Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senators' Offices, FY2001-FY2018

Updated June 11, 2019 (R44324)
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Introduction
Data Concerns
Data Tables and Visualizations
Senate Member Office Staff Pay Tables

Tables

Table 1. Annual Maximum Pay for Selected Staff in Senators' Offices, 2001-2019
Table 2. Change in Median Pay for Selected Staff In Senators' Offices, Selected Periods
Table 3. Administrative Director
Table 4. Casework Supervisor
Table 5. Caseworker
Table 6. Chief of Staff
Table 7. Communications Director
Table 8. Constituent Service Representative
Table 9. Counsel
Table 10. Executive Assistant
Table 11. Field Representative
Table 12. Legislative Assistant
Table 13. Legislative Correspondent
Table 14. Legislative Director
Table 15. Press Secretary
Table 16. Scheduler
Table 17. Staff Assistant
Table 18. State Director

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 16 staff position titles that are typically found in Senators' offices. The positions include the following: Administrative Director, Casework Supervisor, Caseworker, Chief of Staff, Communications Director, Constituent Services Representative, Counsel, Executive Assistant, Field Representative, Legislative Assistant, Legislative Correspondent, Legislative Director, Press Secretary, Scheduler, Staff Assistant, and State Director. The following table provides the change in median pay levels for these positions, in constant 2019 dollars between FY2017 and FY2018.

Percentage Change in Median Pay for Selected Staff In Senators' Offices, FY2017-FY2018

Position	FY17-FY18	Position	FY17-FY18
Administrative Director	-2.36%	Field Representative	-3.86%
Casework Supervisor	-3.21%	Legislative Assistant	8.04%
Caseworker	-18.02%	Legislative Correspondent	-2.13%
Chief of Staff	-2.38%	Legislative Director	4.81%
Communications Director	-0.38%	Press Secretary	-10.67%
Constituent Services Representative	-0.18%	Scheduler	-11.24%
Counsel	4.94%	Staff Assistant	4.68%
Executive Assistant	7.85%	State Director	-0.60%

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, 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 FY2001, FY2004, FY2009, and FY2014-FY2018, including quartiles, the median, and average pay. Complete data, FY2001-FY2018, are available to congressional requesters upon request. Graphic displays are also included, providing representations of pay from two perspectives, including the following:

a line graph showing change in median pay, FY2001-FY2018, in nominal (current) and constant 2019 dollars; and
distributions of FY2018 pay in constant 2019 dollars, in $10,000 increments.

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. Senators set the terms and conditions of employment for staff in their offices. These include job titles and descriptions; rates of pay, subject to minimum and maximum levels;¹ and resources available to them to carry out their official duties.² There may be interest in congressional pay data from multiple perspectives, including assessment of the costs of congressional operations, guidance in setting pay levels for staff in Senators' offices, or comparison of congressional staff pay levels with those of other federal government pay systems.

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

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

Administrative Director
Casework Supervisor⁸
Caseworker⁹
Chief of Staff
Communications Director
Constituent Services Representative
Counsel
Executive Assistant
Field Representative¹⁰
Legislative Assistant
Legislative Correspondent
Legislative Director
Press Secretary
Scheduler
Staff Assistant
State Director

The collection of Senators' staff pay data for FY2001-FY2018 proceeded as follows. For each fiscal year, a random sample¹¹ of 25 Senators' offices was taken for each position. Senate staff had to hold a position with the same job title in the Senator's office for the entire fiscal year examined, and not receive pay from any other congressional employing authority to be included. Generally, each position has no more than one observation per Senator's office each fiscal year.

