Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2009-2013
.
Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in
House Member Offices, 2009-2013
R. Eric Petersen
Specialist in American National Government
Lara E. Chausow
Research Assistant
Amber Hope Wilhelm
Visual Information Specialist
November 3, 2014
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R43775
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Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2009-2013
Summary
This report provides pay data for 13 staff position titles that are typically deployed in the offices
of Members of the House. The positions include the following: Caseworker; Chief of Staff;
Counsel; District Director; Executive Assistant; Field Representative; Legislative Assistant;
Legislative Correspondent; Legislative Director; Office Manager; Press Secretary; Scheduler; and
Staff Assistant. House Member staff pay data for the years 2009-2013 were developed based on a
random sampling of staff for each position in each year.
Data tables provide tabular pay data for each staff position. A graphic for each position is also
included. The graphics display representations of pay from three perspectives:
• change in pay, 2009-2013, in nominal (current) and constant, 2014 dollars;
• a comparison of the cumulative percentage change for that position to changes in
pay, in constant dollars, for Members of Congress and federal civilian workers
paid under the General Schedule in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas in
northern Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania (DC), and Rest of
the U.S. (RUS) from 2009-2013; and
• distributions of 2013 pay in 2014 dollars, in $10,000 increments.
Between 2009 and 2013, the median change in pay, in constant, 2014 dollars, for House Member
office staff ranged from 3.25% for caseworkers, to -20.51% for counsels. The pay for staff in the
12 positions other than caseworkers declined over the five-year period. This may be compared to
changes over the same period to pay for Members of Congress, -7.91%; General Schedule, DC, -
5.67%; and General Schedule, RUS, -6.28%.
Pay data for staff working in Senator’s offices are available in CRS Report R43774, Staff Pay
Levels for Selected Positions in Senators’ Offices, FY2009-FY2013, by R. Eric Petersen, Lara E.
Chausow, and Amber Hope Wilhelm.
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Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1
Data Concerns .................................................................................................................................. 3
Data Tables and Visualizations ........................................................................................................ 3
Tables
Table 1. Caseworker ........................................................................................................................ 5
Table 2. Chief of Staff ...................................................................................................................... 6
Table 3. Counsel .............................................................................................................................. 7
Table 4. District Director ................................................................................................................. 8
Table 5. Executive Assistant ............................................................................................................ 9
Table 6. Field Representative ......................................................................................................... 10
Table 7. Legislative Assistant ........................................................................................................ 11
Table 8. Legislative Correspondent ............................................................................................... 12
Table 9. Legislative Director ......................................................................................................... 13
Table 10. Office Manager .............................................................................................................. 14
Table 11. Press Secretary ............................................................................................................... 15
Table 12. Scheduler ........................................................................................................................ 16
Table 13. Staff Assistant ................................................................................................................ 17
Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 18
Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................... 18
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Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2009-2013
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. This includes job titles,
duties, and rates of pay, subject to a maximum level,1 and resources available to them to carry out
their official duties.2 There may be interest in congressional pay data from multiple perspectives,
including assessment of the costs of congressional operations; guidance in setting pay levels for
staff in Member offices; or comparison of congressional staff pay levels with those of other
federal government pay systems.
Publicly available resources do not provide aggregated congressional staff pay data in a readily
retrievable form. The most recent staff compensation report was issued in 2010,3 which, like
previous compensation reports, relied on anonymous, self-reported survey data. Pay4 information
in this report is based on the House Statement of Disbursements (SOD), published quarterly by
the Chief Administrative Officer,5 as collated by LegiStorm, a private entity that provides some
congressional data by subscription.6 Data in this report are based on official House reports, which
afford the opportunity to use consistently collected data. 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 13 staff position titles that are typically used in House Members’
offices.7 The positions include the following:
• Caseworker8
• Chief of Staff
• Counsel9
• District Director
• Executive Assistant
1 Since 2009, the maximum annual pay for staff in House Member offices has been $168,411. See Order of the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, January 9, 2009, set out as a note following 2 U.S.C. 4532.
2 For discussion of resources available to Members to carry out their official duties, see CRS Report RL30064,
Congressional Salaries and Allowances, by Ida A. Brudnick.
