Congressional Salaries and Allowances
Congressional Salaries and Allowances
Updated October 1, 2008
Ida A. Brudnick
Analyst on the Congress
Government and Finance Division
Congressional Salaries and Allowances
Summary
This report provides basic information on congressional salaries and allowances.
First, the report briefly summarizes the current salary of Members of Congress, limits
on their outside earned income and honoraria, and applicable health insurance and
retirement benefits.
Second, the report provides information on allowances available to
Representatives and Senators to support them in their official and representational
duties as Members. Their allowances include those for official office expenses, staff,
mail, and other allowances and services.
Third, the report lists the salaries of congressional officers and officials and
committee staff.
Sources are hearings, reports, debates, and language of regular annual and
supplemental legislative branch appropriations acts; the U.S. Code and U.S. Code
Annotated Supplements to Title 2; latest Order of the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, implementing a pay increase for House employees, effective January
1, 2008, issued January 8, 2008 (to be contained in 2 U.S.C. 60a-2a); latest publicly
available Order of the President pro tempore, implementing a pay increase for Senate
employees, issued February 16, 2007 (contained in 2 U.S.C. 60a-1); the Members’
Congressional Handbook (web edition), prepared by the Committee on House
Administration, for Members and staff of the U.S. House of Representatives,
available at [http://cha.house.gov/members_handbook.aspx]; the quarterly Statement
of Disbursements of the House, compiled by the House Chief Administrative Officer,thnd
April 1, 2008, to June 30, 2008 (110 Congress, 2 session, H.Doc. 110-136, part
3 of 3, pp. 3317-3331); and the Office of Personnel Management for executive level
pay rates to which some legislative employees are statutorily linked.
This report will be updated as information is made available.
Contents
Compensation of Members of Congress and Related Benefits...............1
Compensation ................................................1
Outside Earned Income and Honoraria Limits........................1
Tax Deductions...............................................1
Health and Life Insurance Provisions ..............................2
Health Insurance..........................................2
Life Insurance.............................................2
Retirement Provisions..........................................2
Personnel, Office Expenses, and Mail Allowances for U.S. Representatives....2
House Allowance System.......................................2
Personnel Allowance...........................................3
Official Office Expenses Allowance...............................3
Official Mail Allowance (Franking Privilege)........................5
Other Allowances..............................................5
Government Publications....................................5
Travel Allowance for Organizational Caucuses or Conferences......5
Personnel, Office Expenses, and Mail Allowances for U.S. Senators..........6
Senate Allowance System.......................................6
Personnel Allowances: Administrative and Clerical Assistance
and Legislative Assistance...................................7
Administrative and Clerical Assistance Allowance................7
Legislative Assistance Allowance.............................7
Official Office Expense Allowance................................7
Official Mail Allowance........................................8
Other Allowances..............................................8
Senate Interns.............................................8
Office Space in States......................................8
Mobile Office Space for Senators.............................8
Furniture and Furnishings in Washington, DC...................8
Furniture and Furnishings in State Offices......................8
Office Equipment in Washington, DC, and State Offices...........9
Government Publications....................................9
Compensation of Other Congressional Officers and Officials..............10
House of Representatives.......................................10
Senate ......................................................11
Compensation of Standing Committee Employees.......................12
House of Representatives.......................................12
Senate ......................................................12
Congressional Salaries and Allowances
Compensation of Members of Congress
and Related Benefits1
Compensation
Compensation for Representatives and Senators is $169,300 in 2008.
Outside Earned Income and Honoraria Limits
Permissible outside earned income for Representatives and Senators is limited2
to 15% of their salary. Certain types of outside earned income however are
prohibited. A Member may not receive compensation for affiliating with or being
employed by a firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other entity providing
professional services involving a fiduciary relationship; allowing his/her name to be
used by such a firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other entity; practicing
a profession involving a fiduciary relationship; serving as a member or officer of the
board of an association, corporation, or other entity; and teaching without prior
notification to and approval of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, in the case of
Senators, or the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, in the case of
R epresent at i ves.
Representatives and Senators are also prohibited from accepting honoraria. The
acceptance of honoraria was prohibited by Senators effective August 14, 1991.
Senators who earned honoraria prior to that date were entitled to retain their earnings.
Tax Deductions
Members are allowed to deduct, for income tax purposes, living expenses up to
$3,000 per annum, while away from their congressional districts or home states.3
1 This report was originally written by Paul E. Dwyer, formerly a Specialist in American
National Government at CRS, who has since retired. The listed author updated the report
and is available to answer questions concerning its contents.