Every recorded payment ascribed in the LegiStorm data to those staff for the fiscal year is included in the calculation of a staffer's annual pay. 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 25 offices that employed staff in some positions for an entire year. In circumstances when data for 10 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 findings or their interpretation. Some of the concerns include the following:

Since periods of time covered by the Report of the Secretary of the Senate overlap the end of one Congress and convening of the next, data are not available for first-term Senators in the first session of a Congress. Data presented in this report do not include staff serving in the offices of first-term Senators during the first nine months of their service.¹³
The Report of the Secretary of the Senate reports monies paid directly by the Senate to staff, but does not provide the individual value of other components of compensation, which might include paid leave or employer contributions to various insurance and retirement benefits.
Pay data provide no insight into the education, work experience, position tenure, full- or part-time status of staff, or other potential explanations for levels of compensation.
Staff could be based in Washington, DC, state offices, or both.
Potential differences might exist in the job duties of positions with the same title. Aggregation of pay by job title rests on the assumption that staff with the same title carry out the same or similar tasks. Given the wide discretion congressional employing authorities have in setting the terms and conditions of employment, there may be differences in the duties of similarly titled staff that could have effects on their levels of pay. Acknowledging the imprecision inherent in congressional job titles, an older edition of the Senate Handbook states, "Throughout the Senate, individuals with the same job title perform vastly different duties."¹⁴

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 staff in Senators' offices 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 16 positions, Members of Congress,¹⁶ and 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 18 provide tabular pay data for each staff position for FY2001, FY2004, FY2009, and FY2014-FY2018, including data distributed by quartile, including the median, as well as 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 FY2018, 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:

a line graph showing change in median pay, FY2001-FY2018, in nominal (current) and constant 2019 dollars; and
distributions of FY2018 pay in 2019 dollars, in $10,000 increments.

Table 1. Annual Maximum Pay for Selected Staff in Senators' Offices, 2001-2019

Year

Nominal $

Constant
2019 $

2001

$140,559

$201,753

2002

$145,459

$205,536

2003

$150,159

$207,450

2004

$153,459

$206,509

2005

$157,559

$205,078

2006

$160,659

$202,579

2007

$160,659

$196,968

2008

$164,759

$194,526

2009

$169,459

$200,790

2010

$169,459

$197,549

2011

$169,459

$191,504

2012

$169,459

$187,622

2013

$169,459

$184,913

2014

$169,459

$181,961

2015

$169,459

$181,746

2016

$169,459

$179,482

2017

$169,459

$175,736

2018

$169,459

$171,548

2019

$169,459

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

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

	Change Based on Constant, 2019 Dollars
	FY17-FY18	FY14-FY18	FY09-FY18	FY04-FY18	FY01-FY18
Administrative Director	-2.36%	0.88%	3.05%	3.93%	21.65%
Casework Supervisor	-3.21%	3.83%	-9.81%	0.30%	13.49%
Caseworker	-18.02%	-13.96%	-15.64%	-5.04%	6.52%
Chief of Staff	-2.38%	-5.49%	-13.27%	-15.90%	-11.23%
Communications Director	-0.38%	3.84%	-6.77%	4.65%	1.12%
Constituent Services Representative	-0.18%	11.96%	11.96%	3.28%	15.97%
Counsel	4.94%	5.44%	-8.64%	-11.75%	-3.94%
Executive Assistant	7.85%	-19.03%	-33.13%	-32.08%	-20.77%
Field Representative	-3.86%	-6.49%	-10.57%	-15.00%	-4.45%
Legislative Assistant	8.04%	6.94%	-1.80%	-2.27%	-0.80%
Legislative Correspondent	-2.13%	-1.86%	-1.55%	-0.33%	2.21%
Legislative Director	4.81%	5.12%	-6.56%	4.76%	7.03%
Press Secretary	-10.67%	3.85%	-12.22%	-16.61%	-26.63%
Scheduler	-11.24%	1.18%	-11.48%	-3.44%	12.30%
Staff Assistant	4.68%	5.63%	-0.64%	-14.68%	-0.35%
State Director	-0.60%	2.99%	4.38%	5.81%	23.50%
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	11	3	6	9
Decrease	11	5	13	10	7

Source: CRS calculations, based on pay data provided in Table 3-Table 18 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."

