Congressional Research Service

SUMMARY

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2025

The level of pay for congressional staff is a source of recurring interest among Members of Congress, congressional staff, and the public. There may be interest in congressional pay data from multiple perspectives, including assessment of the costs of congressional operations; guidance in setting pay levels for staff in committee offices; consideration by staff when negotiating compensation for a new position or promotion; or comparison of congressional staff pay levels with those of other federal government pay systems.

This report provides pay data for the following 16 staff position titles that are used in Senate committees: Archivist; Chief Clerk; Chief Counsel; Communications Director; Counsel; Deputy Chief Clerk; Deputy Staff Director; General Counsel; Legislative Aide; Professional Staff Member; Research Assistant; Senior Counsel; Senior Professional Staff Member; Staff Assistant; Staff Director; and Systems Administrator. The following table provides FY2025 pay levels and the change in median pay levels for these positions in constant 2026 dollars, between FY2024 and FY2025.

FY2025 Median Pay and Percentage Change for Selected Staff Positions in Senate Committees,

2026 Dollars and Percentage Change, FY2024-FY2025

Position

FY25

Pay,

2026$

Change,

FY24-

FY25 Position

FY25

Pay,

2026$

Change,

FY24-

FY25

Archivist $116,946 -- Legislative Aide $81,009 4.18%

Chief Clerk $184,316 -3.60% Professional Staff Member $125,499 9.08%

Chief Counsel $198,762 4.90% Research Assistant $81,411 17.26%

Communications Director $183,497 11.50% Senior Counsel $142,654 -9.80%

Counsel $145,374 6.27% Senior Professional Staff Member $141,090 -11.61%

Deputy Chief Clerk $145,259 3.57% Staff Assistant $61,282 -1.11%

Deputy Staff Director $212,925 10.66% Staff Director $230,148 0.81%

General Counsel $194,772 1.44% Systems Administrator $115,661 6.08%

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations based on based the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2026. “—” indicates no data available.

Report tables provide aggregate statistics on pay for each staff position for FY2001, FY2006, FY2011, FY2016, and FY2021-FY2025, including quartiles, median pay, and average pay, based on available data. Graphic displays are also included, providing representations of pay from the following two perspectives:

• a line graph showing change in median pay, FY2001-FY2025, in nominal (current) and constant 2026 dollars; and

• distributions of FY2025 pay in 2026 dollars, in $10,000 increments.

Other data, which may not represent the entire FY2001-FY2025 period, are available to congressional staff upon request.

The Congressional Research Service provides a number of products on congressional staffing matters. These include CRS Report R44322, House Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, 2001-2025; CRS Report R44323, Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2025; CRS Report R44324, Staff Pay, Selected Positions in Senators’ Offices, FY2001-FY2025; and CRS Report R46262, Congressional Staff: Duties and Qualifications Identified by Members of Congress for Selected Positions.

R44325

September 11, 2026

R. Eric Petersen Specialist in American National Government

Jane M. Wright Research Assistant

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2025

Congressional Research Service

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

Senate Committee Staff Pay Tables ................................................................................................. 3

Tables

Table 1. Senate Committee Staff Pay, Annual Maximums, 2001-2026........................................... 3 Table 2. FY2025 Median Pay, 2026 Dollars, and Changes in Pay for Selected Senate

Committee Staff, Members of Congress, and Selected General Schedule Employees ................ 5

Table 3. Archivist............................................................................................................................. 6 Table 4. Chief Clerk ........................................................................................................................ 7 Table 5. Chief Counsel .................................................................................................................... 8 Table 6. Communications Director .................................................................................................. 9

Table 7. Counsel ............................................................................................................................ 10 Table 8. Deputy Chief Clerk ........................................................................................................... 11

Table 9. Deputy Staff Director ...................................................................................................... 12 Table 10. General Counsel ............................................................................................................ 13 Table 11. Legislative Aide ............................................................................................................. 14 Table 12. Professional Staff Member ............................................................................................ 15 Table 13. Research Assistant ......................................................................................................... 16 Table 14. Senior Counsel ............................................................................................................... 17

Table 15. Senior Professional Staff Member ................................................................................. 18

Table 16. Staff Assistant ................................................................................................................ 19 Table 17. Staff Director ................................................................................................................. 20 Table 18. Systems Administrator ................................................................................................... 21

Contacts

Author Information ........................................................................................................................ 22

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2025

Congressional Research Service 1

Introduction

Levels of pay for congressional staff are a source of recurring interest among Members of Congress, congressional staff, and the public. In Senate committees, the chair and ranking member set the terms and conditions of employment for majority and minority staff, respectively. This includes job titles and descriptions; rates of pay, subject to maximum levels;¹ and resources available to carry out their official duties. There may be interest in congressional pay data from multiple perspectives, including assessment of the costs of congressional operations; guidance in setting pay levels for staff in committee offices; consideration by staff when negotiating compensation for a new position or promotion; or comparison of congressional staff pay levels with those of other federal government pay systems.

