Ex Presidents Salary and Pension Basics
Former presidents do not receive an ongoing salary, but they are entitled to a taxable pension equal to the pay of a Cabinet secretary, which was set at $230,700 in 2024, according to the Former Presidents Act and the Office of Personnel Management. This pension begins immediately after leaving office and is adjusted annually based on General Schedule pay tables Former Presidents Act pension details. In addition to the pension, each former president receives an annual office allowance to maintain a transition and records office, which was $1.3 million in fiscal year 2024, funded by the General Services Administration.
The pension and office allowance are separate from any income the former president earns from private work, speaking fees, or corporate board seats. The Former Presidents Act also covers transition funding for up to six months after leaving office, including staff salaries and office space, to help former presidents establish post White House activities GSA Former Presidents Office funding. These benefits apply to all living former presidents who served at least one full term, while those who served less than two terms receive a reduced pension calculated by years of service.
Annual Office Budget and Staff Costs
How the Office Allowance Is Spent
The annual office allowance is intended to cover staff salaries, rent, equipment, and travel related to the former president's official records and public activities, but it does not fund personal living expenses or security costs. The General Services Administration administers the allowance and requires former presidents to submit annual expenditure reports that are reviewed for compliance with federal rules GSA office allowance reporting. Any unspent funds do not roll over as cash; they remain within the federal appropriation for the Former Presidents Office.
Security and Travel Funding
Security protection for former presidents and their spouses is funded separately through the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security, not through the office allowance or pension. Travel costs for official former president activities can be reimbursed under strict federal guidelines, but personal travel is not covered by the government DHS former president security. The combined effect is that the ex presidents salary package is limited to pension, office allowance, and transition funds, with no ongoing government paycheck after leaving office.
Post Presidency Income Sources for Former Presidents
Book Deals, Speaking Fees, and Corporate Boards
Former presidents commonly earn significant income from book advances, paid speeches, and board seats at private companies, but these earnings are private and not part of any ex presidents salary or government benefit. The amounts vary widely by deal, with advances for presidential memoirs often reaching several million dollars and single speeches sometimes exceeding six figures Forbes on post presidency income. These earnings are subject to income tax, and former presidents must disclose certain financial information if they serve on corporate boards or receive compensation above federal reporting thresholds.
Charitable Foundations and Speaking Tours
Many former presidents operate presidential foundations that receive donations, sponsorship revenue, and speaking tour income, which can be substantial but are not considered government salary or pension. These foundations fund libraries, scholarships, and policy programs, and they must file annual Form 990s with the Internal Revenue Service