Congressional Research Service

SUMMARY

Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2023

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 for multiple reasons, 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 17 staff position titles that are typically used in House Members’ offices. These positions are the following: Caseworker, Chief of Staff, Communications Director, Constituent Services Director, Constituent Services Representative, Deputy Chief of Staff, District Deputy Director, District Director, Field Representative, Legislative Assistant, Legislative Correspondent, Legislative Director, Operations Director, Press Secretary, Scheduler, Senior Legislative Assistant, and Staff Assistant. The following table provides 2023 median pay levels for positions for which data are available in constant 2024 dollars, and change in pay between 2022 and 2023.

2023 Median Pay and Percentage Change for Selected Staff Positions in House Members’

Offices in 2024 Dollars and Percentage Change, 2022-2023

Position

2023

Pay,

2024$

Change,

2022-

2023

Position

2023

Pay,

2024$

Change,

2022-

2023

Caseworker $68,910 -0.99% Legislative Assistant $74,783 -1.01%

Chief of Staff $187,060 -4.15% Legislative Correspondent $65,568 2.89%

Communications Director $107,565 6.10% Legislative Director $113,199 -3.03%

Constituent Services Director $97,064 11.95% Operations Director $97,064 4.00%

Constituent Services Representative $64,340 2.24% Press Secretary $72,649 -15.39%

Deputy Chief of Staff $130,871 -6.32% Scheduler $77,163 -2.84%

District Deputy Director $90,833 -8.35% Senior Legislative Assistant $90,150 1.64%

District Director $120,302 -7.93% Staff Assistant $57,852 1.07%

Field Representative $66,844 -5.62%

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. Change is based on 2024 dollars per the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2024.

Report tables provide aggregate statistics on pay for each staff position for 2001, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019-2023, including quartiles, median pay, and average pay. Complete data for 2001-2023 are available to congressional staff upon request. Graphic displays are also included where data are available, providing representations of pay from the following two perspectives:

• a line graph showing change in median pay, 2001-2023, in nominal (current) and 2024 dollars; and

• distributions of 2023 pay in 2024 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.

R44323

August 27, 2024

R. Eric Petersen Specialist in American National Government

Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2023

Congressional Research Service

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Data Concerns ................................................................................................................................. 2 Data Tables and Visualizations ........................................................................................................ 2

House Member Office Staff Pay Tables .......................................................................................... 3

Tables

Table 1. Annual Maximum Pay for Staff in House Members’ Offices, 2001-2024 ........................ 4 Table 2. 2023 Median Pay, 2024 Dollars, Changes in Pay for Selected Staff in House

Member Offices, Members of Congress, and Selected General Schedule Employees ................ 5

Table 3. Caseworker ........................................................................................................................ 6 Table 4. Chief of Staff ..................................................................................................................... 7 Table 5. Communications Director .................................................................................................. 8

Table 6. Constituent Services Director ............................................................................................ 9 Table 7. Constituent Services Representative ................................................................................ 10

Table 8. Deputy Chief of Staff ........................................................................................................ 11

Table 9. District Deputy Director .................................................................................................. 12 Table 10. District Director ............................................................................................................. 13

Table 11. Field Representative ...................................................................................................... 14 Table 12. Legislative Assistant ...................................................................................................... 15 Table 13. Legislative Correspondent ............................................................................................. 16 Table 14. Legislative Director ....................................................................................................... 17 Table 15. Operations Director ....................................................................................................... 18 Table 16. Press Secretary ............................................................................................................... 19

Table 17. Scheduler ....................................................................................................................... 20 Table 18. Senior Legislative Assistant ........................................................................................... 21

Table 19. Staff Assistant ................................................................................................................ 22

Contacts

Author Information ........................................................................................................................ 23

Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2023

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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 minimum and maximum levels.¹ 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. Pay information in this report is based on the Statement of Disbursements of the House (SOD),² published quarterly by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO),³ as collated by LegiStorm. Data in this report are based on official House reports of specific staff positions. 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 17 staff position titles that are typically used in House Members’ offices. The positions include the following:

Caseworker Chief of Staff Communications Director Constituent Services Director Constituent Services Representative Deputy Chief of Staff

District Deputy Director District Director Field Representative Legislative Assistant Legislative Correspondent Legislative Director

Operations Director Press Secretary Scheduler Senior Legislative Assistant Staff Assistant

The collection of House Members’ staff pay data for the years 2001-2023 proceeded as follows. For each year, a random sample⁴ 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. Data collected for this report may differ from an employee’s stated annual salary due to the inclusion of overtime, bonuses, or other payments⁵ in addition to base salary paid in the course of a year.