Publicly available information sources do not provide aggregated congressional staff pay data in a readily retrievable form.² Pay information in this report is based on the Senate Report of the Secretary of the Senate, published semiannually by the Senate,³ as collated by LegiStorm. Data in this report are based on official Senate reports, which afford the opportunity to use consistently collected data from a single, authoritative source. Additionally, this report provides annual data by fiscal year, which allows for observations about the nature of Senate committee staff compensation over time.

This report provides pay data for 16 staff position titles that are used in Senate committees, and for which sufficient data could be identified. The positions include the following:

Archivist Deputy Staff Director Senior Counsel

Chief Clerk General Counsel Senior Professional Staff Member

Chief Counsel Legislative Aide Staff Assistant

Communications Director Professional Staff Member Staff Director

Counsel Research Assistant Systems Administrator

Deputy Chief Clerk

When committees had more than two staff members with the same job title, data for no more than two staff per committee were collected. Senate committee staff had to hold a position with the same job title on the same committee for the entire year examined and not receive pay from any other congressional employing authority for their data to be included. Every recorded payment ascribed in the LegiStorm data to those staff for the fiscal year is tabulated. Data collected for this report may differ from an employee’s stated annual salary due to the inclusion of overtime, bonuses, or other payments in addition to base salary paid in the course of a year.⁴

The Congressional Research Service provides a number of products on congressional staffing matters. These include CRS Report R44322, House Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions,

1 The maximum annual pay for staff in Senate committees is $228,000. See 2 U.S.C. 4571 and 2 U.S.C. 4575 note. Maximum payable rates for Senate committee staff since 2001 are available in Table 1.

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

3 Volumes of the Report of the Secretary of the Senate since April 2011 are available at https://www.senate.gov/ legislative/common/generic/report_secsen.htm.

4 Other forms of payment do not appear to be recorded in a consistent manner. Sometimes overtime and other pay are listed as separate entries and in other instances, significant one-time changes in a semiannual total may suggest payments in addition to regular salary.

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2025

Congressional Research Service 2

2001-2025; CRS Report R44323, Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001- 2025; CRS Report R44324, Staff Pay, Selected Positions in Senators’ Offices, FY2001-FY2025; and CRS Report R46262, Congressional Staff: Duties and Qualifications Identified by Members of Congress for Selected Positions.

Data Concerns

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

• A large number of position titles in Senate committees are held by only one Senate employee. Data provided here almost certainly do not represent all of the jobs carried out by Senate committee staff.

• The manner in which staff titles are assigned might have implications for the representativeness of the data provided. Of positions for which data were collected, two broad categories emerge. The first category identifies position titles that usually appear to apply to one staff member per committee.⁵ Since almost all available data were collected for those positions, pay information provided is likely to be highly representative of what Senate committees pay staff in those positions. The second category includes positions for which committees might hire two or more staff members.⁶ Since pay data were collected for no more than two staff per committee for each position, it is more likely that data for those positions are a sample of staff in those positions rather than nearly complete data. Those data may be less closely representative of what all staff in those positions are paid.

• Pay data provide no insight into the education, work experience, position tenure, and full- or part-time status of staff, or other potential explanations for levels of compensation.

• Differences might exist in the job duties of staff in positions with the same title. Aggregation of pay by job title rests on the assumption that staff with the same title carry out the same or similar tasks. Given the wide discretion congressional employing authorities have in setting the terms and conditions of employment, there may be differences in the duties of similarly titled staff that could affect their levels of pay. Acknowledging the imprecision inherent in congressional job titles, an older edition of the Senate Handbook states, “Throughout the Senate, individuals with the same job title perform vastly different duties.”⁷

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.

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

6 Positions that typically employ two or more staff members per committee include counsel, staff assistant, and professional staff member.

7 U.S. Senate, Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Handbook (Washington: 1996), pp. I-13, available to congressional clients from the author.

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2025

Congressional Research Service 3

Table 1 provides the maximum payable rates for Senate committee staff since FY2001 in both nominal (current) and constant 2026 dollars. Constant dollar calculations throughout the report are based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Table 2 provides FY2025 pay levels in median pay in 2026 dollars and percentage changes for each of the 16 positions; for Members of Congress; and for salaries paid under the General Schedule in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas and in the Rest of the United States (RUS) area. Table 3 through Table 18 provide available tabular pay data for each staff position for FY2001, FY2006, FY2011, FY2016, and FY2021-FY2025, including data distributed by quartile, median pay, and average pay. Staff pay tables also provide a comparison, at various intervals to FY2025, based on data availability, of the cumulative percentage change in median pay for that position, in 2026 dollars.⁸

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

• distributions of FY2025 pay in 2026 dollars, in $10,000 increments; and

• a line graph showing change in median pay, FY2001-FY2025 (or available data), in nominal (current) and 2026 dollars.