Senate 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 18, 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	25^th percentile	50^th percentile	75^th 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. Administrative Director

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile			50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	10	$46,340	$61,630	$66,542	$73,599	$76,500	$66,200	$66,515	$88,462			$95,512	$105,641		$109,805	$95,020
FY04	18	$33,750	$71,408	$83,080	$100,410	$142,968	$83,942	$45,417	$96,093			$111,800	$135,121		$192,392	$112,961
FY09	25	$46,459	$85,297	$95,164	$111,170	$140,250	$96,479	$55,048	$101,067			$112,758	$131,723		$166,180	$114,316
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$50,937	$87,667	$107,265	$122,484	$139,080	$103,458	$54,696	$94,134			$115,179	$131,521		$149,341	$111,091
FY15	25	$56,375	$97,357	$104,433	$117,500	$150,522	$106,212	$60,462	$104,415		$112,005		$126,019		$161,436	$113,913
FY16	25	$40,625	$82,276	$107,752	$123,750	$154,035	$101,903	$43,028	$87,142		$114,125		$131,069		$163,145	$107,930
FY17	25	$63,667	$100,937	$114,750	$128,875	$160,192	$114,516	$66,025	$104,676		$119,000		$133,648		$166,125	$118,758
FY18	25	$72,510	$102,840	$114,778	$126,262	$161,458	$113,389	$73,404	$104,107		$116,192		$127,818		$163,448	$114,786
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18				-2.36% 0.88% 3.05% 3.93% 21.65%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, 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, are available to congressional requesters upon request.

Table 4. Casework Supervisor

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$23,928	$45,479	$51,828	$56,550	$83,000	$50,594	$34,345	$65,279		$74,391	$81,169		$119,135	$72,621
FY04	25	$27,500	$54,125	$62,549	$70,954	$88,679	$60,683	$37,007	$72,836		$84,172	$95,483		$119,335	$81,661
FY09	25	$55,750	$69,349	$79,000	$87,875	$109,356	$79,269	$66,057	$82,171		$93,606	$104,122		$129,575	$93,924
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$35,500	$66,427	$75,719	$86,800	$113,875	$74,974	$38,119	$71,328		$81,306	$93,204		$122,276	$80,505
FY15	25	$37,829	$64,000	$79,500	$86,788	$118,500	$79,051	$40,572	$68,640		$85,264	$93,081		$127,092	$84,782
FY16	25	$52,698	$67,264	$77,821	$90,251	$127,500	$81,928	$55,815	$71,242		$82,424	$95,588		$135,041	$86,773
FY17	25	$46,219	$70,103	$84,106	$90,815	$115,167	$81,630	$47,931	$72,699		$87,221	$94,178		$119,432	$84,653
FY18	25	$36,500	$62,017	$83,395	$96,754	$155,750	$84,682	$36,950	$62,782		$84,423	$97,947		$157,670	$85,726
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			-3.21% 3.83% -9.81% 0.30% 13.49%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 5. Caseworker

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$23,227	$27,873	$31,781	$39,900	$61,039	$34,342	$33,339	$40,007		$45,617	$57,271		$87,613	$49,293
FY04	25	$25,775	$31,250	$38,024	$41,982	$57,700	$38,761	$34,686	$42,053		$51,168	$56,495		$77,647	$52,160
FY09	20	$37,837	$41,875	$48,611	$55,411	$92,988	$52,042	$44,833	$49,617		$57,599	$65,656		$110,180	$61,664
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	24	$21,167	$41,340	$52,598	$62,125	$81,250	$53,187	$22,728	$44,390		$56,478	$66,708		$87,244	$57,111
FY15	21	$21,167	$42,083	$48,250	$66,485	$80,000	$52,439	$22,701	$45,135		$51,748	$71,306		$85,800	$56,241
FY16	25	$23,355	$39,583	$47,607	$62,955	$86,458	$50,554	$24,736	$41,924		$50,423	$66,678		$91,572	$53,543
FY17	21	$35,000	$41,958	$57,156	$68,523	$87,500	$56,058	$36,296	$43,512		$59,273	$71,061		$90,741	$58,135
FY18	22	$31,000	$43,437	$48,000	$64,850	$70,000	$51,829	$31,382	$43,973		$48,592	$65,649		$70,863	$52,468
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			-18.02% -13.96% -15.64% -5.04% 6.52%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 6. Chief of Staff