1 Effective December 30, 2022, the maximum annual pay for House staff, a figure that has increased over time, is $212,100. A minimum salary of $45,000 per year was also established. See Order of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, December 30, 2022, 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 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.

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

4 Each year, a different, random sample of Members’ offices was taken for each position. A study that examines pay data based on different job titles, or which combines pay data from positions of similar titles or presumptive duties (e.g., legislative aide, legislative assistant and senior legislative assistant, or executive assistants, schedulers, office managers, and executive assistant/schedulers), or estimates of pay using different data collection criteria, could result in findings that are different from those provided here.

5 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 (continued...)

Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2023

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For some positions, it was not possible to identify 45 employees who held that title for the entire year. This report provides no data on positions with 16 or fewer identifiable staff.

The Congressional Research Service provides a number of products on staffing issues. These can be found in CRS Report R44688, Congressional Staff: CRS Products.

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:

• There are no data for first-term Members in the first session of a Congress. Authority to use the Member Representational Allowance (MRA) for the previous year expires January 2, and new MRA authority begins on January 3 when new Members elected in general elections typically take office.

• The SOD reports monies paid directly by the House 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, office, congressional tenure, and full- or part-time status of staff, or other potential explanations for levels of compensation.

• Data do not differentiate between staff based in Washington, DC, district offices, or both.

• Member offices that do not utilize any of the 17 job position titles, or whose pay data were not reported consistently, are excluded.

• Potential differences could exist in the job duties of positions with the same title. Aggregation of pay by job title rests in part on the assumption that staff with the same title carry out 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.

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 2024 dollars. Constant dollar calculations throughout the report are based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for various years.

Table 2 provides available percentage changes in median pay in 2024 dollars for 17 positions; for Members of Congress; and for salaries paid under the General Schedule in Washington, DC, and

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. 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 might suggest payments in addition to regular salary.

Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2023

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surrounding areas and in the Rest of the United States (RUS) area. Table 3-Table 19 provide available pay data for each staff position for 2001 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019-2023, including data distributed by quartile, median pay, and average pay. Staff pay tables also provide a comparison, at various intervals to 2023, based on data availability, of the cumulative percentage change in median pay for that position, in 2024 dollars.⁶

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

• distributions of 2023 pay in 2024 dollars, in $10,000 increments; and

• a line graph showing change in median pay, 2001-2023 (or available data), in nominal (current) and 2024 dollars.

House Member Office Staff Pay Tables

Interpreting Pay T ables: Statistics Describing Pay Data

For each year that data are available, statistical values for staff positions are included in Table 3-Table 19, 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. 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)

Quartile 2

(Q2) Median

Quartile 3

(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

6 2024 CPI-U based on the first half of the year.

Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2023

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Table 1. Annual Maximum Pay for Staff in House Members’ Offices,

2001-2024

Year Nominal $ 2024$ Year Nominal $ 2024$

2001 $140,451 $247,550 2013 $168,411 $225,658

2002 $145,226 $251,982 2014 $168,411 $222,056

2003 $149,728 $254,005 2015 $168,411 $221,793

2004 $153,022 $252,859 2016 $168,411 $219,030

2005 $156,848 $250,688 2017 $168,411 $214,461

2006 $159,828 $247,468 2018 $168,411 $209,348

2007 $159,828 $240,615 2019 $168,411 $205,622

2008 $163,795 $237,469 2020 $173,900 $209,736

2009 $168,411 $245,033 2021 $199,300 $229,584

2010 $168,411 $241,079 2022 $203,700 $217,266

2011 $168,411 $233,702 2023 $212,100 $217,281

2012 $168,411 $228,964 2024 $212,100 $212,100

Source: 2 U.S.C. 4532 note, CRS calculations based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI- U) for the first half of 2024.

Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2023

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Table 2. 2023 Median Pay, 2024 Dollars, Changes in Pay for Selected Staff in House

Member Offices, Members of Congress, and Selected General Schedule Employees

2023

Pay,

2024$

2022-

2023

2019-

2023

2014-

2023

2009-

2023

2004-

2023

2001-

2023

Caseworker $68,910 -0.99% 10.34% 18.95% 4.15% -9.58% 10.98%

Chief of Staff $187,060 -4.15% -1.30% 2.09% -4.30% -8.71% 1.80%

Communications Director $107,565 6.10% 10.82% 13.21% 1.33% -0.24% -3.99%

Constituent Services Director $97,064 11.95% — — — — —

Constituent Services Representative $64,340 2.24% 11.72% 8.92% 3.01% 7.86% 11.32%

Deputy Chief of Staff $130,871 -6.32% — — — — —

District Deputy Director $90,833 -8.35% — — — — —

District Director $120,302 -7.93% 2.95% 3.09% -6.33% -5.57% -6.30%

Field Representative $66,844 -5.62% 10.60% 6.35% 2.09% 2.48% 6.83%

Legislative Assistant $74,783 -1.01% 10.75% 15.23% 1.78% 3.44% 3.26%

Legislative Correspondent $65,568 2.89% 15.57% 23.60% 15.92% 14.28% 18.80%

Legislative Director $113,199 -3.03% 6.57% 1.34% -7.84% -2.55% -3.06%

Operations Director $97,064 4.00% — — — — —

Press Secretary $72,649 -15.39% 2.10% -8.88% -19.73% -18.58% -17.56%

Scheduler $77,163 -2.84% 14.91% 17.04% 1.11% 3.54% 3.53%

Senior Legislative Assistant $90,150 1.64% 14.25% — — — —

Staff Assistant $57,852 1.07% 21.09% 21.04% 6.02% -3.36% 5.88%

Congressional Staff Positions Pay Change Summary

Increase

7 12 11 8 5 8

Decrease

10 1 1 4 7 4

Members of Congress, General Schedule Pay Change

MCs $178,250 -3.95% -16.10% -22.31% -29.59% -31.77% -30.30%

General Schedule, DC Varies 0.71% -5.23% -3.22% -9.35% -3.70% 3.00%

General Schedule, Rest of U.S. Varies 0.24% -6.83% -7.40% -13.75% -12.47% -7.29%

Source: CRS calculations, based on pay data provided in Table 3-Table 19 for congressional positions in 2024 dollars; 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 2024 is $174,000. General Schedule pay for individuals varies by grade, step, and locality, but percentage changes are consistent within each locality. “—“ indicates data are unavailable. 2024 dollars are based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2024.

CRS-6

Table 3. Caseworker

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $38,335 $52,876 $62,093 $70,717 $108,522 $63,785

2004 45 $28,333 $37,804 $46,120 $50,000 $63,900 $44,992 $46,819 $62,468 $76,210 $82,622 $105,591 $74,346

2009 45 $28,919 $38,750 $45,475 $53,375 $86,210 $47,751 $42,077 $56,380 $66,165 $77,659 $125,433 $69,477

2014 45 $27,833 $40,075 $43,937 $51,000 $85,000 $46,984 $36,699 $52,840 $57,933 $67,245 $112,076 $61,950

Most Recent Five Years

2019 45 $23,000 $46,125 $51,150 $58,000 $90,500 $52,187 $28,082 $56,316 $62,452 $70,815 $110,496 $63,717

2020 45 $32,434 $48,733 $52,500 $56,400 $89,917 $53,932 $39,117 $58,776 $63,319 $68,023 $108,446 $65,046

2021 45 $35,200 $50,125 $56,067 $59,583 $83,333 $55,682 $40,549 $57,742 $64,586 $68,637 $95,996 $64,143

2022 45 $47,583 $57,000 $65,250 $75,200 $105,000 $67,489 $50,752 $60,796 $69,595 $80,208 $111,993 $71,984

2023 45 $50,000 $60,000 $67,267 $75,500 $111,375 $69,118 $51,221 $61,466 $68,910 $77,344 $114,096 $70,806

Change

2022-2023 -0.99%

2019-2023 10.34%

2014-2023 18.95%

2009-2023 4.15%

2004-2023 -9.58%

2001-2023 10.98%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated 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 2024 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid green. 2024 dollars are based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2024.

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Table 4. Chief of Staff

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $134,589 $167,441 $183,744 $202,398 $241,502 $187,381

2004 45 $86,500 $110,952 $124,000 $134,524 $151,974 $122,278 $142,936 $183,341 $204,902 $222,293 $251,127 $202,056

2009 45 $42,708 $123,350 $134,344 $153,136 $168,411 $133,877 $62,139 $179,471 $195,467 $222,809 $245,033 $194,787

2014 45 $89,401 $124,167 $138,968 $161,091 $168,411 $140,803 $117,878 $163,718 $183,235 $212,404 $222,056 $185,654

Most Recent Five Years

2019 45 $105,750 $144,652 $155,226 $168,411 $168,411 $153,302 $129,116 $176,613 $189,523 $205,622 $205,622 $187,174