Senate Committee Staff Pay Tables

Table 1. Senate Committee Staff Pay, Annual Maximums, 2001-2026

Year Nominal

Constant

2026 $ Year Nominal

Constant

2026 $ Year Nominal

Constant

2026 $

2001 $142,415 $265,952 2010 $171,315 $259,832 2019 $173,900 $224,961

2002 $147,315 $270,820 2011 $171,315 $251,882 2020 $173,900 $222,220

2003 $152,015 $273,234 2012 $171,315 $246,775 2021 $173,900 $212,248

2004 $155,415 $272,099 2013 $171,315 $243,212 2022 $203,700 $230,198

2005 $159,415 $269,956 2014 $171,315 $239,330 2023 $212,100 $230,214

2006 $162,515 $266,605 2015 $171,315 $239,046 2024 $221,900 $233,950

2007 $162,515 $259,222 2016 $171,315 $236,068 2025 $225,700 $231,856

2008 $166,615 $255,935 2017 $171,315 $231,144 2026 $228,000 $228,000

2009 $171,315 $264,094 2018 $171,315 $225,633

Source: 2 U.S.C. 4571, 2 U.S.C. 4575 note, CRS calculations based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2026.

8 2026 CPI-U based on the first half of the year.

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2025

Congressional Research Service 4

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 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 Quartile 1

(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

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2025

Congressional Research Service 5

Table 2. FY2025 Median Pay, 2026 Dollars, and Changes in Pay for Selected Senate

Committee Staff, Members of Congress, and Selected General Schedule Employees

Position FY25 Pay,

2026$

FY24-

FY25

FY21-

FY25

FY16-

FY25

FY11-

FY25

FY06-

FY25

FY01-

FY25

Archivist $116,946 -- 16.10% 18.36% 26.25% -- --

Chief Clerk $184,316 -3.60% 0.07% -0.71% -7.27% 3.87% 28.84%

Chief Counsel $198,762 4.90% -5.20% -11.14% -17.16% -14.45% 5.17%

Communications Director $183,497 11.50% 14.02% -11.22% -0.33% 10.15% --

Counsel $145,374 6.27% 5.01% 11.74% -9.26% -14.17% -7.47%

Deputy Chief Clerk $145,259 3.57% -- -- -- -- --

Deputy Staff Director $212,925 10.66% 4.05% -4.87% -- -- --

General Counsel $194,772 1.44% -7.19% -- -- -- --

Legislative Aide $81,009 4.18% -- -- -- -- --

Professional Staff Member $125,499 9.08% -6.88% 6.05% -10.37% -19.49% -7.88%

Research Assistant $81,411 17.26% -- -- -- -- --

Senior Counsel $142,654 -9.80% -7.79% -26.44% -30.38% -12.93% --

Sr. Professional Staff Mbr. $141,090 -11.61% -13.76% -16.14% -14.77% -- --

Staff Assistant $61,282 -1.11% 6.83% 15.89% -0.27% -8.29% -12.44%

Staff Director $230,148 0.81% 8.83% -2.26% -8.04% -11.11% -6.39%

Systems Administrator $115,661 6.08% 6.48% -15.00% -20.96% -9.98% 16.86%

Congressional Staff Positions Pay Change Summary

Increase

11 8 4 1 2 3

Decrease

4 5 8 10 7 4

Members of Congress, General Schedule Pay Change

2024-

2025

2021-

2025

2016-

2025

2011-

2025

2006-

2025

2001-

2025

MCs $178,746 -2.56% -15.83% -25.45% -30.13% -34.04% -34.03%

General Schedule, DC Varies -0.40% -2.12% -2.45% -5.38% -2.39% 4.93%

General Schedule, RUS Varies -0.70% -3.74% -6.96% -10.01% -10.91% -6.12%

Source: CRS calculations, based on data provided in Table 3-Table 18 for congressional positions; CRS Report 97-1011, Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables, for Members of Congress; and the Office of Personnel Management for federal civilian workers in the District of Columbia and surrounding areas and rest of the U.S. localities, various years. Nominal Member pay in 2026 is $174,000. General Schedule pay for individuals varies by grade, step and locality, but percentage changes are consistent within each locality. “—” indicates no data available. 2026 dollars are based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI- U) for the first half of 2026.