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$103,657	$124,270	$134,630	$138,000	$139,609	$130,841	$148,784	$178,372		$193,242	$198,079		$200,389	$187,803
FY04	25	$100,000	$142,000	$151,576	$152,526	$152,709	$145,165	$134,570	$191,089		$203,975	$205,253		$205,500	$195,347
FY09	25	$147,960	$165,305	$166,926	$167,305	$167,305	$164,532	$175,316	$195,867		$197,789	$198,237		$198,237	$194,952
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$141,050	$161,214	$169,042	$169,459	$169,459	$164,932	$151,456	$173,108		$181,514	$181,961		$181,961	$177,100
FY15	25	$102,800	$167,000	$169,459	$169,459	$169,459	$162,671	$110,253	$179,108		$181,746	$181,746		$181,746	$174,466
FY16	25	$154,500	$166,000	$169,000	$169,459	$169,459	$166,857	$163,638	$175,818		$178,995	$179,481		$179,481	$176,725
FY17	25	$126,775	$165,743	$169,459	$169,459	$169,459	$165,680	$131,470	$171,882		$175,735	$175,735		$175,735	$171,816
FY18	25	$143,815	$166,957	$169,459	$169,459	$169,459	$166,646	$145,587	$169,015		$171,548	$171,548		$171,548	$168,700
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			-2.38% -5.49% -13.27% -15.90% -11.23%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 7. Communications Director

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$42,189	$72,441	$83,186	$94,455	$128,974	$83,784	$60,556	$103,979		$119,402	$135,577		$185,124	$120,259
FY04	25	$56,908	$76,001	$85,733	$110,160	$142,726	$92,741	$76,581	$102,275		$115,371	$148,242		$192,065	$124,801
FY09	25	$75,400	$92,333	$109,296	$121,277	$156,687	$111,197	$89,340	$109,404		$129,503	$143,699		$185,656	$131,756
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$80,000	$99,500	$108,288	$122,836	$157,137	$112,337	$85,902	$106,841		$116,277	$131,899		$168,730	$120,625
FY15	25	$95,675	$102,000	$121,065	$132,797	$169,459	$122,710	$102,612	$109,395		$129,843	$142,426		$181,746	$131,607
FY16	25	$75,344	$105,871	$116,250	$127,500	$148,750	$116,696	$79,800	$112,133		$123,126	$135,041		$157,548	$123,598
FY17	25	$92,000	$106,875	$116,875	$128,000	$155,000	$118,145	$95,408	$110,833		$121,204	$132,741		$160,741	$122,520
FY18	25	$76,717	$107,000	$119,270	$126,960	$163,275	$117,207	$77,663	$108,319		$120,740	$128,525		$165,288	$118,652
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			-0.38% 3.84% -6.77% 4.65% 1.12%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 8. Constituent Service Representative

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	19	$23,802	$26,801	$31,611	$37,367	$45,180	$31,778	$34,165	$38,468		$45,373	$53,635		$64,850	$45,613
FY04	25	$23,410	$32,031	$37,863	$42,000	$58,719	$37,753	$31,503	$43,104		$50,951	$56,519		$79,018	$50,804
FY09	25	$19,583	$31,125	$39,667	$44,000	$71,208	$40,223	$23,204	$36,880		$47,000	$52,135		$84,374	$47,659
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$30,463	$37,175	$43,771	$48,000	$89,179	$45,446	$32,710	$39,918		$47,001	$51,541		$95,758	$48,799
FY15	25	$31,500	$38,652	$44,125	$47,960	$83,084	$44,926	$33,784	$41,454		$47,324	$51,438		$89,108	$48,184
FY16	25	$26,659	$38,806	$42,852	$46,500	$69,229	$43,881	$28,236	$41,101		$45,387	$49,250		$73,324	$46,476
FY17	25	$30,900	$44,456	$50,833	$54,187	$83,325	$49,863	$32,044	$46,103		$52,716	$56,194		$86,411	$51,710
FY18	25	$36,154	$41,310	$51,980	$56,500	$64,167	$49,749	$36,600	$41,819		$52,620	$57,196		$64,958	$50,362
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			-0.18% 11.96% 11.96% 3.28% 15.97%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 9. Counsel

