In an effort to retain top talent, House staffers will now be eligible for higher salaries than the majority of chamber lawmakers.
Pelosi on Thursday announced that the new maximum staff pay rate will be $199,300 – a higher salary than the $174,000 earned by most members of Congress, Politico first reported. Leaders in lawmaking earn more.
“As Speaker, I have been proud to take steps to ensure a diversity of experience and talent among staff, so that the halls of Congress at every level, truly reflect those who we are honored to serve,” Pelosi said in the letter, The Washington Post reported.
Pelosi stated that the increase in pay “helps to ensure parity among employees of Congress and employees of Federal Government.”
This was done to prevent senior aides leaving for higher-paying positions in the executive or private sector. It could also help entry- and middle-level staff who have often left because they couldn’t afford to stay.
The salaries of top House staffers – the highest being $173,900 — are more than four times that of their entry-level counterparts. Politico stated that it wasn’t clear if the gains will trickle down into member offices for entry-level and mid-level staff.
“We need to make sure entry level staff see these funds as well,” tweeted Kylie Carpenter, a Democrat aide for the House Administration Committee. “Nobody should have to work 60+ hour work weeks at $30k. Especially nobody working for Congress.”
Pelosi is paid $223,500 to be a speaker while minority and majority leaders earn $193,000.
Since 2009, staff salaries have been stagnant. In solidarity with Americans in need, lawmakers turned down raises for themselves in 2009. To ensure that their salaries kept pace with inflation, Congressmen used to receive annual cost-of living adjustments.
“Lifting the political staff pay ceiling and increasing funding for staff overall are two crucial steps taken by the House of Congress to ensure capable staff can afford to stay on the Hill,” Daniel Schuman, policy director for Demand Progress, told Politico.
House Majority Leader StenyHoyer, D.Md., a long-time advocate of raising the salary cap, released a statement praising the increase in pay for “allowing hardworking Congressional employees make higher salaries and improving Congress’ ability to retain the best-trained staff serving the American people,” The Post reported.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., tweeted in Dec. 2018 about seeing congressional staffers work supplemental jobs as bartenders and servers to afford living in and around Washington, D.C.