3 ICF International, 2010 House Compensation Study: Guide for the 112th Congress, prepared for the Chief
Administrative Officer, House of Representatives (Washington: 2010).
4 In this report, pay refers to monies paid by the House to staff, and excludes other components of total compensation,
which might include paid leave or employer contributions to various insurance and retirement benefits.
5 Volumes of the Statement of Disbursements since July 2009 are available at http://disbursements.house.gov/.
6 http://www.legistorm.com/.
7 For a discussion of staff roles in Members’ offices, see CRS Report RL34545, Congressional Staff: Duties and
Functions of Selected Positions, by R. Eric Petersen.
8 Other job titles which may indicate similar duties, and for which pay data were collected, include Constituent Services
Representative and Federal Caseworker.
9 Another job title which may indicate similar duties, and for which pay data were collected, was Legislative Counsel.
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• Field Representative
• Legislative Assistant
• Legislative Correspondent
• Legislative Director
• Office Manager
• Press Secretary10
• Scheduler
• Staff Assistant
House Member staff pay data for the years 2009-2013 were developed based on a random
sampling of staff for each position in each year. In order to be included, House staff had to hold a
position with the same job title in the Member’s office for the entire calendar year. For each year,
the SOD reports pay data for five time periods: January 1 and 2;11 January 3-March 31; April 1-
June 30; July 1-September 30; and October 1-Dember 31. The aggregate pay of those five periods
equals the annual pay of a congressional staff member.
For each year, 2009-2013, a random sample12 of 45 staff for each position was taken. Every
recorded payment ascribed to those staff for the calendar year is included. Data collected for this
report may differ from an employee’s stated annual salary due the inclusion of overtime, bonuses,
or other payments13 in addition to base salary paid in the course of a year. For some positions, it
was not possible to identify 45 employees who held that title for the entire year. Generally, data
provided in this report are based on no more than three observations per Member office per year,
and only one per office per position each year.
Pay data for staff working in Senator’s offices are available in CRS Report R43774, Staff Pay
Levels for Selected Positions in Senators’ Offices, FY2009-FY2013, by R. Eric Petersen, Lara E.
Chausow, and Amber Hope Wilhelm.
10 Another job title which may indicate similar duties, and for which pay data were collected, was Communications
Director.
11 The brief reporting period accommodates accounting of the Member Representational Allowance (MRA), which
authorizes expenditures from January 3 to January 2 of the following year. For a discussion of MRA usage, see CRS
Report R40962, Members’ Representational Allowance: History and Usage, by Ida A. Brudnick.
12 Obtaining the salaries of every congressional staff member listed in the SOD was beyond the capacity of available
resources. Each year, a different, random sample of Members’ offices was taken for each position. The large random
sample of each position means that a full accounting would be unlikely to yield significantly different results. At the
same time, a study that examines pay data based on different job titles, or which combines pay data from positions of
similar titles or duties (e.g., legislative assistant and senior legislative assistant, or executive assistants, schedulers and
executive assistant/schedulers), could result in findings that are different from those provided here.
13 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 quarterly total may suggest payments
in addition to regular salary.
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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:
• A lack of data for first-term Members in the first session of a Congress. Since
authority to use the Member Representational Allowance (MRA) for the previous
year expires January 2, and new Congresses begin on January 3 or later, this
report provides no data for first-term Members of the House in the first session of
a Congress.14
• Pay data provide no insight into the experience, tenure, full- or part-time status,
demographics, or other potential explanations for levels of compensation.
• Staff could be based in Washington, DC, district offices, or both.
• Member offices that do not utilize any of the 13 job position titles or their
variants, or whose pay data were not reported consistently,15 are excluded.
• Potential differences could 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 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
Data tables provide tabular pay data for each staff position. A graphic for each position is also
included. The graphics display representations of pay from three perspectives, including the
following:
• change in pay, 2009-2013, in nominal (current) and constant, 2014 dollars;
• a comparison of the cumulative percentage change for that position to changes in
pay, in constant dollars, for Members of Congress, and federal civilian workers
paid under the General Schedule in Washington, DC, and surrounding areas in
northern Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania (DC),16 and Rest of
the U.S. (RUS)17 from 2009-2013; and
14 Staff of all Members who serve an entire calendar year may be included in the data. For information on the number
of first-term Members in each Congress, see CRS Report R41283, First-Term Members of the House of
Representatives and Senate, 64th - 113th Congresses, by Jennifer E. Manning and R. Eric Petersen.