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	15	$25,000	$61,723	$69,875	$74,691	$93,833	$67,125	$35,884	$88,595		$100,296	$107,209		$134,684	$96,349
FY04	25	$45,000	$66,952	$81,127	$91,992	$152,526	$84,890	$60,556	$90,097		$109,173	$123,793		$205,253	$114,236
FY09	23	$45,000	$77,313	$89,000	$98,542	$129,788	$88,826	$53,320	$91,607		$105,455	$116,761		$153,784	$105,248
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$53,250	$77,000	$85,100	$101,734	$153,120	$90,638	$57,179	$82,681		$91,378	$109,240		$164,417	$97,325
FY15	25	$58,000	$79,417	$85,669	$113,333	$154,659	$93,777	$62,205	$85,175		$91,881	$121,551		$165,873	$100,576
FY16	25	$52,500	$73,646	$87,500	$97,083	$134,932	$88,773	$55,605	$78,002		$92,675	$102,825		$142,913	$94,024
FY17	25	$66,500	$84,728	$88,535	$96,169	$142,271	$93,268	$68,963	$87,866		$91,814	$99,731		$147,540	$96,722
FY18	16	$55,000	$80,221	$95,172	$99,808	$114,392	$90,265	$55,678	$81,210		$96,345	$101,038		$115,802	$91,377
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			4.94% 5.44% -8.64% -11.75% -3.94%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 10. Executive Assistant

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$36,000	$51,486	$60,480	$79,529	$124,583	$65,378	$51,673	$73,901		$86,810	$114,153		$178,822	$93,841
FY04	25	$32,262	$60,167	$75,250	$89,299	$152,709	$76,616	$43,415	$80,967		$101,263	$120,170		$205,500	$103,102
FY09	25	$42,272	$67,151	$86,817	$105,750	$167,305	$91,183	$50,087	$79,566		$102,868	$125,302		$198,237	$108,042
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	23	$32,750	$59,062	$79,110	$111,741	$169,459	$85,535	$35,166	$63,420		$84,947	$119,985		$181,961	$91,845
FY15	21	$42,983	$55,375	$70,000	$107,544	$169,459	$84,837	$46,100	$59,390		$75,075	$115,342		$181,746	$90,988
FY16	21	$33,752	$60,657	$80,559	$126,000	$169,459	$92,915	$35,749	$64,245		$85,323	$133,452		$179,481	$98,411
FY17	19	$36,750	$48,099	$61,500	$100,426	$169,459	$79,059	$38,111	$49,881		$63,778	$104,146		$175,735	$81,987
FY18	18	$38,250	$57,811	$67,946	$79,018	$169,459	$78,477	$38,721	$58,524		$68,783	$79,992		$171,548	$79,445
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			7.85% -19.03% -33.13% -32.08% -20.77%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 11. Field Representative

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$20,519	$35,839	$41,337	$48,744	$70,466	$42,290	$29,452	$51,441		$59,333	$69,965		$101,144	$60,701
FY04	25	$21,518	$33,793	$49,562	$54,449	$87,500	$46,831	$28,956	$45,474		$66,696	$73,272		$117,748	$63,021
FY09	25	$29,495	$45,378	$53,500	$65,434	$91,750	$55,405	$34,949	$53,768		$63,391	$77,532		$108,713	$65,649
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$34,833	$50,247	$56,458	$73,500	$93,948	$60,554	$37,403	$53,955		$60,624	$78,923		$100,880	$65,022
FY15	25	$35,615	$44,500	$59,678	$73,000	$89,458	$58,997	$38,198	$47,726		$64,004	$78,293		$95,944	$63,275
FY16	24	$33,476	$41,076	$47,833	$69,750	$98,125	$55,119	$35,456	$43,505		$50,662	$73,875		$103,929	$58,379
FY17	25	$37,691	$48,375	$56,863	$68,437	$87,500	$58,369	$39,087	$50,167		$58,969	$70,972		$90,741	$60,531
FY18	25	$38,083	$47,000	$56,000	$70,625	$93,042	$60,296	$38,553	$47,579		$56,690	$71,495		$94,188	$61,039
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			-3.86% -6.49% -10.57% -15.00% -4.45%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 12. Legislative Assistant