CRS-6

Table 3. Archivist

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY11 5 $56,331 $61,024 $63,000 $63,083 $64,119 $61,511 $82,822 $89,722 $92,628 $92,750 $94,273 $90,439

FY16 6 $62,212 $69,424 $71,703 $72,517 $75,500 $70,428 $85,726 $95,665 $98,805 $99,927 $104,037 $97,049

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 4 $78,500 $80,422 $82,531 $86,792 $95,167 $84,682 $95,811 $98,156 $100,731 $105,931 $116,153 $103,356

FY22 4 $67,137 $80,315 $88,354 $92,522 $94,089 $84,484 $75,870 $90,763 $99,847 $104,558 $106,328 $95,473

FY23 3 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

FY24 3 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

FY25 4 $94,583 $97,342 $113,841 $132,897 $143,330 $116,399 $97,163 $99,997 $116,946 $136,522 $147,239 $119,573

Change

FY24-FY25 --

FY21-FY25 16.10%

FY16-FY25 18.36%

FY11-FY25 26.25%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

Source: Report of the Secretary of the Senate, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations. In the visualizations, position pay information based on 2026 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid purple. “—” indicates no data available. 2026 dollars are based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2026.

CRS-7

Table 4. Chief Clerk

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY01 13 $61,583 $74,115 $76,604 $90,812 $103,271 $80,403 $115,003 $138,405 $143,054 $169,587 $192,853 $150,148

FY06 14 $41,878 $84,775 $101,996 $111,669 $146,260 $100,753 $68,700 $139,073 $167,324 $183,193 $239,938 $165,285

FY11 18 $87,078 $130,631 $135,185 $153,600 $171,000 $138,801 $128,029 $192,064 $198,761 $225,835 $251,418 $204,076

FY16 15 $93,986 $121,189 $134,714 $151,664 $171,000 $134,358 $129,510 $166,996 $185,633 $208,989 $235,634 $185,142

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 13 $101,235 $131,627 $150,907 $164,308 $168,709 $147,769 $123,559 $160,653 $184,184 $200,541 $205,912 $180,355

FY22 16 $127,368 $152,203 $161,807 $171,219 $186,750 $160,264 $143,936 $172,002 $182,855 $193,492 $211,043 $181,112

FY23 15 $122,175 $155,358 $175,880 $186,867 $196,409 $170,225 $132,609 $168,626 $190,901 $202,826 $213,182 $184,762

FY24 18 $126,740 $155,557 $181,354 $194,748 $211,965 $175,888 $133,623 $164,005 $191,203 $205,323 $223,476 $185,440

FY25 14 $140,000 $170,243 $179,422 $205,573 $219,203 $183,775 $143,818 $174,887 $184,316 $211,180 $225,182 $188,787

Change

FY24-FY25 -3.60%

FY21-FY25 0.07%

FY16-FY25 -0.71%

FY11-FY25 -7.27%

FY06-FY25 3.87%

FY01-FY25 28.84%

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 is based on change in median pay for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on 2026 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid purple. 2026 dollars are based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2026.

CRS-8

Table 5. Chief Counsel

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY01 7 $84,486 $96,958 $101,201 $119,531 $136,993 $107,951 $157,774 $181,064 $188,987 $223,218 $255,826 $201,593

FY06 11 $79,000 $124,603 $141,617 $152,002 $161,740 $132,776 $129,599 $204,411 $232,321 $249,359 $265,334 $217,819

FY11 4 $140,000 $151,312 $163,199 $171,315 $171,315 $159,428 $205,840 $222,472 $239,949 $251,881 $251,881 $234,405

FY16 13 $103,000 $151,000 $162,333 $171,315 $171,315 $156,588 $141,931 $208,074 $223,691 $236,068 $236,068 $215,774

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 8 $123,908 $165,389 $171,791 $173,015 $173,900 $164,776 $151,232 $201,860 $209,674 $211,168 $212,248 $201,113

FY22 11 $110,930 $141,327 $160,833 $186,311 $189,521 $161,178 $125,360 $159,711 $181,755 $210,546 $214,174 $182,144

FY23 8 $139,430 $149,640 $173,654 $198,689 $201,831 $172,909 $151,338 $162,419 $188,484 $215,657 $219,067 $187,675

FY24 17 $137,058 $155,000 $179,725 $212,100 $217,000 $180,405 $144,501 $163,417 $189,485 $223,618 $228,784 $190,202

FY25 12 $138,744 $180,115 $193,485 $206,708 $224,750 $190,401 $142,528 $185,028 $198,762 $212,346 $230,880 $195,594

Change

FY24-FY25 4.90%

FY21-FY25 -5.20%

FY16-FY25 -11.14%

FY11-FY25 -17.16%

FY06-FY25 -14.45%

FY01-FY25 5.17%

Dollars in figures

are in thousands.