15 Some offices reported pay data that excluded the January 1 and 2 period, or included those days in reports including
the period from October 1 of the previous year.
16 For a complete description of areas covered under the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV-
PA locality pay table, see http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2014/locality-pay-area-
definitions/#w.
17 The RUS pay table includes those portions of the United States and its territories and possessions (nonforeign areas)
not located within another locality pay area. For definitions of 2014 locality pay areas, see Office of Personnel
(continued...)
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• distributions of FY2013 pay in 2014 dollars, in $10,000 increments.
Between 2009 and 2013, the median change in pay, in constant 2014 dollars, for House Member
office staff ranged from 3.25% for caseworkers, to -20.51% for counsels. The pay for staff in the
12 positions other than caseworkers declined over the five-year period. This may be compared to
changes over the same period for Members of Congress, -7.91%; General Schedule, DC, -5.67%;
and General Schedule, RUS -6.28%.
(...continued)
Management, “Pay & Leave, Salaries & Wages,” http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/
2014/locality-pay-area-definitions. For discussion of how locality pay is calculated, see CRS Report RL34463, Federal
White-Collar Pay: FY2009 and FY2010 Salary Adjustments, by Barbara L. Schwemle.
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Table 1. Caseworker
Duties may include: responding to casework inquiries from constituents; acting as a grassroots representative for the
Member within assigned areas of responsibility; and monitoring and updating the Member or relevant official in the office
on casework issues.
2009 2010
2011 2012 2013
Minimum
$25,000
$28,405
$31,200
$30,135
$24,000
al $
Median
$44,598
$44,000
$49,000
$47,492
$50,000
in
m
Average
$45,984
$47,592
$49,697
$50,182
$49,805
No
Maximum
$86,210
$82,062
$83,155
$72,000
$84,353
Minimum
$27,546
$30,793
$32,787
$31,026
$24,353
$
ant
Median
$49,140
$47,698
$51,493
$48,897
$50,736
Average
$50,667
$51,592
$52,225
$51,666
$50,538
Const
Maximum
$94,989
$88,959
$87,386
$74,129
$85,594
Median —
-2.93%
7.96%
-5.04%
3.76%
Average —
1.83%
1.23%
-1.07%
-2.18%
Change
Annual Average
-0.05%
Annual Median
0.94%
2009-2013 Average
-0.26%
2009-2013 Median
3.25%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 45 observations per year from various Members’ offices. Other job titles
for which pay data were col ected include Constituent Services Representative and Federal Caseworker. In the
Change section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual Median cel s provide the average and median
change per year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013 Median provide the change over the
entire five-year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of Pay visualization, percentages are rounded, and
may not equal 100%.
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Table 2. Chief of Staff
Duties may include: developing and implementing all policy objectives, strategies, and operating plans for a Member’s
office; managing and directing all activities and staff of the Member's Washington, DC, and field offices; coordinating the
activities of the Member with the leadership of the appropriate chamber and committees; and overseeing the Member's
office budget.
2009 2010 2011 2012
2013
Minimum
$42,708
$98,500
$103,124
$98,220
$90,501
al $
Median
$134,344
$147,000
$150,833
$144,000
$143,800
in
m
Average
$132,999
$143,697
$146,853
$143,040
$142,480
No
Maximum
$168,411
$168,411
$168,411
$168,411
$168,411
Minimum
$47,057
$106,779
$108,371
$101,125
$91,832
$
ant
Median
$148,025
$159,356
$158,508
$148,259
$145,915
Average
$146,543
$155,775
$154,325
$147,271
$144,576
Const
Maximum
$185,561
$182,566
$176,980
$173,392
$170,888
Median —
7.65%
-0.53%
-6.47%
-1.58%
Average —
6.30%
-0.93%
-4.57%
-1.83%
Annual Average
-0.26%
Annual Median
-0.23%
Change
2009-2013 Average
-1.34%
2009-2013 Median
-1.43%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dol ars in thousands, except where indicated. Since 2009, the
maximum annual pay for staff in House Member offices has been $168,411. Detailed information about data
sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 45 observations per year from various Members’ offices. In the Change
section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual Median cells provide the average and median change per
year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013 Median provide the change over the entire five-
year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of Pay visualization, percentages are rounded, and may not
equal 100%.