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$31,916	$46,440	$54,032	$65,250	$83,533	$55,641	$45,811	$66,658		$77,555	$93,657		$119,899	$79,865
FY04	25	$30,203	$49,871	$58,500	$76,436	$135,000	$66,495	$40,644	$67,111		$78,723	$102,859		$181,669	$89,481
FY09	25	$50,042	$57,228	$66,125	$77,500	$106,916	$69,293	$59,294	$67,809		$78,351	$91,829		$126,683	$82,104
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$30,333	$61,667	$67,000	$73,331	$87,500	$66,806	$32,571	$66,216		$71,943	$78,741		$93,955	$71,735
FY15	25	$58,755	$65,000	$67,667	$76,083	$103,375	$71,209	$63,015	$69,713		$72,573	$81,600		$110,870	$76,372
FY16	25	$50,667	$60,000	$73,000	$79,619	$106,383	$71,792	$53,663	$63,548		$77,317	$84,328		$112,675	$76,038
FY17	25	$44,420	$55,000	$68,667	$87,875	$120,901	$71,667	$46,066	$57,037		$71,210	$91,130		$125,379	$74,321
FY18	25	$53,333	$65,500	$76,000	$84,254	$122,901	$76,770	$53,991	$66,307		$76,937	$85,292		$124,415	$77,716
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			8.04% 6.94% -1.80% -2.27% -0.80%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 13. Legislative Correspondent

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$22,344	$27,496	$29,250	$32,500	$41,250	$30,560	$32,071	$39,467		$41,984	$46,649		$59,208	$43,865
FY04	25	$25,327	$29,779	$31,994	$35,320	$56,467	$34,350	$34,083	$40,074		$43,055	$47,530		$75,987	$46,224
FY09	25	$30,156	$35,381	$36,786	$40,530	$49,750	$38,093	$35,731	$41,922		$43,587	$48,024		$58,948	$45,136
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$32,388	$35,806	$40,722	$41,904	$58,333	$40,412	$34,778	$38,448		$43,726	$44,996		$62,637	$43,393
FY15	25	$33,875	$36,875	$38,668	$42,000	$52,000	$39,794	$36,331	$39,549		$41,471	$45,045		$55,770	$42,679
FY16	25	$34,265	$37,348	$39,589	$43,650	$45,500	$39,947	$36,292	$39,556		$41,930	$46,231		$48,191	$42,309
FY17	25	$30,000	$39,000	$42,281	$45,156	$62,250	$42,879	$31,111	$40,444		$43,847	$46,829		$64,556	$44,468
FY18	25	$33,855	$38,400	$42,389	$45,687	$52,458	$42,409	$34,273	$38,873		$42,911	$46,250		$53,104	$42,931
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			-2.13% -1.86% -1.55% -0.33% 2.21%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 14. Legislative Director

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$70,417	$90,429	$96,988	$106,671	$138,459	$97,697	$101,073	$129,798		$139,213	$153,111		$198,738	$140,231
FY04	25	$67,401	$92,751	$105,695	$124,167	$140,245	$107,803	$90,702	$124,815		$142,233	$167,090		$188,727	$145,071
FY09	25	$98,743	$122,544	$134,583	$150,654	$167,305	$135,702	$116,999	$145,201		$159,466	$178,508		$198,237	$160,791
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$100,000	$118,750	$132,000	$139,569	$155,750	$128,618	$107,378	$127,511		$141,739	$149,866		$167,241	$138,107
FY15	25	$106,583	$119,135	$137,000	$141,479	$162,625	$132,473	$114,311	$127,773		$146,933	$151,737		$174,416	$142,078
FY16	25	$101,375	$125,380	$138,923	$151,167	$165,647	$138,102	$107,371	$132,795		$147,140	$160,107		$175,444	$146,270
FY17	25	$104,667	$125,000	$137,083	$146,007	$168,679	$136,547	$108,543	$129,630		$142,161	$151,415		$174,926	$141,605
FY18	25	$97,122	$130,001	$147,188	$150,588	$169,459	$141,493	$98,319	$131,603		$149,002	$152,444		$171,548	$143,237
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			4.81% 5.12% -6.56% 4.76% 7.03%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 15. Press Secretary

