Current Congressional Pay and Salary
Members of Congress receive an annual base salary set by federal law. As of the most recent public pay adjustments, the base salary for both senators and representatives is $174,000 per year. The Speaker of the House and the majority and minority leaders in both chambers earn higher salaries, with the Speaker earning $223,500 and the majority and minority leaders earning $193,400. These figures are established under the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 and are adjusted based on the Employment Cost Index, subject to a pay freeze if Congress does not vote to accept the increase. Congressional pay is funded through the federal budget and is not subject to the same pay raises as other federal employees unless specifically authorized. For more details on federal pay systems, see the U.S. Office of Personnel Management at www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/.
Congressional pay is separate from the compensation of federal executive branch employees and is governed by the United States Code. The President cannot unilaterally change congressional salaries, and any pay adjustment must be passed by Congress and signed into law or take effect automatically under existing formulas. Members do not receive automatic cost-of-living adjustments like many private-sector employees. The last across-the-board pay raise for members of Congress was approved in 2009, and subsequent adjustments have been frozen or denied multiple times. Public records of congressional pay are maintained by the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate, and these figures are regularly reported in financial disclosures and government accountability documents. For current federal salary tables and legislative branch pay data, see the U.S. Government Accountability Office at www.gao.gov.
Benefits, Allowances, and Additional Compensation
In addition to their base salary, members of Congress receive a comprehensive benefits package. This includes health insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, retirement benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System, and a generous pension after a minimum of five years of service. Congressional offices also receive a generous annual allowance to cover staff salaries, office expenses, and travel. The Members' Representational Allowance provides funds for official expenses, including maintaining district offices and conducting official business. These allowances are not considered taxable income and are intended to support the official duties of a member of Congress rather than personal enrichment. For more on federal employee benefits, see the U.S. Office of Personnel Management at www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/ferhs/.
Members of Congress also receive a tax-free daily per diem for official travel and a travel allowance for trips between their home districts and Washington, D.C. The Office of Congressional Workplace Rights oversees compliance with workplace laws in the legislative branch, and the Office of Congressional Ethics monitors ethical conduct related to compensation and outside income. Outside earned income for members of Congress is limited by House and Senate ethics rules, and members must disclose certain outside compensation and gifts. The Congressional Research Service provides detailed reports on legislative branch compensation and benefits, which are available to the public. For official ethics and financial disclosure resources, see the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics at www.ethics.senate.gov.
How Congressional Pay Compares and How It Is Set
Comparison to Other Federal and Private-Sector Pay
Compared to the median household income in the United States, congressional pay is significantly higher. The median household income in the U.S. is roughly $75,000, meaning