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Table 3. Counsel
Duties may include: advising the Member on legal issues; and ensuring compliance with chamber rules, the law, and
ethics guidelines.
2009 2010 2011
2012
2013
Minimum
$54,891
$45,250
$34,792
$49,236
$41,667
al $
Median
$68,000
$87,862
$74,417
$72,167
$58,692
in
m
Average
$69,417
$98,513
$70,824
$73,390
$63,416
No
Maximum
$84,100
$168,411
$100,375
$130,833
$126,546
Minimum
$60,480
$49,053
$36,562
$50,692
$42,280
$
ant
Median
$74,925
$95,247
$78,203
$74,301
$59,555
Average
$76,486
$106,794
$74,428
$75,561
$64,348
Const
Maximum
$92,664
$182,566
$105,482
$134,702
$128,408
Median —
27.12%
-17.89%
-4.99%
-19.85%
Average — 39.63%
-30.31%
1.52%
-14.84%
Annual Average
-1.00%
Annual Median
-3.90%
Change
2009-2013 Average
-15.87%
2009-2013 Median
-20.51%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 13 observations in 2009, 30 in 2010, 23 in 2011, 20 in 2012, and 19 in
2013, from various Members’ offices. Another job title for which pay data were col ected was Legislative
Counsel. In the Change section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual Median cel s provide the average
and median change per year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013 Median provide the
change over the entire five-year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of Pay visualization, percentages
are rounded, and may not equal 100%.
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Table 4. District Director
Duties may include: managing the principal district office or other district offices of a Member; and overseeing all district
office operations.
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Minimum
$60,000
$48,100
$68,000
$52,500
$48,333
al $
Median
$88,274
$92,545
$93,519
$88,795
$87,247
in
m
Average
$90,238
$95,323
$99,733
$91,280
$90,637
No
Maximum
$120,450
$136,003
$165,000
$163,564
$162,600
Minimum
$66,110
$52,143
$71,460
$54,053
$49,044
$
ant
Median
$97,263
$100,324
$98,278
$91,421
$88,531
Average
$99,427
$103,335
$104,807
$93,979
$91,970
Const
Maximum
$132,716
$147,434
$173,395
$168,401
$164,992
Median — 3.15%
-2.04%
-6.98%
-3.16%
Average — 3.93%
1.42%
-10.33%
-2.14%
Annual Average
-1.78%
Annual Median
-2.26%
Change
2009-2013 Average
-7.50%
2009-2013 Median
-8.98%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 45 observations per year from various Members’ offices. In the Change
section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual Median cells provide the average and median change per
year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013 Median provide the change over the entire five-
year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of Pay visualization, percentages are rounded, and may not
equal 100%.
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Table 5. Executive Assistant
Duties may include: maintaining the Member’s files, including notes, correspondence, and all information related to travel;
logging and monitoring the Member’s incoming telephone cal s; taking messages; and ensuring that the Member is
provided with briefing materials for various activities in which the Member participates.
2009 2010 2011 2012
2013
Minimum $30,000
$20,500 $27,000 $28,000
$33,750
al $
Median $57,500
$64,500 $69,750 $58,500
$53,500
in
m
Average $58,062
$67,102 $67,839 $61,871
$61,167
No
Maximum
$108,047
$134,278
$138,000
$122,609
$121,109
Minimum $33,055
$22,223 $28,374 $28,828
$34,247
$
ant
Median $63,355
$69,921 $73,299 $60,230
$54,287
Average $63,974
$72,742 $71,291 $63,701
$62,067
Const
Maximum
$119,049
$145,564
$145,022
$126,235
$122,891
Median — 10.36%
4.83%
-17.83%
-9.87%
Average — 13.71%
-2.00%
-10.65%
-2.56%
Change
Annual Average
-0.38%
Annual Median
-3.13%
2009-2013 Average
-2.98%
2009-2013 Median
-14.31%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 45 observations per year in 2009 and 2010, 37 in 2011, 39 in 2012, and
21 in 2013, from various Members’ offices. In the Change section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual
Median cells provide the average and median change per year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and
2009-2013 Median provide the change over the entire five-year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of
Pay visualization, percentages are rounded, and may not equal 100%.