2020 45 $117,917 $143,200 $150,158 $167,821 $173,870 $152,172 $142,216 $172,710 $181,101 $202,404 $209,699 $183,530

2021 45 $126,487 $153,239 $168,046 $175,658 $184,483 $164,212 $145,707 $176,524 $193,581 $202,350 $212,516 $189,165

2022 45 $125,085 $172,018 $182,983 $194,900 $202,233 $180,246 $133,416 $183,474 $195,170 $207,880 $215,701 $192,250

2023 45 $104,486 $169,407 $182,600 $197,495 $217,155 $182,377 $107,038 $173,545 $187,060 $202,319 $222,459 $186,832

Change

2022-2023 -4.15%

2019-2023 -1.30%

2014-2023 2.09%

2009-2023 -4.30%

2004-2023 -8.71%

2001-2023 1.80%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

CRS-8

Table 5. Communications Director

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $62,100 $90,096 $112,031 $126,903 $174,526 $111,988

2004 45 $39,000 $56,489 $65,250 $69,567 $106,690 $65,201 $64,445 $93,344 $107,821 $114,954 $176,298 $107,740

2009 45 $48,233 $64,617 $72,961 $83,273 $128,992 $77,048 $70,178 $94,015 $106,156 $121,160 $187,679 $112,102

2014 45 $42,500 $63,000 $72,061 $82,000 $115,000 $72,485 $56,038 $83,068 $95,015 $108,120 $151,632 $95,574

Most Recent Five Years

2019 45 $41,000 $66,333 $79,500 $90,000 $114,750 $77,817 $50,059 $80,990 $97,066 $109,886 $140,104 $95,011

2020 45 $49,362 $70,000 $77,589 $87,000 $127,500 $80,121 $59,534 $84,425 $93,578 $104,928 $153,774 $96,632

2021 45 $60,000 $76,578 $85,500 $98,500 $129,008 $87,658 $69,117 $88,214 $98,492 $113,467 $148,612 $100,977

2022 45 $71,872 $84,812 $95,046 $109,296 $153,917 $97,467 $76,659 $90,461 $101,376 $116,575 $164,167 $103,958

2023 45 $76,500 $97,500 $105,000 $112,083 $172,875 $105,014 $78,369 $99,882 $107,565 $114,821 $177,098 $107,579

Change

2022-2023 6.10%

2019-2023 10.82%

2014-2023 13.21%

2009-2023 1.33%

2004-2023 -0.24%

2001-2023 -3.99%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

CRS-9

Table 6. Constituent Services Director

Nominal $ 2024$

Year # Minimum Q1 Q2, Median Q3 Maximum Average Minimum Q1 Q2, Median Q3 Maximum Average

2022 40 $56,458 $71,517 $81,292 $90,875 $118,794 $81,873 $60,218 $76,280 $86,705 $96,927 $126,706 $87,325

2023 27 $48,250 $85,208 $94,750 $104,873 $145,208 $94,189 $49,429 $87,290 $97,064 $107,435 $148,755 $96,489

Change

2022-2023 11.95%

Dollars in figure

are in thousands

CRS-10

Table 7. Constituent Services Representative

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $45,640 $50,741 $57,795 $65,920 $82,628 $59,600

2004 45 $24,247 $30,300 $36,100 $42,667 $63,333 $36,983 $40,067 $50,069 $59,653 $70,504 $104,654 $61,112

2009 45 $27,125 $33,833 $42,928 $52,000 $86,558 $43,815 $39,466 $49,226 $62,459 $75,659 $125,940 $63,749

2014 45 $26,250 $35,000 $44,800 $50,833 $88,833 $46,912 $34,612 $46,149 $59,070 $67,026 $117,130 $61,855

Most Recent Five Years

2019 45 $31,000 $41,900 $47,167 $53,500 $65,500 $48,308 $37,850 $51,158 $57,588 $65,321 $79,972 $58,982

2020 45 $37,000 $43,000 $50,902 $60,000 $76,500 $52,780 $44,625 $51,861 $61,391 $72,364 $92,265 $63,657

2021 45 $24,060 $47,500 $52,500 $58,348 $70,500 $52,157 $27,716 $54,718 $60,478 $67,214 $81,213 $60,082

2022 45 $42,667 $55,000 $59,000 $67,583 $90,000 $61,220 $45,508 $58,663 $62,929 $72,084 $95,994 $65,297

2023 45 $49,500 $58,000 $62,806 $70,833 $106,767 $65,582 $50,709 $59,417 $64,340 $72,564 $109,375 $67,184