CRS-9

Table 6. Communications Director

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY06 8 $68,125 $96,997 $101,551 $117,497 $143,366 $105,953 $111,759 $159,123 $166,594 $192,753 $235,191 $173,816

FY11 5 $116,096 $123,552 $125,214 $126,443 $153,024 $128,866 $170,695 $181,657 $184,100 $185,906 $224,988 $189,469

FY16 7 $105,000 $127,015 $150,000 $166,285 $171,315 $144,702 $144,687 $175,024 $206,696 $229,137 $236,068 $199,396

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 6 $98,917 $107,243 $131,862 $141,181 $142,330 $124,716 $120,730 $130,893 $160,940 $172,314 $173,716 $152,218

FY22 11 $99,167 $134,441 $153,065 $172,489 $185,121 $150,486 $112,066 $151,929 $172,976 $194,927 $209,202 $170,062

FY23 8 $125,732 $134,954 $157,111 $182,803 $202,765 $161,000 $136,470 $146,479 $170,529 $198,415 $220,081 $174,750

FY24 10 $110,000 $148,468 $156,088 $181,994 $212,492 $161,302 $115,974 $156,531 $164,564 $191,877 $224,031 $170,062

FY25 7 $108,748 $113,771 $178,625 $199,250 $221,917 $162,190 $111,714 $116,874 $183,497 $204,684 $227,969 $166,614

Change

FY24-FY25 11.50%

FY21-FY25 14.02%

FY16-FY25 -11.22%

FY11-FY25 -0.33%

FY06-FY25 10.15%

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 is based on change in median pay for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on 2026 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid purple. “—” indicates no data available. 2026 dollars are based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2026.

CRS-10

Table 7. Counsel

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY01 15 $45,667 $71,588 $84,134 $92,014 $113,854 $82,655 $85,280 $133,686 $157,115 $171,832 $212,616 $154,353

FY06 17 $57,500 $91,916 $103,245 $132,766 $161,611 $107,137 $94,328 $150,787 $169,374 $217,802 $265,122 $175,758

FY11 21 $65,587 $81,708 $108,961 $140,145 $171,147 $115,139 $96,431 $120,134 $160,203 $206,053 $251,634 $169,287

FY16 20 $67,475 $79,213 $94,417 $139,964 $161,449 $108,291 $92,979 $109,153 $130,104 $192,867 $222,473 $149,222

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 14 $70,037 $100,861 $113,427 $129,418 $173,500 $118,085 $85,481 $123,103 $138,440 $157,958 $211,760 $144,125

FY22 18 $81,087 $109,991 $122,647 $135,487 $183,572 $124,478 $91,635 $124,299 $138,602 $153,112 $207,452 $140,670

FY23 19 $85,370 $102,771 $117,239 $151,000 $184,721 $127,879 $92,661 $111,548 $127,252 $163,895 $200,497 $138,800

FY24 20 $96,250 $121,241 $129,750 $141,750 $209,100 $135,438 $101,477 $127,825 $136,796 $149,448 $220,455 $142,793

FY25 13 $84,709 $126,742 $141,514 $154,667 $215,817 $143,747 $87,019 $130,198 $145,374 $158,885 $221,703 $147,668

Change

FY24-FY25 6.27%

FY21-FY25 5.01%

FY16-FY25 11.74%

FY11-FY25 -9.26%

FY06-FY25 -14.17%

FY01-FY25 -7.47%

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 is based on change in median pay for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on 2026 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid purple. “—” indicates no data available. 2026 dollars are based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2026.

18%

35%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

FY25 Pay Distribution

CRS-11

Table 8. Deputy Chief Clerk

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY22 6 $79,991 $96,664 $119,324 $127,733 $146,417 $114,117 $90,396 $109,238 $134,846 $144,349 $165,463 $128,961

FY23 6 $100,333 $100,990 $115,234 $138,790 $145,333 $119,836 $108,902 $109,614 $125,075 $150,643 $157,745 $130,071

FY24 6 $110,318 $115,588 $133,027 $148,842 $153,417 $132,279 $116,309 $121,865 $140,251 $156,924 $161,748 $139,463

FY25 6 $115,773 $122,253 $141,402 $148,406 $158,783 $137,329 $118,931 $125,588 $145,259 $152,454 $163,114 $141,074

Change

FY24-FY25 3.57%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

18%

35%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

2025 Pay Distribution

CRS-12

Table 9. Deputy Staff Director

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY16 11 $135,000 $155,980 $162,429 $168,157 $171,315 $160,500 $186,027 $214,937 $223,824 $231,717 $236,068 $221,165

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 8 $124,667 $162,080 $167,667 $172,332 $173,900 $162,770 $152,158 $197,822 $204,640 $210,335 $212,248 $198,664

FY22 13 $129,917 $168,450 $175,000 $188,800 $190,042 $172,574 $146,816 $190,362 $197,764 $213,359 $214,763 $195,023

FY23 6 $141,010 $173,331 $186,246 $196,445 $210,000 $182,062 $153,052 $188,134 $202,151 $213,221 $227,934 $197,610

FY24 15 $131,763 $169,167 $182,500 $203,059 $217,000 $183,910 $138,918 $178,353 $192,411 $214,086 $228,784 $193,897

FY25 13 $189,375 $202,466 $207,272 $220,150 $224,750 $210,355 $194,540 $207,988 $212,925 $226,154 $230,880 $216,092

Change

FY24-FY25 10.66%

FY21-FY25 4.05%

FY16-FY25 -4.87%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

20%

40%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

FY25 Pay Distribution

CRS-13

Table 10. General Counsel

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY21 4 $167,225 $170,166 $171,938 $172,837 $173,158 $171,065 $204,101 $207,691 $209,854 $210,951 $211,343 $208,788

