846

$26,946

$56,312

$68,630

$82,345

$116,605

$71,115

2009

25

$29,983

$45,992

$51,818

$63,667

$106,877

$55,578

$35,527

$54,495

$61,398

$75,438

$126,637

$65,854

Most Recent Five Years

2014

27

$33,434

$40,046

$46,000

$60,404

$116,583

$52,283

$35,900

$43,001

$49,394

$64,861

$125,185

$56,141

2015

23

$35,850

$43,114

$50,000

$60,684

$85,038

$51,961

$38,449

$46,240

$53,625

$65,084

$91,204

$55,729

2016

31

$31,900

$42,250

$50,000

$62,827

$84,738

$52,830

$33,787

$44,749

$52,957

$66,543

$89,750

$55,955

2017

25

$33,175

$44,167

$51,375

$66,042

$91,258

$55,366

$34,404

$45,803

$53,278

$68,488

$94,638

$57,416

2018

27

$35,833

$43,500

$50,083

$64,018

$96,821

$56,300

$36,072

$43,789

$50,416

$64,443

$97,464

$56,674

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

-5.37%

2.07%

-17.89%

-26.54%

-23.92%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2012, and 2014-2018 (no data are available for 2013), are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 15. Press Secretary

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

45

$29,000

$45,167

$50,000

$57,250

$85,913

$52,726

$41,625

$64,830

$71,768

$82,174

$123,316

$75,680

2004

45

$32,378

$45,653

$54,000

$66,390

$93,500

$56,927

$43,571

$61,435

$72,668

$89,341

$125,823

$76,606

2009

41

$36,000

$55,750

$62,208

$77,300

$117,400

$65,998

$42,656

$66,057

$73,710

$91,592

$139,106

$78,200

Most Recent Five Years

2014

28

$43,500

$53,458

$60,464

$68,196

$124,233

$63,049

$46,709

$57,402

$64,925

$73,227

$133,399

$67,700

2015

28

$40,500

$51,500

$57,875

$68,117

$116,458

$63,689

$43,436

$55,234

$62,072

$73,056

$124,902

$68,307

2016

44

$36,898

$52,390

$61,658

$69,625

$121,213

$62,365

$39,080

$55,489

$65,305

$73,743

$128,382

$66,054

2017

22

$42,000

$53,558

$60,542

$70,244

$90,333

$62,869

$43,556

$55,542

$62,784

$72,845

$93,679

$65,198

2018

21

$40,000

$55,667

$61,000

$70,800

$93,000

$63,188

$40,266

$56,037

$61,405

$71,271

$93,618

$63,608

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

-2.20%

-5.42%

-16.69%

-15.50%

-14.44%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 16. Scheduler

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

19

$34,117

$37,125

$42,286

$45,066

$57,000

$42,699

$48,970

$53,288

$60,695

$64,686

$81,815

$61,288

2004

25

$30,625

$42,750

$45,100

$54,000

$104,367

$50,838

$41,212

$57,528

$60,691

$72,668

$140,446

$68,412

2009

41

$32,000

$42,981

$52,450

$57,098

$93,000

$52,879

$37,916

$50,927

$62,147

$67,655

$110,194

$62,655

Most Recent Five Years

2014

45

$29,667

$42,583

$50,000

$62,167

$96,950

$53,342

$31,855

$45,725

$53,689

$66,753

$104,103

$57,277

2015

45

$33,000

$42,917

$47,917

$58,333

$96,418

$51,932

$35,393

$46,028

$51,391

$62,563

$103,408

$55,697

2016

45

$35,000

$44,940

$51,202

$56,604

$92,500

$52,758

$37,070

$47,598

$54,231

$59,952

$97,971

$55,879

2017

45

$37,000

$46,965

$50,500

$57,444

$84,000

$53,683

$38,370

$48,705

$52,370

$59,572

$87,111

$55,671

2018

45

$36,259

$44,000

$50,500

$58,500

$98,000

$53,571

$36,500

$44,292

$50,836

$58,889

$98,651

$53,927

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

-2.93%

-5.31%

-18.20%

-16.24%

-16.24%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 17. Staff Assistant

 

 

