HILL STAFF NEWS: Which Party Pays Better on Capitol Hill?
Republicans, at least according to the longstanding stereotype, represent “the party of the rich,” while Democrats represent Joe Blow. But if that stereotype still has any relevance, why does the data show GOP Hill aides make less, on average, than staffers on the other side?
That’s what Legistorm’s Katura Hetrick found in a recent analysis of Hill salaries:
Republican House staffers made a median salary thousands less than House Democrats last year, according to a new LegiStorm analysis. The median Republican House staffer received an annual salary of $71,700 in 2023 ― 5 percent less than Democrats’ $75,400 median. That’s a difference of $3,700 a year.Rep. Grace Napolitano’s (D-Calif.) office paid a median salary of $118,700, the House’s highest. Fellow Democratic Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) shelled out the next highest, at $108,100 and $106,400, respectively.But not all Democrats pay top dollar: The House’s lowest median salary belonged to Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), who paid his median staffer only $48,500. That puts the median salary in Napolitano’s office at nearly 2.5 times that of Cuellar’s.This analysis, which includes only those staffers working full time and on a permanent basis, examines House personal-office salary rates from January-December 2023.
One of the major reasons why HillFaith has subscribed to Legistorm for years is the superb job those guys do in compiling and analyzing data about pay and benefits for congressional staff. HillFaith’s weekly listing of job openings compiled from CNCT and other sources always includes the Legistorm number for a Member’s staff turnover and for the median staff salary. That’s really useful information to have if you are considering applying for an open position.