The median House staffer's annual salary rose by $13,700 from 2021—2023 ― but some of the biggest raises in dollar terms went to those already making the highest salaries, according to a LegiStorm analysis.
On average, senior staffers received higher raises than those at junior and mid-levels. Chiefs and deputy chiefs of staff made a median $17,800 more in 2023 than 2021; legislative directors made $17,100 more.
Already some of the House's best-compensated job titles, those positions now pay a median annual salary of $178,000, $129,000 and $111,000, respectively.
In 2022, Congress authorized an unprecedented increase to the House's office budgets and set a $45,000 minimum salary rate for all full-time House staffers. Both increases were intended to bolster staffer pay in hopes of attracting and retaining talent.
Staff assistants, press assistant and legislative correspondents ― some of the Hill's worst-paid positions ― drew a median 2023 salary of $54,700, $58,900 and $59,500, respectively. That's a respective annual increase of $13,800, $12,900 and $13,700 over 2021. While the dollar increases are lower than for more senior staff, the percentage increase was greater for more junior staff.
Many mid-tier positions saw similar increases. Legislative assistant positions now pay $14,500 more for a median $72,700 salary; schedulers make $13,800 more at $72,000.