Nominal, Current $

Constant, 2019, $

Year

Number

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

Minimum

Q1

Q2, Median

Q3

Maximum

Average

2001

45

$21,667

$28,750

$31,000

$35,166

$79,516

$33,302

$31,099

$41,267

$44,496

$50,476

$114,134

$47,800

2004

45

$21,200

$30,499

$36,227

$41,178

$52,750

$35,866

$28,529

$41,042

$48,750

$55,413

$70,986

$48,264

2009

45

$20,175

$30,333

$37,504

$43,583

$67,333

$37,829

$23,905

$35,942

$44,438

$51,641

$79,782

$44,824

Most Recent Five Years

2014

45

$21,067

$31,500

$36,250

$40,020

$88,058

$37,176

$22,621

$33,824

$38,924

$42,973

$94,555

$39,918

2015

45

$25,950

$32,000

$34,857

$39,967

$69,500

$37,958

$27,831

$34,320

$37,384

$42,864

$74,539

$40,710

2016

45

$19,000

$30,000

$33,413

$38,139

$64,183

$34,941

$20,124

$31,774

$35,389

$40,395

$67,979

$37,008

2017

45

$21,000

$33,250

$37,083

$43,251

$54,750

$38,071

$21,778

$34,482

$38,457

$44,853

$56,778

$39,481

2018

45

$31,000

$36,767

$41,025

$45,989

$58,754

$42,303

$31,206

$37,011

$41,298

$46,295

$59,145

$42,585

2018 Pay Distribution

 

Median Pay

 

Change

 

 

 

 

2017-2018

2014-2018

2009-2018

2004-2018

2001-2018

7.39%

6.10%

-7.07%

-15.29%

-7.19%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

 

 

 

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Percentage change in pay is based on the change in median pay (expressed in constant, March 2019 dollars) for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on constant 2019 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, are presented in solid green. Detailed information about data sources is available above in "Data Tables and Visualizations." Data provided here are partial; complete data, 2001-2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Author Contact Information

R. Eric Petersen, Coordinator, Specialist in American National Government ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
Raymond T. Williams, Research Assistant ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

Acknowledgments

In addition to the listed authors, a number of CRS staff made substantial contributions to this report. Sandra L. Edwards, User Support Specialist, and Michael M. McCarthy, Editor, provided formatting and editorial support. Amber Hope Wilhelm, Visual Information Specialist, created the visualizations. Lara Chausow, former Research Assistant, was a coauthor of this report and collected some of the data provided. Casey Burgat, former Research Assistant, provided update support. Claudia Guidi, formerly a User Support Specialist, and Alex Marine, former Publications Editor, provided formatting and editorial support. Jacobo Licona, Brian Hamel, Joe Wisniewski, and Claire Laurence, former CRS interns, collected data for this report.

Footnotes

1.

Since 2009, the maximum annual pay for staff in House Member offices has been $168,411. See Order of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, January 9, 2009, set out as a note following 2 U.S.C. 4532. Maximum payable rates for House Member office staff since 2001 are available in Table 1.

2.

For discussion of resources available to Members to carry out their official duties, see CRS Report RL30064, Congressional Salaries and Allowances: In Brief, by Ida A. Brudnick.

3.

ICF International, 2010 House Compensation Study: Guide for the 112th Congress, prepared for the Chief Administrative Officer, House of Representatives (Washington: 2010).

4.

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

5.

Volumes of the Statement of Disbursements since July 2009 are available at http://disbursements.house.gov/.

6.

See http://www.legistorm.com/.

7.

For a discussion of staff roles in Members' offices, see CRS Report RL34545, Congressional Staff: Duties and Functions of Selected Positions, by R. Eric Petersen.

8.

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

9.

Data for offices that employed Counsels are available 2010-2018.

10.

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

11.

The numbers of staff for which data were counted are identified as observations in the data tables.

12.

For each year, the SOD reports pay data for five time periods: January 1 and 2; January 3-March 31; April 1-June 30; July 1-September 30; and October 1-December 31. The aggregate pay of those five periods equals the annual pay of a congressional staff member. The brief reporting period accommodates accounting of the Member Representational Allowance (MRA), which authorizes expenditures from January 3 to January 2 of the following year. For a discussion of MRA usage, see CRS Report R40962, Members' Representational Allowance: History and Usage, by Ida A. Brudnick. 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.

13.

Staff of all Members who serve an entire calendar year may be included in the data. For information on the number of first-term Members in each Congress, see CRS Report R41283, First-Term Members of the House of Representatives and Senate, 64th-114th Congresses, by Jennifer E. Manning and R. Eric Petersen.

14.

Some offices reported pay data that excluded the January 1 and 2 period, or included those days in reports including the period from October 1 of the previous year.

15.

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

16.

Member pay data are taken from CRS Report 97-1011, Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables, by Ida A. Brudnick.

17.

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/2019/general-schedule/. For a complete description of areas covered under the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality pay table, see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2019/locality-pay-area-definitions/#DC. For areas covered by the RUS, see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2019/locality-pay-area-definitions/#US.