Change

2022-2023 2.24%

2019-2023 11.72%

2014-2023 8.92%

2009-2023 3.01%

2004-2023 7.86%

2001-2023 11.32%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

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Table 8. Deputy Chief of Staff

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # Minimum Q1 Q2, Median Q3 Maximum Average Minimum Q1 Q2, Median Q3 Maximum Average

2020 25 $58,333 $91,288 $118,000 $129,333 $149,185 $110,914 $70,354 $110,100 $142,317 $155,985 $179,928 $133,770

2021 36 $72,500 $98,500 $117,583 $135,000 $178,858 $108,065 $83,517 $113,467 $135,451 $155,514 $206,037 $124,486

2022 38 $85,667 $117,061 $130,977 $149,396 $183,783 $133,752 $91,372 $124,857 $139,699 $159,345 $196,023 $142,659

2023 45 $89,000 $112,200 $127,750 $153,456 $200,989 $123,162 $91,174 $114,941 $130,871 $157,205 $205,898 $126,171

Change

2022-2023 -6.32%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

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Table 9. District Deputy Director

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # Minimum Q1 Q2, Median Q3 Maximum Average Minimum Q1 Q2, Median Q3 Maximum Average

2020 27 $44,250 $64,120 $73,206 $88,050 $117,978 $76,400 $53,369 $77,333 $88,292 $106,195 $142,290 $92,144

2021 26 $45,583 $65,000 $79,772 $82,940 $102,000 $76,438 $52,510 $74,877 $91,894 $95,544 $117,499 $88,053

2022 31 $61,813 $81,306 $92,917 $101,216 $131,250 $94,046 $65,929 $86,720 $99,105 $107,956 $139,991 $100,309

2023 37 $62,000 $82,000 $88,667 $97,782 $148,420 $91,217 $63,514 $84,003 $90,833 $100,171 $152,045 $93,445

Change

2022-2023 -8.35%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

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Table 10. District Director

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $87,312 $103,402 $128,391 $137,901 $179,116 $123,487

2004 45 $42,500 $70,750 $77,100 $83,050 $116,568 $77,877 $70,228 $116,910 $127,403 $137,235 $192,621 $128,687

2009 45 $60,000 $80,680 $88,274 $98,115 $120,450 $90,238 $87,298 $117,387 $128,436 $142,754 $175,251 $131,294

2014 45 $45,000 $75,400 $88,500 $107,083 $144,667 $93,519 $59,334 $99,418 $116,690 $141,193 $190,748 $123,308

Most Recent Five Years

2019 45 $56,150 $81,150 $95,706 $106,000 $132,958 $94,771 $68,556 $99,080 $116,852 $129,421 $162,336 $115,711

2020 45 $59,000 $91,917 $100,417 $109,122 $153,460 $102,792 $71,158 $110,858 $121,110 $131,609 $185,084 $123,975

2021 45 $74,900 $90,000 $99,833 $113,350 $179,000 $105,009 $86,281 $103,676 $115,003 $130,574 $206,200 $120,966

2022 45 $85,250 $105,931 $122,500 $137,617 $202,233 $126,800 $90,927 $112,985 $130,658 $146,782 $215,701 $135,245

2023 45 $73,500 $101,000 $117,433 $127,083 $212,100 $117,564 $75,295 $103,467 $120,302 $130,188 $217,281 $120,436

Change

2022-2023 -7.93%

2019-2023 2.95%

2014-2023 3.09%

2009-2023 -6.33%

2004-2023 -5.57%

2001-2023 -6.30%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

CRS-14

Table 11. Field Representative

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $39,006 $55,079 $62,570 $71,903 $132,675 $67,403

2004 45 $26,017 $35,558 $39,472 $49,000 $78,967 $42,892 $42,991 $58,758 $65,225 $80,969 $130,487 $70,876

2009 45 $34,033 $40,300 $45,000 $51,021 $81,917 $47,299 $49,517 $58,635 $65,474 $74,235 $119,186 $68,819

2014 45 $25,750 $42,000 $47,667 $55,417 $94,625 $48,428 $33,952 $55,378 $62,850 $73,069 $124,766 $63,855

Most Recent Five Years

2019 45 $30,761 $45,000 $49,500 $57,000 $74,440 $50,824 $37,558 $54,943 $60,437 $69,594 $90,888 $62,054

2020 45 $28,750 $45,050 $54,041 $62,000 $85,500 $52,899 $34,675 $54,334 $65,178 $74,777 $103,119 $63,800

