Salaries of members of the United States Congress

Salaries of US elected office-holders

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Senate salaries House of Representatives salaries

This chart shows historical information on the salaries that members of the United States Congress have been paid.[1] The Government Ethics Reform Act of 1989 provides for an automatic increase in salary each year as a cost of living adjustment that reflects the employment cost index.[2] Since 2010 Congress has annually voted not to accept the increase, keeping it at the same nominal amount since 2009. The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1992, prohibits any law affecting compensation from taking effect until after the next election.

## For all members of the House of Representatives and Senate

[edit]

Year  | Salary  | Per diem/annum | Auto COLA adj.  | In 2023 dollars (when instituted)  | In 2023 dollars (year prior to next increase)

|
|
|
|
|

1789 | $6 | per diem |  | $147 | $118
1795 | $7 | per diem |  | $121 | $228
1855 | $3,000 | per annum |  | $94,221 | $56,132
1865 | $5,000 | per annum |  | $95,587 | $115,711
1871 | $7,500 | per annum |  | $183,208 | $183,208
1874 | $5,000 | per annum |  | $129,324 | $162,852
1907 | $7,500 | per annum |  | $235,554 | $128,068
1925 | $10,000 | per annum |  | $166,869 | $192,429
1932 | $9,000 | per annum |  | $193,039
1933 | $8,500 | per annum |  | $192,157
1934 (2/1) | $9,000 | per annum |  | $196,881
1934 (7/1) | $9,500 | per annum |  | $207,818
1935 | $10,000 | per annum |  | $213,447 | $150,068
1947 | $12,500 | per annum |  | $163,823 | $136,214
1955 | $22,500 | per annum |  | $245,795 | $212,302
1965 | $30,000 | per annum |  | $278,585 | $252,459
1969 | $42,500 | per annum |  | $339,152 | $252,190
1975 | $44,600 | per annum |  | $242,556 | $229,364
1977 | $57,500 | per annum |  | $277,680 | $257,987
1979 | $60,652.50 | per annum |  | $244,597 | $195,266
1982 | $69,800 | per annum only Representatives |  | $211,662
1983 | $69,800 | per annum only Senators |  | $205,086
1984 | $72,600 | per annum |  | $204,499
1985 | $75,100 | per annum |  | $204,341 | $200,495
1987 (1/1) | $77,400 | per annum |  | $199,372
1987 (2/4) | $89,500 | per annum |  | $230,540 | $211,292
1990 (2/1) | $96,600 | per annum only Representatives |  | $216,378
1990 (2/1) | $98,400 | per annum only Senators |  | $220,410
1991 (1/1) | $125,100 | per annum only Representatives |  | $268,783
1991 (1/1) | $101,900 | per annum only Senators |  | $218,937
1991 (8/14) | $125,100 | per annum only Senators |  | $268,783
1992 | $129,500 | per annum | 3.5% | $270,055
1993 | $133,600 | per annum | 3.2% | $270,647 | $243,549
1998 | $136,700 | per annum | 2.3% | $245,435 | $240,140
2000 | $141,300 | per annum | 3.4% | $240,114
2001 | $145,100 | per annum | 2.7% | $239,806
2002 | $150,000 | per annum | 3.4% | $244,052
2003 | $154,700 | per annum | 3.1% | $246,098
2004 | $158,100 | per annum | 2.2% | $244,949
2005 | $162,100 | per annum | 2.5% | $242,888
2006 | $165,200 | per annum | 1.9% | $239,810 | $233,152
2008 | $169,300 | per annum | 2.5% | $230,112
2009 | $174,000 | per annum | 2.8% | $237,344 | $199,161
2020 | $174,000 | per annum | 0 | $196,754 | $187,911
2022 | $174,000 | per annum | 0 | $174,000
2023 | $174,000 | per annum |  |
2024 | $174,000 | per annum |  |  |
2025 (present)  | $174,000  | per annum  |  |  |
Salaries, shown for US Senators and US Representatives. Also shown: salaries adjusted to 2014 US Dollars. Graph of US Congressional Salaries 1992-2023 in actual and constant 2023 dollars

## Leadership and other positions

[edit]

Additional pay schedule for the Senate and House positions:

SCHEDULE 6—VICE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, per Executive order 14113, effective for 2024.[3]

Position | Salary

|

Vice President | $284,600
Senators and House Representatives | $174,000
Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico | $174,000
President pro tempore of the Senate | $193,400
Majority leader and minority leader of the Senate | $193,400
Majority leader and minority leader of the House of Representatives | $193,400
Speaker of the House of Representatives | $223,500

## Debates over congressional salaries

[edit]

Starting in the 19th century, there has been debate around raising congressional salaries. When Congress members raise the topic of congressional salary increases, this is generally frowned upon by the public and seen as a form of corruption.[4] At the same time, arguments have been made that an increased salary for members of congress would accomplish: a) Making the position more accessible, especially for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds; b) Making congress members more impervious to corruption, as a higher income would diminish the effectiveness of bribes from lobbyists and PACS. Other approaches suggested include: banning Congress members from becoming lobbyists after their terms are over, and making the finances of those in public office completely transparent.[4] Many members of Congress continue to advocate for a salary raise as a simple, but effective solution. Notably, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for this reform in 2021,[5] and salary raises have been a part of Rep. Ro Khanna's plan for anti-corruption congressional reform.[6]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Brudnick, Ida A. (April 11, 2018). Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables (PDF). Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
2. ^ "Do Members of Congress get Automatic Pay Hikes (COLAs)?". National Taxpayers Union. Retrieved 2018-08-02.
3. ^ Biden, Joseph (December 21, 2023). "Executive Order 14113 of December 21, 2023, Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay". Federal Register. Office of the Federal Register. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
4. ^ a b Coleman, John J (January 23, 2003). "Congressional Campaign Spending and the Quality of Democracy". The Journal of Politics. 62 (3).
5. ^ Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Twitter, https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1138406249576521728
6. ^ Ro Khanna, House of Representatives Proposal, 2022

## See also

[edit]

* Salaries of Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2023 (Report). Congressional Research Service. August 29, 2023. 97-615.
* Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables (Report). Congressional Research Service. August 29, 2023. 97-1011.

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