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$21,120	$48,125	$66,625	$77,143	$92,242	$64,528	$30,315	$69,077		$95,631	$110,728		$132,401	$92,621
FY04	25	$41,098	$51,150	$62,523	$80,917	$109,734	$67,127	$55,305	$68,832		$84,137	$108,890		$147,668	$90,333
FY09	25	$38,452	$59,500	$67,453	$82,852	$131,000	$71,592	$45,561	$70,501		$79,924	$98,171		$155,220	$84,829
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$50,333	$56,916	$62,914	$78,182	$130,000	$71,385	$54,047	$61,115		$67,556	$83,951		$139,591	$76,652
FY15	25	$53,610	$62,833	$71,650	$78,802	$127,813	$73,754	$57,497	$67,389		$76,845	$84,516		$137,080	$79,102
FY16	25	$53,771	$65,937	$69,375	$76,856	$132,125	$75,205	$56,951	$69,837		$73,478	$81,401		$139,939	$79,653
FY17	25	$52,389	$66,000	$75,737	$88,000	$132,192	$79,425	$54,329	$68,444		$78,543	$91,259		$137,088	$82,367
FY18	25	$48,093	$61,197	$69,306	$87,000	$142,404	$74,966	$48,686	$61,951		$70,160	$88,072		$144,160	$75,890
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			-10.67% 3.85% -12.22% -16.61% -26.63%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 16. Scheduler

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$29,690	$42,167	$50,917	$54,670	$75,308	$50,705	$42,616	$60,524		$73,084	$78,471		$108,094	$72,780
FY04	25	$39,583	$48,250	$63,167	$77,292	$120,280	$64,745	$53,267	$64,930		$85,003	$104,011		$161,860	$87,128
FY09	25	$28,468	$55,653	$78,250	$87,372	$162,986	$76,762	$33,731	$65,942		$92,717	$103,526		$193,119	$90,955
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$35,262	$58,432	$75,546	$91,500	$131,812	$77,111	$37,864	$62,743		$81,120	$98,251		$141,537	$82,800
FY15	25	$42,925	$52,596	$70,708	$90,000	$134,921	$76,226	$46,038	$56,410		$75,835	$96,525		$144,703	$81,753
FY16	20	$39,716	$56,775	$69,017	$88,068	$137,897	$74,235	$42,065	$60,133		$73,099	$93,276		$146,053	$78,626
FY17	15	$45,335	$71,778	$89,167	$98,415	$140,632	$87,838	$47,014	$74,437		$92,469	$102,060		$145,841	$91,092
FY18	20	$45,268	$67,356	$81,076	$93,322	$151,993	$84,916	$45,826	$68,186		$82,075	$94,472		$153,867	$85,963
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			-11.24% 1.18% -11.48% -3.44% 12.30%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 17. Staff Assistant

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$22,000	$26,875	$28,985	$33,008	$51,275	$31,205	$31,578	$38,575		$41,604	$47,379		$73,598	$44,791
FY04	25	$21,000	$28,792	$36,107	$44,142	$62,917	$36,668	$28,260	$38,745		$48,590	$59,402		$84,667	$49,344
FY09	25	$18,683	$32,777	$35,216	$40,529	$56,500	$37,386	$22,137	$38,837		$41,727	$48,022		$66,946	$44,298
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$28,114	$34,010	$36,551	$43,093	$75,000	$39,920	$30,188	$36,519		$39,247	$46,272		$80,533	$42,865
FY15	25	$27,025	$32,375	$37,000	$40,917	$75,000	$38,956	$28,984	$34,722		$39,683	$43,883		$80,438	$41,780
FY16	25	$24,401	$34,500	$36,500	$43,417	$64,083	$39,479	$25,844	$36,540		$38,659	$45,984		$67,873	$41,814
FY17	25	$32,624	$34,937	$38,192	$39,578	$46,000	$37,750	$33,832	$36,231		$39,606	$41,044		$47,704	$39,148
FY18	25	$30,000	$37,412	$40,953	$46,333	$87,950	$43,898	$30,370	$37,873		$41,458	$46,904		$89,034	$44,439
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			4.68% 5.63% -0.64% -14.68% -0.35%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Table 18. State Director

