Current Salary and Pay Structure
Members of Congress earn a base annual salary of $174,000 as set by the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 and adjusted by the Office of Personnel Management. The Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders receive $223,500, while the President pro tempore and floor leaders earn $193,400. Pay is funded through the legislative branch budget and is subject to federal income tax like other government employees. For the full breakdown, see the official pay tables maintained by the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer.
Congressional pay is not automatically tied to private-sector compensation, and members cannot receive a pay raise during the current session under the 27th Amendment. The last across-the-board increase took effect in 2009, and subsequent adjustments have been rare or frozen. The salary is paid in monthly installments through the payroll system of the U.S. Treasury. Additional income from outside sources is allowed but regulated under ethics rules and disclosure requirements.
Benefits, Allowances, and Compensation Beyond Salary
Members of Congress receive a comprehensive benefits package including a federal pension under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) after five years of service. They also receive health insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, with the government paying a large share of premiums. The House and Senate allowances pages detail office allowances, travel funds, and franking privileges used for official communication.
Retirement and Pension Details
Under FERS, members contribute a percentage of their salary and receive a defined-benefit pension after reaching age 62 with at least five years of service, or age 50 with 20 years of service. The pension is calculated using a formula based on years of service and the average of the highest three years of pay. Members who left before 2013 may be covered under the older Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), which has different eligibility rules. Detailed retirement calculations are available through the Office of Personnel Management FERS page.
Travel and Office Allowances
The House provides Members with a generous travel allowance for official business, and the Senate provides a similar fund with separate rules. Office budgets cover staff salaries, office supplies, and equipment, with amounts varying by chamber and state population. The Senate Office of Public Records publishes detailed spending data that shows how these allowances are used across the chamber.
Historical Pay Changes and Comparison to Other Roles
Congressional pay has increased from $6,000 in 1789 to the current $174,000 base, with many freezes and small adjustments in between. The 2009 increase to the current level was the most recent across-the-board raise, and no general pay adjustment has been approved since. The 27th Amendment, ratified in 1992, ensures that any change in pay cannot take effect until after the next election of Representatives.
Compared to the median U.S. household income of roughly $75,000 and the average private-sector executive pay, congressional salaries are moderate relative to the responsibilities of the role. The President earns $400,000, and federal judges earn between $220,000 and $260,000 depending on the court level. The