2 Outside earned income generally includes monetary wages, salaries, fees, and any other
sums received as payment for personal services rendered.
3 See CRS Report RL30868, Tax Rules and Rulings Specifically Applicable to Members Of
Congress, by John R. Luckey.
Health and Life Insurance Provisions
Health Insurance. Members are eligible to participate in the Federal
Employees Health Benefits Program and may select from among several health
benefit plans. Participation is on a voluntary, contributory basis.
Life Insurance. Members are eligible to participate in the Federal Employees
Group Life Insurance Program. The amount of coverage for personal insurance is
determined by a formula based on the coverage elected.
Retirement Provisions
Various options are available to Members regarding participation in the Civil
Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees Retirement System.4
Participation in Social Security is mandatory for Members.
Personnel, Office Expenses, and Mail Allowances
for U.S. Representatives
House Allowance System
Representatives have one allowance available to support them in their official
and representational duties to the districts from which they were elected. This
allowance is the Members’ representational allowance (MRA). The MRA is
calculated based on three components, including personnel, official office expenses,
and official (franked) mail.
The personnel allowance component is the same for each Member. The office
expenses and mail allowances components vary from Member to Member due to
variations in the distance between a Member’s district and Washington, DC, for the
mileage allowance, cost of office space in his or her district for the space allowance,
and number of non-business addresses in his or her district for the mail allowance.
The three components result in a single MRA authorization for each
Representative that can be used to pay for any of the official expenses. In calendar
year 2008, the Members’ representational allowances range from $1,299,292 to
$1,637,766.5 Allowances are authorized from January 3 of each year through January
4 See CRS Report RL30631, Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress, by Patrick J.
Purcell.
5 U.S. Congress, House, Statement of Disbursements of the House, as compiled by the Chief
Administrative Officer, from January 1, 2008, to March 31, 2008, part 3 of 3, H.Doc. 110-thnd
Members sworn in before the start of the second session of the 110 Congress.
These allowances are authorized in statute and are regulated and adjusted by the
Committee on House Administration. Funding is provided under a single
appropriations heading, “Members’ Representational Allowances,” within the House
account “Salaries and Expenses.”
All personnel, office, and official mail expenses reimbursed to or on behalf of
a Member are reported in the quarterly Statement of Disbursements of the House.
Personnel Allowance
The personnel allowance is available for employment of staff in a
Representative’s Washington, DC, and district offices.
Each Member was entitled to an annual personnel allowance of $874,951 in
2008 for no more than 18 permanent employees.6 As many as four additional
employees may be designated by the Member, but need not be counted as permanent
employees, if they fall into one of the following categories:
(1)part-time employees;
(2)employees drawing compensation from more than one
employing authority of the House;
(3)interns receiving pay;
(4)employees on leave without pay; and
(5)temporary employees.
Pursuant to a Pay Order issued for 2008, employees’ salaries are set at annual7
rates of not more than $163,795.
Official Office Expenses Allowance
The official office expenses allowance is available to pay ordinary and necessary
business expenses incurred in support of official and representational duties to the
district from which a Member has been elected.
A base allowance of $194,980 was authorized for each Member in 2008.8 There
are two allowances in addition to the base allowance:
6 Ibid., p. 3593.
7 U.S. Congress, House, Order of the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
implementing a pay increase for House employees, effective January 1, 2008, issued January
8 U.S. Congress, House, Statement of Disbursements of the House, as compiled by the Chief
Administrative Officer, from January 1, 2008, to March 31, 2008, part 3 of 3, H.Doc. 110-thnd
(1) a sum for travel based on the following formula: 64 times the rate per mile
(see table below) multiplied by the mileage between Washington, DC, and
the furthest point in a Member’s district,9 plus 10%. The rate per mile
used to calculate the 2008 allowance was as follows:
Mileage Between Washington, DC, andRate Per
the Furthest Point in a Member’sMile
District
Fewer than 500 miles$ .96
500 to 749 miles.86
750 to 999 miles.66
1,000 to 1,749 miles.60
1,750 to 2,249 miles.51
2,250 to 2,499 miles.48
2,500 to 2,999 miles.43
3,000 miles or more.36
The minimum mileage amount is $6,200 for a Member.
(2) the dollar equivalent to 2,500 square feet multiplied by the applicable
rental rate per square foot charged federal agencies by the administrator of
the General Services Administration in a Member’s district.
The official office expenses allowance may be used for travel, office equipment
lease, district office rental, stationery (paper, envelopes, and other supplies),
telecommunications, printing, postage, computer services, and other expenses.