FY22 6 $140,833 $170,508 $173,785 $181,187 $187,204 $171,446 $159,153 $192,688 $196,391 $204,757 $211,556 $193,748

FY23 6 $157,783 $168,377 $175,832 $185,517 $196,866 $176,825 $171,258 $182,757 $190,848 $201,361 $213,678 $191,926

FY24 11 $160,000 $173,068 $182,125 $197,507 $212,975 $185,626 $168,689 $182,467 $192,015 $208,233 $224,541 $195,706

FY25 11 $169,593 $179,868 $189,601 $203,627 $221,523 $193,016 $174,219 $184,774 $194,772 $209,181 $227,565 $198,280

Change

FY24-FY25 1.44%

FY21-FY25 -7.19%

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 is based on change in median pay for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on 2026 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid purple. “—” indicates no data available. 2026 dollars are based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2026.

20%

40%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

FY25 Pay Distribution

CRS-14

Table 11. Legislative Aide

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY22 10 $49,167 $55,781 $66,058 $75,135 $85,554 $66,072 $55,562 $63,037 $74,651 $84,909 $96,683 $74,667

FY23 5 $64,083 $81,625 $83,783 $83,992 $90,283 $80,753 $69,556 $88,596 $90,938 $91,165 $97,993 $87,650

FY24 7 $59,821 $69,375 $73,750 $84,971 $96,810 $77,010 $63,069 $73,142 $77,755 $89,586 $102,067 $81,192

FY25 4 $78,200 $78,301 $78,858 $79,676 $80,565 $79,120 $80,333 $80,437 $81,009 $81,850 $82,762 $81,278

Change

FY24-FY25 4.18%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

50%

100%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

FY25 Pay Distribution

CRS-15

Table 12. Professional Staff Member

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY01 20 $39,833 $60,937 $72,950 $89,726 $132,792 $77,309 $74,386 $113,797 $136,231 $167,559 $247,980 $144,369

FY06 31 $46,383 $72,174 $95,025 $106,743 $132,982 $90,325 $76,092 $118,401 $155,888 $175,112 $218,156 $148,178

FY11 31 $20,065 $71,500 $95,228 $121,194 $171,184 $97,814 $29,501 $105,125 $140,012 $178,190 $251,688 $143,814

FY16 33 $44,279 $67,000 $85,876 $120,000 $171,147 $93,392 $61,016 $92,324 $118,335 $165,357 $235,836 $128,692

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 28 $61,000 $95,167 $110,417 $132,396 $163,362 $111,521 $74,452 $116,153 $134,766 $161,592 $199,387 $136,114

FY22 33 $49,412 $88,668 $105,000 $129,192 $186,750 $108,471 $55,840 $100,202 $118,659 $145,997 $211,043 $122,581

FY23 24 $47,390 $97,842 $129,562 $145,985 $186,528 $122,880 $51,437 $106,198 $140,627 $158,453 $202,457 $133,374

FY24 30 $47,390 $87,333 $109,128 $152,289 $200,415 $120,069 $49,963 $92,076 $115,055 $160,559 $211,299 $126,589

FY25 27 $75,000 $109,056 $122,167 $149,999 $190,917 $128,484 $77,046 $112,030 $125,499 $154,090 $196,124 $131,988

Change

FY24-FY25 9.08%

FY21-FY25 -6.88%

FY16-FY25 6.05%

FY11-FY25 -10.37%

FY06-FY25 -19.49%

FY01-FY25 -7.88%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

13%

25%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

FY25 Pay Distribution

CRS-16

Table 13. Research Assistant

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY22 6 $49,167 $54,674 $57,007 $59,672 $69,823 $57,910 $55,562 $61,786 $64,423 $67,435 $78,906 $65,443

FY23 7 $56,875 $60,788 $65,417 $70,960 $80,833 $66,660 $61,732 $65,980 $71,003 $77,020 $87,737 $72,353

FY24 8 $60,250 $63,387 $65,854 $67,466 $83,748 $66,985 $63,522 $66,830 $69,430 $71,130 $88,296 $70,622

FY25 7 $66,417 $71,934 $79,250 $84,050 $85,000 $77,519 $68,228 $73,896 $81,411 $86,342 $87,318 $79,634

Change

FY24-FY25 17.26%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

30%

60%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

FY25 Pay Distribution

CRS-17

Table 14. Senior Counsel

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY06 8 $87,268 $92,880 $99,871 $112,869 $143,270 $104,884 $143,163 $152,369 $163,839 $185,161 $235,034 $172,062