2021 45 $35,000 $48,000 $54,500 $63,292 $79,600 $55,726 $40,318 $55,294 $62,782 $72,909 $91,696 $64,194

2022 45 $47,167 $55,583 $66,400 $76,000 $122,750 $67,174 $50,308 $59,285 $70,822 $81,061 $130,925 $71,648

2023 45 $41,625 $60,000 $65,250 $74,000 $100,462 $67,138 $42,642 $61,466 $66,844 $75,808 $102,916 $68,778

Change

2022-2023 -5.62%

2019-2023 10.60%

2014-2023 6.35%

2009-2023 2.09%

2004-2023 2.48%

2001-2023 6.83%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

CRS-15

Table 12. Legislative Assistant

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $53,147 $66,533 $72,426 $80,505 $123,377 $76,658

2004 45 $30,081 $37,813 $43,750 $49,242 $95,585 $46,008 $49,706 $62,483 $72,294 $81,369 $157,948 $76,026

2009 45 $34,000 $44,595 $50,500 $54,950 $63,500 $49,982 $49,469 $64,884 $73,476 $79,951 $92,391 $72,722

2014 45 $31,333 $44,667 $49,219 $55,400 $90,833 $50,854 $41,314 $58,895 $64,898 $73,047 $119,767 $67,053

Most Recent Five Years

2019 45 $43,000 $50,058 $55,306 $63,333 $91,208 $56,741 $52,501 $61,119 $67,525 $77,327 $111,361 $69,278

2020 45 $31,000 $52,242 $57,500 $63,333 $89,500 $59,025 $37,388 $63,008 $69,349 $76,385 $107,944 $71,189

2021 45 $40,700 $55,325 $59,190 $65,597 $95,417 $61,575 $46,884 $63,732 $68,185 $75,565 $109,916 $70,931

2022 45 $48,750 $65,304 $70,832 $79,592 $118,333 $72,560 $51,997 $69,653 $75,549 $84,893 $126,214 $77,392

2023 45 $51,000 $68,000 $73,000 $78,000 $90,725 $73,008 $52,246 $69,661 $74,783 $79,905 $92,941 $74,792

Change

2022-2023 -1.01%

2019-2023 10.75%

2014-2023 15.23%

2009-2023 1.78%

2004-2023 3.44%

2001-2023 3.26%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

CRS-16

Table 13. Legislative Correspondent

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $43,182 $48,910 $55,189 $58,458 $148,523 $59,137

2004 40 $25,372 $31,933 $34,720 $39,139 $66,667 $36,524 $41,926 $52,766 $57,372 $64,674 $110,162 $60,353

2009 45 $29,085 $35,653 $38,875 $42,689 $75,917 $41,173 $42,318 $51,874 $56,562 $62,111 $110,457 $59,905

2014 45 $30,000 $35,000 $40,233 $44,500 $63,000 $41,122 $39,556 $46,149 $53,049 $58,675 $83,068 $54,221

Most Recent Five Years

2019 45 $35,167 $39,750 $46,467 $48,750 $69,250 $45,457 $42,937 $48,533 $56,734 $59,521 $84,551 $55,501

2020 45 $38,110 $43,500 $47,000 $50,750 $59,759 $47,749 $45,963 $52,464 $56,685 $61,208 $72,074 $57,589

2021 39 $38,667 $50,744 $54,487 $54,535 $54,583 $52,023 $44,542 $58,454 $62,767 $62,822 $62,878 $59,929

2022 45 $44,167 $53,833 $59,749 $65,271 $107,833 $61,963 $47,108 $57,418 $63,728 $69,618 $115,015 $66,089

2023 34 $49,500 $57,570 $64,004 $71,877 $133,000 $66,898 $50,709 $58,977 $65,568 $73,633 $136,249 $68,532

Change

2022-2023 2.89%

2019-2023 15.57%

2014-2023 23.60%

2009-2023 15.92%

2004-2023 14.28%

2001-2023 18.80%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

CRS-17

Table 14. Legislative Director

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $82,839 $105,752 $116,768 $127,710 $161,116 $117,969

2004 45 $51,761 $62,667 $70,300 $78,316 $124,833 $73,294 $85,532 $103,553 $116,166 $129,412 $206,279 $121,114

2009 45 $51,500 $77,125 $84,417 $94,750 $127,411 $85,883 $74,931 $112,215 $122,824 $137,858 $185,379 $124,957