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Table 6. Field Representative
Duties may include: acting as a liaison with federal, state, and local agencies for the Member and constituents, and
assessing casework for matters that might require legislative action.
2009 2010 2011 2012
2013
Minimum
$34,033
$28,917
$21,000
$30,167
$32,125
al $
Median
$45,000
$48,033
$45,450
$46,920
$48,783
in
m
Average
$47,299
$48,932
$46,732
$47,153
$47,466
No
Maximum
$81,917
$77,311
$72,992
$79,159
$77,988
Minimum
$37,499
$31,347
$22,068
$31,059
$32,598
$
ant
Median
$49,582
$52,071
$47,762
$48,308
$49,500
Average
$52,116
$53,044
$49,110
$48,548
$48,165
Const
Maximum
$90,259
$83,809
$76,705
$81,500
$79,135
Median — 5.02%
-8.27%
1.14%
2.47%
Average — 1.78%
-7.42%
-1.15%
-0.79%
Annual Average
-1.89%
Annual Median
0.09%
Change
2009-2013 Average
-7.58%
2009-2013 Median
-0.17%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 45 observations per year from various Members’ offices. In the Change
section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual Median cells provide the average and median change per
year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013 Median provide the change over the entire five-
year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of Pay visualization, percentages are rounded, and may not
equal 100%.
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Table 7. Legislative Assistant
Duties may include: developing legislative initiatives; advising the Member on legislative issues; and monitoring legislative
and policy developments within assigned substantive areas.
2009 2010 2011 2012
2013
Minimum
$34,000
$37,637
$32,500
$29,000
$29,500
al $
Median
$50,500
$51,427
$48,863
$49,250
$47,917
in
m
Average $49,982
$54,346 $50,506 $49,916
$48,395
No
Maximum
$63,500
$114,814
$96,400
$78,833
$72,802
Minimum
$37,462
$40,800
$34,154
$29,858
$29,934
$
ant
Median
$55,643
$55,749
$51,349
$50,707
$48,622
Average $55,071
$58,913 $53,076 $51,393
$49,107
Const
Maximum
$69,966
$124,465
$101,305
$81,165
$73,873
Median — 0.19%
-7.89%
-1.25%
-4.11%
Average — 6.98%
-9.91%
-3.17%
-4.45%
Annual Average
-2.64%
Annual Median
-3.27%
Change
2009-2013 Average
-10.83%
2009-2013 Median
-12.62%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 45 observations per year from various Members’ offices. In the Change
section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual Median cells provide the average and median change per
year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013 Median provide the change over the entire five-
year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of Pay visualization, percentages are rounded, and may not
equal 100%.
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Table 8. Legislative Correspondent
Duties may include: providing research for response to constituents' correspondence; drafting, proofreading, and
transmitting letters; and providing administrative support to legislative staff as needed.
2009 2010 2011 2012
2013
Minimum
$29,085
$28,000 $28,833 $26,000
$28,900
al $
Median $38,875
$38,542 $39,600 $39,000
$37,500
in
m
Average $41,173
$40,366 $42,489 $39,351
$38,589
No
Maximum
$75,917
$75,833
$86,250
$65,000
$65,000
Minimum
$32,047
$30,353 $30,300 $26,769
$29,325
$
ant
Median $42,834
$41,781 $41,615 $40,153
$38,052
Average $45,366
$43,759 $44,651 $40,515
$39,156
Const
Maximum
$83,648
$82,207
$90,638
$66,922
$65,956
Median — -2.46%
-0.40%
-3.51%
-5.23%
Average — -3.54%
2.04%
-9.26%
-3.35%
Annual Average
-3.53%
Annual Median
-2.90%
Change
2009-2013 Average
-13.69%
2009-2013 Median
-11.16%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 45 observations per year from various Members’ offices. In the Change
section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual Median cells provide the average and median change per
year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013 Median provide the change over the entire five-
year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of Pay visualization, percentages are rounded, and may not
equal 100%.
