Obama White House staff

This page provides an overview of White House staff members in President Barack Obama's (D) administration from 2013 to 2017.

According to the "White House's 2016 Annual Report on Personnel," there were 472 staff members in the White House during Obama's final year in office.[1]

There were 40 staff members who earned an annual salary of $150,000 or more. Three staff members received no salary. The average salary for paid staff members was $84,762.

* Overview
* Distribution of annual salaries of Obama White House staff members
* List of top-paid staff members in Obama White House
* Historical overview of Obama White House staff members

For information about Trump White House staff, click here.
For information about Biden White House staff, click here.

## Contents

* 1 Overview (2016)
* 2 Distribution of annual salaries of Obama White House staff members (2016)
* 3 List of top-paid staff members in Obama White House (2016)
* 4 Historical overview of Obama White House staff members (2013-2015)
* 4.1 2015
* 4.2 2014
* 4.3 2013
* 5 See also
* 6 Footnotes

## Overview (2016)[edit]

The Obama White House included 472 staff members in 2016. Twenty-nine staff members were detailees temporarily assigned to the White House from another agency or department. The other 443 staff members were employees.

The 16 highest-paid staff members were assistants to the president. They each earned an annual salary of $176,461.

Three staff members received no salary:

* Susan M. Davies, consultant
* Catherine R. Oakar, deputy director of Let's Move! campaign
* Todd Y. Park, advisor for technology

## Distribution of annual salaries of Obama White House staff members (2016)[edit]

The following chart shows the distribution of annual salaries of White House staff members in 2016.

## List of top-paid staff members in Obama White House (2016)[edit]

The following table lists the 40 individuals working in the White House with annual salaries of $150,000 or more in 2016.[1]

Obama White House officials with an annual salary of $150,000 or more, 2016

Name  | Status  | Salary  | Position
Anita J. Breckenridge | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
Kristie A. Canegallo | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Implementation
Chase M. Cushman | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Director of Scheduling and Advance
Joshua R. Earnest | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Press Secretary
Warren N. Eggleston | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Counsel to the President
Valerie B. Jarrett]] | Employee | $176,461 | Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement
Broderick D. Johnson | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary
Cody S. Keenan | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Director of Speechwriting
Denis R. McDonough | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff
Lisa O. Monaco | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism and Deputy National Security Advisor
Cecilia Muñoz | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Benjamin J. Rhodes | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting
Susan E. Rice | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor
David M. Simas | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach
Christina M. Tchen | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady
Jeffrey D. Zients | Employee | $176,461 | Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council
Brian C. Deese | Employee | $174,714 | Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor
Avril D. Haines | Employee | $174,714 | Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor
Shailagh J. Murray | Employee | $174,714 | Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor
Jennifer R. Psaki | Employee | $174,714 | Assistant to the President and Director of Communications
Maju S. Varghese | Employee | $174,714 | Assistant to the President for Management and Administration
Rodin A. Mehrbani | Employee | $172,200 | Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel
Amy D. Rosenbaum | Employee | $172,200 | Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs
Roy L. Austin Jr. | Employee | $162,422 | Deputy Assistant to the President for the Office of Urban Affairs, Justice, and Opportunity
Michael S. Bosworth | Employee | $162,422 | Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel to the President
Jeanne M. Lambrew | Employee | $162,422 | Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy
Alejandro Pérez | Employee | $162,422 | Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs and House Liaison
Roberto J. Rodriguez | Employee | $162,422 | Deputy Assistant to the President for Education Policy
Dan G. Utech | Employee | $162,422 | Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change
Joan L. Walsh | Employee | $162,422 | Deputy Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary
Nicholas L. McQuaid | Employee | $160,814 | Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel to the President
Martin P. Paone | Employee | $160,814 | Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs and Senate Liaison
Amy L. Knowlton | Detailee | $159,000 | Director of the Office of National Aids Policy
Elaine P. Ho | Detailee | $158,700 | White House Leadership Development Fellow
Christopher C. Fonzone | Employee | $158,500 | Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel to the President
Katherine H. Kochman | Employee | $158,500 | Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Jerry E. Abramson | Employee | $157,299 | Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
Paulette L. Aniskoff | Employee | $157,299 | Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement
Katherine P. Dickerson | Employee | $156,786 | Deputy Assistant to the President for Management and Administration
Christine S. Abizaid | Detailee | $156,552 | Advisor to the Chief of Staff

## Historical overview of Obama White House staff members (2013-2015)[edit]

### 2015[edit]

According to the "2015 Annual Report to Congress on White House Office Personnel," the Obama White House included 474 staff members. Thirty-six staff members were detailees temporarily assigned to the White House from another agency or department. The other 438 staff members were employees.[2]

The 18 highest-paid staff members were assistants to the president. They each earned an annual salary of $173,922. The average salary for paid staff members was $85,224.

Two staff members received no salary:

* Kimberlyn R. Leary, advisor to the Council on Women and Girls
* Todd Y. Park, advisor for technology

The following chart shows the distribution of annual salaries of White House staff members in 2015.

### 2014[edit]

According to the "2014 Annual Report to Congress on White House Office Personnel," the Obama White House included 456 staff members. Twenty-five staff members were detailees temporarily assigned to the White House from another agency or department. The other 431 staff members were employees.[3]

The 22 highest-paid staff members were assistants or counselors to the president. They each earned an annual salary of $172,200. The average salary for paid staff members was $83,209.

Two staff members received no salary:

* Elyse Cohen, deputy director of Let's Move! campaign
* Nathaniel F. Loewentheil, policy advisor

The following chart shows the distribution of annual salaries of White House staff members in 2014.

### 2013[edit]

According to the "2013 Annual Report to Congress on White House Office Personnel," the Obama White House included 460 staff members. Twenty-eight staff members were detailees temporarily assigned to the White House from another agency or department. The other 432 staff members were employees.[4]

The highest-paid staff member was Seth Wheeler, a senior policy advisor. Wheeler's annual salary was $225,000. The average salary for paid staff members was $82,663.

Two staff members received no salary:

* Elyse Cohen, deputy director of Let's Move! campaign
* Elizabeth A. Kelly, policy advisor

The following chart shows the distribution of annual salaries of White House staff members in 2013.

## See also[edit]

* Joe Biden's Cabinet
* Biden White House staff
* Trump White House staff, 2017-2021

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 White House, "2016 Annual Report to Congress on White House Personnel," accessed July 28, 2021
2. ↑ White House, "2015 Annual Report to Congress on White House Office Personnel," accessed July 28, 2021
3. ↑ White House, "2014 Annual Report to Congress on White House Office Personnel," accessed July 28, 2021
4. ↑ White House, "2013 Annual Report to Congress on White House Office Personnel," accessed July 28, 2021

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