The representational allowance is not to be used to defray any personal,
political, or campaign-related expenses. A Member also may not use campaign funds
to pay for expenses related to his or her official and representational duties; may not
use committee funds to pay for official representational expenses; may not use an
unofficial office account to support official and representational duties; accept from
a private source any in kind assistance with a monetary value for an official activity;
and may not use personal funds to pay for franked mail.
A Member is responsible for personally paying for any official and
representational expenses that are in excess of his or her representational allowance
or that are not reimbursable under regulations of the Committee on House
Administration.10
9 Distance is based on the Rand McNally Standard Highway Mileage Guide.
10 For more details, see U.S. Congress, House Committee on House Administration,
(continued...)
Official Mail Allowance (Franking Privilege)11
Representatives are authorized the privilege of sending mail as franked mail in
the conduct of official business to assist them in their duties as Members of
Congress. Requirements on the use of the frank and mass mailings are established
in statute and the regulations and rules of the House. Use of the frank is the personal
responsibility of each Representative.12
The franked mail postage allowance is based on a formula in which the rate of
a single piece of first class mail is multiplied by three, and the resulting figure is
multiplied by the number of non-business addresses in a Representative’s district.13
The Committee on House Administration set the 2008 official mail allowance for
each Member at 45% of the calculation based on the above formula.14 The
allowance may be used to pay the costs of first, third, or fourth class franked mail.
It may not be used to pay for certain specified mailing costs, for example, express
mail.15
Since the official mail allowance is combined with the personnel and office
expenses allowances, there is no limit on the amount of money a Member can spend
on franked mail from the combined allowances.
Other Allowances
Government Publications. Each Representative is entitled to receive
certain government publications and printed products. These include, for example,
copies of the daily Congressional Record, one copy of Deschler’s Precedents,
various manuals and directories, and public document franked envelopes.16
10 (...continued)
Members’ Congressional Handbook (regulations governing Members’ representational
allowances). The web edition is available at [http://cha.house.gov/PDFs/
MembersHandbook.pdf].
11 For additional information, see CRS Report RL34274, Franking Privilege: Historical
Development and Options for Change, by Matthew Eric Glassman.
12 Ibid.
13 The number of addresses is determined by the postmaster general. The number is not to
include business delivery stops.
14 U.S. Congress, House, Statement of Disbursements of the House, as compiled by the Chief
Administrative Officer, from January 1, 2008, to March 31, 2008, part 3 of 3, H.Doc. 110-thnd
15 Regulations on the proper use of the frank are set by the House Commission on
Congressional Mailing Standards.
16 For additional information, see “Information Services for Members of Congress,” GPO
Publication 250.4, January 2007, pp. 2-3, available at [http://www.gpo.gov/congressional/
pdfs/InformationServi ce.pdf].
Travel Allowance for Organizational Caucuses or Conferences.
Each Member-elect and one designated staff person who attend an organizational
caucus or conference are to be paid for one round trip each between their places of
residence in the district and Washington, DC, for the purpose of attending such
caucus or conference. Each incumbent Member reelected to the ensuing Congress
and one designated staff person who attend an organizational caucus or conference
also receive this allowance.
Each Member-elect (other than an incumbent Member reelected to the ensuing
Congress) who attends such a caucus or conference is also authorized to be
reimbursed on a per diem or other basis for expenses incurred in connection with
attendance.
Personnel, Office Expenses, and Mail Allowances
for U.S. Senators
Senate Allowance System
Senators have three official allowances available to them for personnel and
official office expenses. They are the administrative and clerical assistance
allowance, the legislative assistance allowance, and the official office expense
allowance.
The administrative and clerical assistance allowance and the office expense
allowance are governed by state population, distance from Washington, DC, to home
states, and committee authorized limits. The administrative and clerical allowance
varies for each Senator since it is based on state population. The office expense
allowance also varies for each Senator due to the travel allowance component, which
is based on the distance between Washington, DC, and their home state, and the mail
allowance component, which is based on the number of addresses in their states. The
legislative assistance allowance is a set amount for all Senators.
The total amount available to a Senator is the sum of the two personnel
allowances (administrative and clerical assistance and legislative assistance) and the
office expense allowance. Preliminary figures for the total of the three allowances
available for Senators, which were included in the Senate Appropriations Committee
report accompanying the FY2008 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, include a
range from $2,757,743 to $4,416,993.17
All funds made available to each Senator for the three allowances can be
interchanged by the Senator. For example, funds available for office expenses can
be used to pay office personnel salaries, and visa versa. Interchanges are limited by
official mail regulations that are issued by the Senate Committee on Rules and
17 U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
GPO, 2007), p. 20.