2014 45 $50,417 $77,750 $84,718 $99,417 $127,000 $87,256 $66,476 $102,516 $111,704 $131,084 $167,454 $115,050

Most Recent Five Years

2019 45 $70,167 $80,715 $87,000 $95,417 $127,250 $89,596 $85,670 $98,550 $106,223 $116,499 $155,366 $109,392

2020 45 $64,333 $80,000 $87,142 $97,667 $117,221 $88,462 $77,591 $96,486 $105,100 $117,793 $141,377 $106,691

2021 45 $75,667 $85,870 $95,021 $101,500 $127,000 $95,449 $87,164 $98,918 $109,460 $116,923 $146,298 $109,953

2022 45 $51,000 $101,833 $109,453 $117,500 $147,500 $110,099 $54,396 $108,614 $116,742 $125,325 $157,323 $117,432

2023 45 $80,786 $105,000 $110,500 $118,200 $147,500 $111,853 $82,760 $107,565 $113,199 $121,087 $151,103 $114,585

Change

2022-2023 -3.03%

2019-2023 6.57%

2014-2023 1.34%

2009-2023 -7.84%

2004-2023 -2.55%

2001-2023 -3.06%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

CRS-18

Table 15. Operations Director

Nominal $ Constant, 2022, $

Year # Minimum Q1 Q2, Median Q3 Maximum Average Minimum Q1 Q2, Median Q3 Maximum Average

2022 21 $63,917 $79,000 $87,500 $104,833 $153,693 $95,676 $68,173 $84,261 $93,327 $111,815 $163,929 $102,048

2023 27 $48,250 $85,208 $94,750 $104,873 $145,208 $94,189 $49,429 $87,290 $97,064 $107,435 $148,755 $96,489

Change

2022-2023 4.00%

Dollars in figure

are in thousands

CRS-19

Table 16. Press Secretary

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $51,113 $79,608 $88,127 $100,905 $151,425 $92,931

2004 45 $32,378 $45,653 $54,000 $66,390 $93,500 $56,927 $53,502 $75,438 $89,231 $109,705 $154,503 $94,068

2009 41 $36,000 $55,750 $62,208 $77,300 $117,400 $65,998 $52,379 $81,115 $90,511 $112,469 $170,814 $96,025

2014 28 $43,500 $53,458 $60,464 $68,196 $124,233 $63,049 $57,356 $70,487 $79,725 $89,919 $163,806 $83,132

Most Recent Five Years

2019 18 $41,500 $50,181 $58,280 $66,745 $98,333 $62,515 $50,669 $61,268 $71,157 $81,493 $120,060 $76,328

2020 — — — — — — — — — — — — —

2021 — — — — — — — — — — — — —

2022 21 $54,167 $69,996 $80,500 $85,863 $114,250 $78,216 $57,774 $74,657 $85,861 $91,582 $121,859 $83,425

2023 17 $52,472 $63,000 $70,917 $83,667 $92,267 $72,618 $53,754 $64,539 $72,649 $85,710 $94,520 $74,392

Change

2022-2023 -15.39%

2019-2023 2.10%

2014-2023 -8.88%

2009-2023 -19.73%

2004-2023 -18.58%

2001-2023 -17.56%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated 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 2024 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid green. “—” indicates no data available. 2024 dollars are based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2024.

CRS-20

Table 17. Scheduler

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $60,132 $65,434 $74,530 $79,430 $100,465 $75,259

2004 25 $30,625 $42,750 $45,100 $54,000 $104,367 $50,838 $50,606 $70,642 $74,525 $89,232 $172,459 $84,006

2009 41 $32,000 $42,981 $52,450 $57,098 $93,000 $52,879 $46,559 $62,535 $76,313 $83,076 $135,312 $76,937

2014 45 $29,667 $42,583 $50,000 $62,167 $96,950 $53,342 $39,117 $56,148 $65,927 $81,969 $127,832 $70,333

Most Recent Five Years

2019 45 $35,833 $46,417 $55,000 $61,750 $107,000 $56,270 $43,750 $56,673 $67,152 $75,394 $130,642 $68,704

2020 45 $39,000 $50,144 $57,875 $67,442 $91,000 $60,321 $47,037 $60,477 $69,801 $81,340 $109,753 $72,752

2021 45 $30,867 $52,375 $59,000 $67,367 $131,333 $60,932 $35,557 $60,334 $67,965 $77,603 $151,290 $70,191

2022 45 $50,960 $68,033 $74,458 $79,698 $107,250 $74,378 $54,354 $72,564 $79,417 $85,006 $114,393 $79,332

