How Much Does Congress Get Paid
Members of Congress receive an annual salary set by the Office of Personnel Management under the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 and subsequent adjustments. As of the most recent public data, the base pay for rank-and-file members of the U.S. House and Senate is $174,000 per year, with the Speaker of the House earning $223,500 and the President pro tempore of the Senate and majority and minority leaders earning $193,400 congressional salary details.
Pay adjustments are typically recommended by the President under the Ethics Reform Act, but Congress has often voted to decline or defer those increases, a practice that has shaped public debate over pay for congress and transparency in compensation decisions CRS report on congressional pay.
Who Pays Congress and How Raises Are Set
Congress is funded through the federal budget, with salaries and office expenses appropriated by Congress and paid from the U.S. Treasury. The House and Senate each maintain administrative offices, such as the House Administrative Office and the Senate Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, which manage payroll, benefits, and office budgets SEC filings for related government contractors.
The process for pay raises involves legislative action, executive recommendation, and sometimes public referendums or constitutional constraints, with recent proposals focusing on transparency, merit-based pay, and limits on automatic increases congressional pay process.
Benefits, Retirement, and Total Compensation for Members of Congress
Health Insurance and Retirement Systems
Members of Congress participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program and can choose from a range of health plans, with the federal government paying a large share of premiums. They also have access to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and, for those who served before FERS, the older Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), with vesting schedules and benefit calculations that differ from private-sector plans OPM federal benefits.
Pension Eligibility and Contributions
Under FERS, members qualify for a pension after five years of service, with benefits based on age, years of service, and high-3 average salary, while contributions are made through payroll deductions and matched by the government. Critics and reform advocates have highlighted the contrast between congressional retirement benefits and private-sector retirement trends, fueling ongoing discussions about pay for congress and overall compensation fairness CRS report on congressional retirement.
Additional Perks and Allowances
Beyond salary and retirement, members receive allowances for office expenses, travel, and staffing, with exact amounts varying by chamber and leadership role. These allowances, combined with base pay and benefits, form the total compensation package that defines pay for congress in public and media discussions OPM compensation data.