Why It Matters
House committee staff in 14 selected positions had median pay ranging from $69,910 for staff assistants to $228,032 for staff directors in 2025.
The data cover positions ranging from staff assistants earning $69,910 to staff directors making $228,032 in 2026 dollars, and include a new $45,000 minimum annual House staff salary set in January.
The Big Picture
The steepest single-year drops occurred among clerk positions, which fell 22.83 percent, and minority professional staff members, which fell 22.43 percent. General counsel positions declined 3.64 percent, while chief counsel fell 1.87 percent and counsel declined 1.67 percent.
Senior professional staff members posted the largest gain at 10.44 percent, while professional staff members rose 3.74 percent and communications directors increased 2.75 percent.
Over longer horizons, minority professional staff members have lost 37.51 percent in real pay since 2001, senior counsel has declined 27.72 percent since 2011, and chief counsel has fallen 11.15 percent over the full 24-year span.
The report notes that its figures reflect only staff who held the same job title on the same committee for an entire year and received no pay from another congressional employing authority, a constraint that may mask additional turnover or partial-year employment dynamics not captured in the data.
The Bottom Line
While some positions like senior professional staff gained ground in 2025, the broader pattern suggests committees may be adjusting staffing models or facing budget constraints that limit across-the-board raises.
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