Administration.18 The three allowances are funded together in a single appropriation
subaccount “Senators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense Account,” within the
appropriation account “Contingent Expenses of the Senate.”
Appropriations are available to support only the official duties of Senators, and
appropriations are not to be used to defray any personal, political, or campaign-
related expenses. Senators are responsible for payment of any expenses incurred in
support of official duties that exceed the set allowances of the individual accounts.
All personnel, office, and official mail expenses reimbursed to or on behalf of
a Senator are required to be published in the semiannual Report of the Secretary of
the Senate.
Personnel Allowances: Administrative and Clerical
Assistance and Legislative Assistance
Two personnel allowances are available for each Senator to use for staff
employment in his or her Washington congressional office and home state office(s).
In 2007, each Senator was authorized to set the rates of compensation for staff in his19
or her personal offices at a rate not to exceed $160,659 per person.
Administrative and Clerical Assistance Allowance. The administrative
and clerical assistance allowance is allocated according to the population of a
Senator’s state. The FY2008 Senate report included preliminary allowance figures
that varied from $2,147,165 for a Senator representing a state with a population
under 5,000,000 to $3,467,575 for a Senator representing a state with a population
of 28,000,000 or more.20
Legislative Assistance Allowance. According to the FY2008 Senate
report, each Senator is authorized $481,977 to appoint up to three legislative21
assistants, to be paid a maximum of $160,659 each per annum.
Official Office Expense Allowance
Senators are authorized the use of an official office expense allowance for
official Senate business. Each Senator’s account varies depending upon factors used
18 Ibid., p. 19
19 Source is Order of the President pro tempore, implementing a pay increase for Senate
employees, issued February 16, 2007, (contained in 2 U.S.C. 60a-1 and available at
[http://uscode.house.gov]). The figure in this report will be revised to reflect the calendar
year 2008 pay rate when the President pro tempore’s order implementing the 2008 pay
increase is publicly available in the U.S. Code Annotated, 2009 supplement to 2 U.S.C.
20 U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
GPO, 2007), p. 20.
21 Ibid.
in setting the individual allowance amounts. These factors are primarily the distance
between Washington, DC, and the home state, the population of the state, and the
official mail allocation. In FY2008, allowances ranged from $128,601 to $467,441.22
The office expense account is to be used only for official office expenses by a
Senator and his or her employees.
Official Mail Allowance
Senators are authorized the privilege of sending mail as franked mail in the
conduct of official business to assist them in their duties as Members of Congress.
Requirements on the use of the frank and mass mailings are established in statute,
regulations and rules of the Senate, and interpretative rulings of the Senate Ethics
Committee. Each Senator is authorized a specific dollar allocation for franked mail,
largely based on the number of addresses in his or her state.
Other Allowances
Senate Interns. Senators may employ interns during the academic year and
during the summer. Senators determine their own financial arrangements for interns.
Office Space in States. Each Senator is authorized to secure, in an amount
determined by law, suitable office space in federal building(s) in the state he or she
represents. In the event suitable office space is not available in a federal building, a
Senator is authorized to lease privately owned office space. The cost of private space
is not to exceed the highest rate per square foot charged by the General Services
Administration (GSA). The aggregate square footage of office space that can be
secured for a Senator ranges from 5,000 square feet, if the population of the state is
less than 3,000,000, to 8,200 square feet, if the state’s population is 17,000,000 or23
more. There is no restriction on the number of offices.
Mobile Office Space for Senators. Each Senator is entitled to lease one
mobile office for use only in the state he or she represents. Senators are authorized
to be reimbursed for rent and nonpersonnel costs of operating the office. There are
limitations on the terms of the lease, the maximum annual rental payment, and
reimbursable operating costs. No reimbursement is to be made for expenses incurred
during the 60 days preceding a contested election.24
Furniture and Furnishings in Washington, DC. Each Senator is
authorized furniture and furnishings from an approved list. Furniture and furnishings
are supplied and maintained by the Architect of the Capitol (for spaces in Senate
office buildings) and the Senate Sergeant at Arms (for offices in the Capitol).
Additional furnishings can be purchased through the Senate stationery store.
22 Ibid.
23 2 U.S.C. 59(b).
24 2 U.S.C. 59(f).
Furniture and Furnishings in State Offices. Each Senator is authorized
$40,000 for state office furniture and furnishings for one or more offices, if the
aggregate square footage of office space does not exceed 5,000 square feet. The base
authorization is increased by $1,000 for each authorized additional incremental25
increase in office space of 200 square feet. Under the FY2000 Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, this allowance is to be automatically increased at the beginning26
of each Congress to reflect inflation.