2023 38 $50,000 $69,203 $75,323 $85,965 $161,000 $79,104 $51,221 $70,894 $77,163 $88,065 $164,933 $81,037

Change

2022-2023 -2.84%

2019-2023 14.91%

2014-2023 17.04%

2009-2023 1.11%

2004-2023 3.54%

2001-2023 3.53%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

CRS-21

Table 18. Senior Legislative Assistant

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # Minimum Q1 Q2, Median Q3 Maximum Average Minimum Q1 Q2, Median Q3 Maximum Average

2019 44 $20,185 $55,037 $64,625 $71,021 $99,250 $63,667 $24,645 $67,198 $78,904 $86,714 $121,180 $77,735

2020 — — — — — — — — — — — — —

2021 31 $42,325 $61,250 $67,250 $77,792 $109,000 $69,995 $48,756 $70,557 $77,469 $89,612 $125,563 $80,631

2022 38 $59,622 $77,552 $83,156 $91,124 $121,333 $85,913 $63,593 $82,717 $88,694 $97,192 $129,414 $91,634

2023 26 $58,214 $80,250 $88,000 $93,646 $123,222 $88,416 $59,636 $82,210 $90,150 $95,934 $126,232 $90,575

Change

2022-2023 1.64%

2019-2023 14.25%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated 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 2024 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid green. “—” indicates no data available. 2024 dollars are based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2024.

CRS-22

Table 19. Staff Assistant

Nominal $ 2024 $

Year # 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 $38,188 $50,673 $54,639 $61,981 $140,149 $58,695

2004 45 $21,200 $30,499 $36,227 $41,178 $52,750 $35,866 $35,032 $50,398 $59,862 $68,044 $87,166 $59,266

2009 45 $20,175 $30,333 $37,504 $43,583 $67,333 $37,829 $29,354 $44,134 $54,567 $63,412 $97,968 $55,041

2014 45 $21,067 $31,500 $36,250 $40,020 $88,058 $37,176 $27,777 $41,534 $47,797 $52,768 $116,108 $49,017

Most Recent Five Years

2019 45 $29,000 $34,849 $39,130 $46,994 $67,333 $41,961 $35,408 $42,549 $47,776 $57,377 $82,211 $51,232

2020 45 $26,000 $37,200 $40,083 $49,000 $61,000 $42,606 $31,358 $44,866 $48,343 $59,098 $73,571 $51,385

2021 45 $24,583 $39,500 $44,383 $50,602 $66,000 $44,646 $28,319 $45,502 $51,128 $58,291 $76,029 $51,430

2022 45 $37,667 $48,950 $53,667 $60,507 $86,879 $56,209 $40,175 $52,210 $57,241 $64,537 $92,665 $59,953

2023 45 $45,000 $50,625 $56,472 $59,250 $89,667 $56,840 $46,099 $51,862 $57,852 $60,697 $91,857 $58,229

Change

2022-2023 1.07%

2019-2023 21.09%

2014-2023 21.04%

2009-2023 6.02%

2004-2023 -3.36%

2001-2023 5.88%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2023

Congressional Research Service R44323 · VERSION 15 · UPDATED 23

Author Information

R. Eric Petersen Specialist in American National Government

Acknowledgments

A number of CRS staff made substantial contributions to this report. Tyler L. Wolanin, former Research Assistant, collected data and coauthored this report. William T. Egar, former Analyst in American National Government, provided technical assistance and authored a section of the report. Wendy Matera, User Support Specialist, and Andrew M. Schaefer, Editor, provided formatting, editorial, and production support.

Previous versions of the report were supported by the following. Raymond T. Williams and Lara Chausow, former Research Assistants, were coauthors and collected some of the data provided. Barbara L. Schwemle, Analyst in American National Government, provided technical assistance. Casey Burgat, former Research Assistant, provided update support. Sandra L. Edwards, User Support Specialist, Jonathan P. Kardashian, User Support Specialist, Michael M. McCarthy, Editor, Claudia Guidi, formerly a User Support Specialist, and Alex Marine, former Editor, provided formatting, editorial, and production support. Jacobo Licona, Brian Hamel, Joe Wisniewski, and Claire Laurence, former CRS interns, collected data for this report.

Disclaimer

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2023

Updated August 27, 2024

SUMMARY

Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2023

R44323

Contents

Tables

Contacts

Introduction

Data Concerns

Data Tables and Visualizations

House Member Office Staff Pay Tables

Author Information

Acknowledgments

Disclaimer