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Table 9. Legislative Director
Duties may include: managing office legislative activities; supervising a Member’s legislative staff; assisting in the
development of policy positions and legislative initiatives; and monitoring floor activity.
2009 2010 2011 2012
2013
Minimum
$51,500
$61,303
$47,075
$48,400
$50,736
al $
Median
$84,417
$86,167
$86,750
$80,000
$80,000
in
m
Average
$85,883
$87,717
$85,639
$82,327
$79,804
No
Maximum
$127,411
$118,000
$117,500
$138,000
$106,000
Minimum
$56,744
$66,456
$49,470
$49,831
$51,483
$
ant
Median
$93,013
$93,409
$91,164
$82,366
$81,177
Average
$94,628
$95,090
$89,996
$84,762
$80,978
Const
Maximum
$140,386
$127,918
$123,478
$142,081
$107,559
Median —
0.43%
-2.40%
-9.65%
-1.44%
Average — 0.49%
-5.36%
-5.82%
-4.46%
Annual Average
-3.79%
Annual Median
-3.27%
Change
2009-2013 Average
-14.43%
2009-2013 Median
-12.73%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 45 observations per year from various Members’ offices. In the Change
section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual Median cells provide the average and median change per
year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013 Median provide the change over the entire five-
year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of Pay visualization, percentages are rounded, and may not
equal 100%.
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Table 10. Office Manager
Duties may include: maintenance of office accounts; and procuring and maintaining equipment in a Member’s office.
2009 2010 2011 2012
2013
Minimum
$29,983
$32,250
$36,000
$30,103
$37,500
al $
Median
$51,818
$49,000
$47,000
$50,319
$52,800
in
m
Average
$55,578
$51,484
$52,858
$54,036
$55,388
No
Maximum
$106,877
$88,333
$82,500
$91,333
$81,500
Minimum
$33,037
$34,961
$37,832
$30,994
$38,052
$
ant
Median
$57,095
$53,119
$49,391
$51,807
$53,577
Average
$61,238
$55,811
$55,547
$55,634
$56,203
Const
Maximum
$117,760
$95,758
$86,698
$94,034
$82,699
Median — -6.96%
-7.02%
4.89% 3.42%
Average —
-8.86%
-0.47%
0.16% 1.02%
Change
Annual
Average -2.04% Annual
Median -1.42%
2009-2013 Average
-8.22%
2009-2013 Median
-6.16%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 25 observations in 2009, 31 in 2010, 21 in 2011 and 2012, and 17 in 2013,
from various Members’ offices. In the Change section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual Median cel s
provide the average and median change per year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013
Median provide the change over the entire five-year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of Pay
visualization, percentages are rounded, and may not equal 100%.
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Table 11. Press Secretary
Duties may include: developing and implementing media and communications strategies for the Member; acting as the
formal spokesperson and media liaison for the Member; and writing speeches for the Member.
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Minimum
$40,400
$46,000
$48,000
$29,959
$36,439
al $
Median
$69,174
$67,250
$76,000
$73,167
$65,000
in
m
Average
$72,711
$72,512
$76,528
$74,514
$70,351
No
Maximum
$128,992
$132,596
$120,000
$121,805
$124,861
Minimum
$44,514
$49,866
$50,442
$30,845
$36,975
$
ant
Median
$76,218
$72,903
$79,867
$75,330
$65,956
Average
$80,115
$78,606
$80,422
$76,718
$71,386
Const
Maximum
$142,127
$143,741
$126,106
$125,408
$126,698
Median — -4.35%
9.55%
-5.68%
-12.44%
Average — -1.88%
2.31%
-4.61%
-6.95%
Annual
Average
-2.78% Annual
Median -3.23%
Change
2009-2013
Average
-10.90% 2009-2013
Median -13.46%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 45 observations per year from various Members’ offices. Another job title
for which pay data were col ected was Communications Director. In the Change section of the data table,
Annual Average and Annual Median cel s provide the average and median change per year, respectively, while the
2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013 Median provide the change over the entire five-year period, respectively. In
the 2013 Distribution of Pay visualization, percentages are rounded, and may not equal 100%.