FY11 10 $79,792 $107,439 $139,372 $156,703 $171,315 $131,807 $117,316 $157,966 $204,916 $230,398 $251,881 $193,794

FY16 16 $71,663 $118,191 $140,740 $158,934 $161,604 $133,461 $98,749 $162,865 $193,937 $219,008 $222,687 $183,906

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 11 $98,302 $112,280 $126,750 $147,724 $163,475 $129,051 $119,979 $137,040 $154,701 $180,300 $199,524 $157,509

FY22 11 $103,125 $129,191 $136,000 $157,614 $184,999 $144,083 $116,539 $145,997 $153,691 $178,117 $209,063 $162,826

FY23 7 $100,625 $103,859 $143,875 $177,713 $189,667 $142,473 $109,218 $112,728 $156,162 $192,890 $205,864 $154,640

FY24 15 $112,708 $134,100 $150,000 $171,012 $192,371 $150,995 $118,829 $141,382 $158,146 $180,299 $202,817 $159,195

FY25 8 $122,933 $130,012 $138,867 $152,230 $177,528 $142,454 $126,286 $133,559 $142,654 $156,382 $182,370 $146,340

Change

FY24-FY25 -9.80%

FY21-FY25 -7.79%

FY16-FY25 -26.44%

FY11-FY25 -30.38%

FY06-FY25 -12.93%

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 is based on change in median pay for the periods noted. In the visualizations, position pay information based on 2026 dollars in thousands of dollars, or change in those levels, is presented in solid purple. “—” indicates no data available. 2026 dollars are based on Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the first half of 2026.

13%

25%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

FY25 Pay Distribution

CRS-18

Table 15. Senior Professional Staff Member

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY11 6 $87,200 $105,010 $112,585 $114,092 $120,000 $108,242 $128,209 $154,395 $165,532 $167,748 $176,434 $159,146

FY16 12 $71,051 $111,270 $122,102 $133,161 $171,315 $119,523 $97,906 $153,327 $168,254 $183,493 $236,068 $164,700

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 10 $83,250 $121,410 $134,050 $144,175 $164,321 $131,539 $101,608 $148,183 $163,610 $175,968 $200,556 $160,546

FY22 11 $105,000 $134,220 $144,873 $159,256 $169,562 $145,318 $118,659 $151,680 $163,718 $179,972 $191,619 $164,221

FY23 8 $110,835 $112,632 $128,269 $152,742 $176,333 $135,158 $120,301 $122,251 $139,224 $165,787 $191,392 $146,701

FY24 10 $105,625 $134,125 $151,398 $169,025 $182,585 $149,386 $111,361 $141,409 $159,620 $178,204 $192,501 $157,498

FY25 14 $79,052 $119,562 $137,344 $174,519 $186,302 $141,724 $81,208 $122,823 $141,090 $179,279 $191,383 $145,590

Change

FY24-FY25 -11.61%

FY21-FY25 -13.76%

FY16-FY25 -16.14%

FY11-FY25 -14.77%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

13%

25%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

FY25 Pay Distribution

CRS-19

Table 16. Staff Assistant

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY01 19 $25,750 $32,297 $37,480 $48,082 $62,500 $40,255 $48,086 $60,314 $69,991 $89,790 $116,715 $75,174

FY06 19 $24,375 $34,559 $40,792 $43,515 $79,962 $42,797 $39,987 $56,694 $66,919 $71,386 $131,178 $70,208

FY11 24 $32,169 $35,137 $41,793 $47,657 $87,002 $43,959 $47,297 $51,662 $61,448 $70,069 $127,917 $64,633

FY16 18 $28,401 $36,102 $38,373 $43,107 $105,062 $45,265 $39,136 $49,748 $52,878 $59,400 $144,773 $62,374

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 14 $33,500 $41,946 $47,000 $58,203 $112,164 $54,962 $40,887 $51,195 $57,364 $71,038 $136,898 $67,082

FY22 19 $34,479 $45,370 $49,494 $55,677 $119,409 $54,944 $38,964 $51,272 $55,933 $62,919 $134,941 $62,091

FY23 13 $40,000 $44,629 $55,727 $65,057 $123,402 $58,940 $43,416 $48,440 $60,487 $70,613 $133,941 $63,974

FY24 21 $39,917 $53,600 $58,779 $65,417 $70,362 $57,850 $42,084 $56,510 $61,971 $68,969 $74,183 $60,992

FY25 11 $44,000 $50,069 $59,655 $67,045 $69,542 $58,455 $45,200 $51,435 $61,282 $68,874 $71,438 $60,050

Change

FY24-FY25 -1.11%

FY21-FY25 6.83%

FY16-FY25 15.89%

FY11-FY25 -0.27%

FY06-FY25 -8.42%

FY01-FY25 -12.44%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

15%

30%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

FY25 Pay Distribution

CRS-20

Table 17. Staff Director

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY01 7 $122,300 $127,396 $131,658 $139,564 $141,465 $132,763 $228,389 $237,904 $245,863 $260,627 $264,177 $247,927