		Nominal, Current $						Constant, 2019, $
Year	Number	Minimum	25 %ile	50 %ile Median	75 %ile	Maximum	Average	Minimum	25 %ile		50 %ile Median	75 %ile		Maximum	Average
FY01	25	$56,000	$74,089	$79,521	$91,065	$122,533	$82,660	$80,380	$106,344		$114,141	$130,710		$175,879	$118,647
FY04	25	$70,000	$83,598	$99,000	$105,396	$123,126	$96,097	$94,199	$112,498		$133,224	$141,832		$165,690	$129,318
FY09	25	$81,132	$103,750	$113,975	$129,500	$167,305	$118,890	$96,132	$122,932		$135,047	$153,443		$198,237	$140,871
Most Recent Five Years
FY14	25	$78,833	$115,125	$127,467	$152,545	$169,459	$132,613	$84,649	$123,619		$136,871	$163,800		$181,961	$142,397
FY15	25	$93,500	$111,817	$135,250	$157,094	$169,459	$134,582	$100,279	$119,924		$145,056	$168,484		$181,746	$144,340
FY16	25	$77,042	$117,500	$132,563	$144,500	$169,459	$131,694	$81,598	$124,449		$140,403	$153,046		$179,481	$139,483
FY17	25	$105,208	$116,883	$136,750	$148,000	$169,459	$134,059	$109,105	$121,212		$141,815	$153,482		$175,735	$139,024
FY18	25	$60,750	$121,667	$139,250	$154,046	$169,459	$137,312	$61,499	$123,166		$140,966	$155,944		$171,548	$139,004
Median Pay					FY18 Pay Distribution					Change
										FY17-FY18 FY14-FY18 FY09-FY18 FY04-FY18 FY01-FY18			-0.60% 2.99% 4.38% 5.81% 23.50%
Dollars in figures are in thousands.

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 2017, the minimum level of gross annual pay has been $2,921 for Senate staff. The maximum annual pay for staff in a Senator's personal office has since 2009 been $169,459, 2 U.S.C. 4575. Maximum payable rates for staff in a Senator's office since 2001 are available in Table 1.
2.	For discussion of resources available to Members to carry out their official duties, see CRS Report RL30064, Congressional Salaries and Allowances: In Brief, by Ida A. Brudnick.
3.	U.S. Senate, Secretary of the Senate, 2006 U.S. Senate Employment, Compensation, Hiring and Benefits Study (Washington: 2006).
4.	In this report, pay refers to monies paid by the Senate to staff, and excludes other components of total compensation, which might include paid leave or employer contributions to various insurance and retirement benefits.
5.	The Report of the Secretary of the Senate since April 2011 is available at https://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/generic/report_secsen.htm.
6.	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.
8.	Other job titles which may indicate similar duties, and for which pay data were collected for this category, include Casework Director, Casework Coordinator, and Director of Constituent Services.
9.	Other job titles which may indicate similar duties, and for which pay data were collected for this category, include Federal Caseworker and Constituent Caseworker.
10.	Another job title which may indicate similar duties, and for which pay data were collected for this category, was Regional Representative.
11.	Obtaining the salaries of every congressional staff member from every Senator's office listed in the Report of the Secretary of the Senate is beyond the capacity of available resources. Each year, a different, random sample of Senators' offices was taken for each position. The large random samples of positions in Senators' offices mean that a full accounting would be unlikely to yield significantly different results. At the same time, a study that examines pay data based on different job titles, or which combines pay data from positions of similar titles or duties (e.g., legislative assistant and senior legislative assistant, or executive assistants, schedulers, and executive assistant/schedulers), could result in findings that are different from those provided here.
12.	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.	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.	U.S. Senate, Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Handbook (Washington: 1996), p. I-13.
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.

Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senators' Offices, FY2001-FY2018

Contents

Tables

Summary

Introduction

Data Concerns

Data Tables and Visualizations

Senate Member Office Staff Pay Tables

Footnotes