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Table 12. Scheduler
Duties may include: briefing the Member on al scheduling activities; making recommendations on proposed meetings;
scheduling staff meetings; and coordinating the scheduling of the Member’s press and media interactions with the press
secretary or communications director.
2009
2010 2011 2012
2013
Minimum
$32,000
$31,547
$35,000
$34,533
$31,883
al $
Median
$52,450
$47,000
$49,309
$46,333
$47,500
in
m
Average
$52,879
$51,968
$53,293
$49,421
$51,910
No
Maximum
$93,000
$110,750
$90,942
$80,500
$85,833
Minimum
$35,259
$34,198
$36,781
$35,555
$32,352
$
ant
Median
$57,791
$50,950
$51,818
$47,704
$48,199
Average
$58,264
$56,336
$56,005
$50,883
$52,674
Const
Maximum
$102,471
$120,059
$95,569
$82,881
$87,096
Median — -11.84%
1.70%
-7.94%
1.04%
Average — -3.31%
-0.59%
-9.15% 3.52%
Annual Average
-2.38%
Annual Median
-4.26%
Change
2009-2013
Average
-9.59%
2009-2013 Median
-16.60%
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 41 observations in 2009 and 2010, 26 in 2011 and 2013, and 36 in 2012,
from various Members’ offices. In the Change section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual Median cel s
provide the average and median change per year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013
Median provide the change over the entire five-year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of Pay
visualization, percentages are rounded, and may not equal 100%.
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Table 13. Staff Assistant
Duties may include: answering telephones and providing support services; greeting visitors; assisting with scheduling;
responding to constituent requests for general information, tours, and other non-legislative matters; and monitoring
delivery and pickup of materials.
2009 2010 2011 2012
2013
Minimum
$20,175
$25,000
$26,250
$22,000
$21,095
al $
Median
$37,504
$39,750
$34,833
$35,767
$34,986
in
m
Average
$37,829
$42,084
$38,681
$41,076
$37,726
No
Maximum
$67,333
$93,750
$87,500
$167,411
$67,167
Minimum
$22,229
$27,101
$27,586
$22,651
$21,405
$
ant
Median
$41,323
$43,091
$36,606
$36,824
$35,501
Average
$41,682
$45,621
$40,649
$42,291
$38,281
Const
Maximum
$74,190
$101,630
$91,952
$172,362
$68,155
Median —
4.28%
-15.05%
0.60%
-3.59%
Average —
9.45%
-10.90%
4.04%
-9.48%
Annual Average
-1.72%
Annual Median
-3.44%
Change
2009-2013
-8.16%
2009-2013 Median
-14.09%
Average
Source: Statement of Disbursements of the House, as collated by LegiStorm, various years, and CRS calculations.
Visualizations provide information in constant 2014 dollars in thousands, except where indicated. Detailed
information about data sources is available above in “Data Tables and Visualizations.”
Notes: Data are based on a sample of 45 observations per year from various Members’ offices. In the Change
section of the data table, Annual Average and Annual Median cells provide the average and median change per
year, respectively, while the 2009-2013 Average and 2009-2013 Median provide the change over the entire five-
year period, respectively. In the 2013 Distribution of Pay visualization, percentages are rounded, and may not
equal 100%.
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Author Contact Information
R. Eric Petersen
Amber Hope Wilhelm
Specialist in American National Government
Visual Information Specialist
epetersen@crs.loc.gov, 7-0643
awilhelm@crs.loc.gov, 7-2392
Lara E. Chausow
Research Assistant
lchausow@crs.loc.gov, 7-2384
Acknowledgments
Jose Wisniewski and Claire Laurence, former CRS interns, collected data for this report.
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