FY06 15 $101,512 $137,568 $157,829 $160,877 $161,740 $145,942 $166,530 $225,680 $258,917 $263,918 $265,334 $239,417

FY11 11 $102,000 $165,915 $170,217 $171,315 $171,315 $159,853 $149,969 $243,942 $250,267 $251,881 $251,881 $235,030

FY16 18 $112,500 $160,682 $170,881 $171,315 $171,315 $163,513 $155,022 $221,415 $235,470 $236,068 $236,068 $225,317

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 16 $123,750 $168,045 $173,269 $173,900 $186,942 $167,963 $151,039 $205,102 $211,478 $212,248 $228,167 $205,002

FY22 21 $141,667 $182,037 $188,077 $189,463 $190,042 $181,458 $160,095 $205,717 $212,543 $214,109 $214,763 $205,062

FY23 13 $142,320 $203,546 $207,900 $210,000 $227,758 $203,066 $154,474 $220,929 $225,655 $227,934 $247,208 $220,408

FY24 29 $142,328 $209,952 $216,550 $219,450 $219,450 $207,961 $150,057 $221,353 $228,310 $231,367 $231,367 $219,255

FY25 18 $155,950 $219,367 $224,037 $224,750 $224,750 $215,956 $160,203 $225,350 $230,148 $230,880 $230,880 $221,846

Change

FY24-FY25 0.81%

FY21-FY25 8.83%

FY16-FY25 -2.26%

FY11-FY25 -8.04%

FY06-FY25 -11.11%

FY01-FY25 -6.39%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

25%

50%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

FY25 Pay Distribution

CRS-21

Table 18. Systems Administrator

Year #

Nominal, Current $ Constant 2026 $

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

FY01 7 $37,766 $47,907 $53,000 $60,723 $79,902 $55,418 $70,526 $89,464 $98,974 $113,397 $149,212 $103,491

FY06 9 $61,917 $75,965 $78,318 $82,083 $104,374 $79,205 $101,574 $124,620 $128,480 $134,657 $171,224 $129,936

FY11 7 $79,802 $92,854 $99,527 $131,625 $171,315 $107,283 $117,331 $136,522 $146,332 $193,526 $251,881 $157,736

FY16 6 $77,579 $82,621 $98,752 $101,847 $110,988 $94,366 $106,903 $113,850 $136,078 $140,343 $152,939 $130,034

Most Recent Five Years

FY21 5 $79,603 $86,333 $89,000 $133,333 $133,724 $104,399 $97,157 $105,371 $108,626 $162,736 $163,213 $127,421

FY22 7 $80,153 $86,432 $88,500 $125,297 $145,711 $105,403 $90,579 $97,676 $100,012 $141,596 $164,665 $119,114

FY23 6 $94,167 $97,744 $99,188 $113,305 $155,935 $94,167 $102,209 $106,091 $107,658 $122,981 $169,252 $102,209

FY24 5 $97,250 $102,042 $103,417 $121,700 $154,561 $115,794 $102,531 $107,584 $109,033 $128,309 $162,955 $122,082

FY25 4 $102,000 $107,835 $112,590 $125,145 $154,382 $120,391 $104,782 $110,777 $115,661 $128,559 $158,593 $123,674

Change

FY24-FY25 6.08%

FY21-FY25 6.48%

FY16-FY25 -15.00%

FY11-FY25 -20.96%

FY06-FY25 -9.98%

FY01-FY25 16.86%

Dollars in figures are in thousands.

25%

50%

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$140

$150

$160

$170

$180

$190

$200

$210

$220

$230

FY25 Pay Distribution

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2025

Congressional Research Service R44325 · VERSION 14 · UPDATED 22

Author Information

R. Eric Petersen Specialist in American National Government

^{Jane M. Wright}

Research Assistant

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 Henning, User Support Specialist, and Andrew M. Schaefer, Editor, provided formatting, editorial, and production support.

Previous versions of the report were supported by the following: 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, Claudia Guidi, formerly a User Support Specialist, and Alex Marine, former Editor, provided formatting, editorial, and production support; and Jacobo Licona, Brian Hamel, Joe Wisniewski, and Claire Laurence, former CRS interns, collected data for this report.

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.

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2025

Updated September 11, 2026

SUMMARY

Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2025

R44325

Contents

Tables

Contacts

Introduction

Data Concerns

Data Tables and Visualizations

Senate Committee Staff Pay Tables

Author Information

Acknowledgments

Disclaimer