The aggregate dollar amount is the maximum value of furniture and furnishings
to be provided by GSA for state office use at any one time. Furniture and furnishings
remain GSA property.
Office Equipment in Washington, DC, and State Offices. Each
Senator may use certain basic office equipment allocated in accordance with the
population of the state he or she represents and other factors that have been stipulated
by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
Government Publications. Each Senator is entitled to receive certain
government publications and printed products. These include, for example, copies
of the daily Congressional Record, one copy of Deschler’s Precedents, various
manuals and directories, and public document franked envelopes.27
25 2 U.S.C. 59(c)(2).
26 P.L. 106-57, 113 Stat. 412, September 29, 1999; 2 U.S.C. 59(c)(2).
27 For additional information, see “Information Services for Members of Congress,” GPO
Publication 250.4, January 2007, pp. 2-3, available at [http://www.gpo.gov/congressional/
pdfs/InformationServi ce.pdf].
Compensation of Other Congressional
Officers and Officials
House of Representatives28
Majority and Minority Leaders $188,100 per annum
Chief Administrative Officer $167,800 per annum
Clerk of the House$167,800 per annum
Sergeant at Arms $167,800 per annum
Legislative Counsel$167,800 per annum
Law Revision Counsel$167,800 per annum
Parliamentarian$167,800 per annum
Inspector General$167,800 per annum
Director, Interparliamentary Affairs$167,800 per annum
Director, Emergency Planning,$167,800 per annum
Preparedness, and Operations
General Counsel to House$167,800 per annum
Chaplain$167,800 per annum
28 Source is U.S. Congress, House, Order of the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
implementing a pay increase for House employees, effective January 1, 2008, issued January
8, 2008 (to be contained in 2 U.S.C. 60a-2a). Estimates may also be obtained by examining
the quarterly Statement of Disbursements of the House.
Senate29
President pro tempore
($221,100 per annum if the position of$188,100 per annum30
Vice President is vacant)
Majority and Minority Leaders$188,100 per annum
Secretary of the Senate$163,700 per annum (in 2007)
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper $163,700 per annum (in 2007)
Legislative Counsel$163,700 per annum (in 2007)
Senate Legal Counsel$163,700 per annum (in 2007)
Parliamentarian $162,515 per annum (in 2007)
Chaplain$149,000 per annum31
29 The source for salaries of officers and officials of the Senate in 2007, excluding the
Chaplain, the President pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders, is the Order of
the President pro tempore, implementing a pay increase for Senate employees, issued
February 16, 2007 (2 U.S.C. 60a-1, available at [http://uscode.house.gov]). The figure in
this report will be revised to reflect the calendar year 2008 pay rate when the President pro
tempore’s order implementing the 2008 pay increase is publicly available in the U.S. Code
Annotated, 2009 supplement to 2 U.S.C. 60a-1. Estimates may also be obtained by
examining the semi-annual Report of the Secretary of the Senate.
30 The President pro tempore is paid $221,100 (2008 rate) if there is a vacancy in the
position of Vice President. The U.S. Constitution provides that the Vice President shall
serve as President of the Senate, and that when the Vice President is absent from the Senate,
the President pro tempore presides in his place. During a vacancy in the position of the Vice
President, the President pro tempore is considered the temporary, full-time President of the
Senate and receives the increased salary rate (2 U.S.C. 32).
31 The Chaplain is paid the same as federal officials in Level IV of the Executive Schedule.
Compensation of Standing Committee Employees
House of Representatives
The maximum salaries for employees of committees, as established in the 2008
pay order, are $167,800 per annum for up to three staff members (two majority and
one minority); $166,018 per annum for up to nine staff members (six majority and
three minority);32 and a maximum of $163,795 for other staff.33
Senate
In 2007, the maximum salary for employees of standing committees was
$162,515 per annum.34
32 The chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations may establish the salaries for
33 Source is Order of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, implementing a pay
increase for House employees, effective January 1, 2008, issued January 8, 2008 (to be
contained in 2 U.S.C. 60a-2a).
34 The source for salaries of officers and officials of the Senate in 2007 is the Order of the
President pro tempore, implementing a pay increase for Senate employees, issued February
16, 2007 (contained in 2 U.S.C. 60a-1 and available at [http://uscode.house.gov]). The
figures in this report will be revised to reflect the calendar year 2008 pay rate when the
President pro tempore’s order implementing the 2008 pay increase is publicly available in
the U.S. Code Annotated, 2009 supplement to 2 U.S.C. 60a-1. Estimates may also be
obtained by examining the semi-annual Report of the Secretary of the Senate.