Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Sept. 21, 2020
At the beginning of a young staffer's congressional career, the pay differences between chambers is modest. But that disparity grows as staffers rise through the ranks,
according to LegiStorm data.
Senate staff assistants make two percent more than their House counterparts - a median of $37,142 vs. $36,342. For those promoted to legislative correspondent, that difference grows to four percent - $42,882 vs. $41,250.
A Senate chief of staff makes a median salary of $170,472, 13 percent more than the $150,412 that a House chief makes. The maximum pay for a congressional staffer is $173,900.
Senate chief counsels make 35% more than their House counterparts ($120,087 vs. $88,442), while legislative directors make a whopping 72 percent more in the Senate ($145,714 vs. $84,397).
The pay differences are indicative of the different political stakes in the House and the Senate. With fewer members each representing entire states, the Senate has staffs that are larger, more specialized and who have more influence on the legislative agenda compared to the House.
Some people and organizations who "caught our eye" last week:
