LegiStorm's Blog > U.S. lawmakers among world's best compensated

U.S. lawmakers among world's best compensated

Posted by LegiStorm on Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The $174,000 base salary for members of Congress is one of the highest legislator pays in the world when compared against the average wage earner, a new report shows.

When benefits are added in, lawmakers earn around $285,000, according to the report released by the Taxpayers Protection Alliance and Our Generation. The largest benefit is contributions toward retirement, which the study's authors estimated at $82,000 annually.

The base salary for a member of Congress is 3.4 times greater than the average $50,875 wage of a full-time employee in the United States. That disparity is second only to Japan (3.7 times) among the 13 countries highlighted in the study. Before adjusting for benefits, the base salary places members amoung the top 5 percent of all American workers.,

The study's authors conclude that pay for members of Congress is excessive in light of the current economic climate.

"Immediate steps need to be taken to cut Congressional salaries and benefits and reassure Americans that sacrifices made during this economic downturn are being widely shared."

posted in members of Congress, salaries, benefits, retirement benefits

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13 comments so far

Thank you!

Posted by anonymous on 09/12/2011 11:39 AM EDT

They should all be paid the Federal Minimum Wage

Posted by anonymous on 09/11/2011 10:55 AM EDT

and they keep on getting even when out of office Wages... BOTH sides of the aisle (Rep. & Dem.) even if they serve only one term: Salary of Retired U.S. Presidents $180,000 for life Salary of House Rep./Senator $174,000 for life Salary of Speaker of the House $223,500 for life Salary of Majority/Minority Leaders $193,400 for life Average Salary of a Teacher $ 40,065 Average Salary of Soldiers Deployed in Afghanistan $ 38,000 I think we found where the cuts should be made! If you agree, pass it on!

Posted by Aaronette Moore on 08/16/2011 05:31 AM EDT

If you cant beat them join them. I am studying hard, interning where it counts (the capitol) and knowing one day God will place me there. Thats where the real change comes about if one of you are place in Congress. Do more than complain take action:):)"_

Posted by keefert55 on 08/12/2011 04:42 PM EDT

Everyone who lives in one of these districts should make bumper stickers posting those statistics from Sheila above. This is insane. I looked up and discovered what that austere concerned Eric Cantor spends on lobbyists. He spent $20,000 on balloons, another $20,000 on chocolates and fine Aspen wine. Sounds a little bit to me like Marie Antoinette during the French revolution, "Let them( that would be you and I) eat cake. I remember poor John McCain in the last political debate. He couldn't remember how many houses he owned. Bet he's not having trouble making ends meet.

Posted by sue on 08/09/2011 08:15 PM EDT

I believe we should go back to the days of the Continental Congress when they were in session and got paid 4 months out of the year and went back to their home states to earn a living and be in contact with their constituents! Roughly calculating salaries and benefits of Congressional members and leadership, the savings to the taxpayers would be $136 million dollars annually. This does not include their over-staffed office workers!

Posted by Tim on 08/09/2011 09:07 AM EDT

It is time the American people stood up and put a stop to this madness. Until our debt is under control, cut elected officials salary and benefit to match median income for the state they represent. Stand up America and demand change.

Posted by Nancy on 08/03/2011 09:48 AM EDT

Time to tie the pay of Congress to a percentage of the American economy. They would have more incentive to grow our economy if it affected their income.

Posted by fedup - ! on 08/02/2011 11:39 PM EDT

members of congress are a joke , especially mich mc connel / k , and cantor . all republicans should be ashamed of themselves . no to higher taxes , no jobs - etc . you are hurting middle america . such a disgrace !

Posted by Jo on 08/02/2011 04:03 PM EDT

I totally agree with all the comments posted. We should all enjoy the benefits our Congressional folks enjoy but we don't and never will. They aren't in the least interested in trying to live on a fixed income which is far less than their salaries and benefits. All they've done is posture themselves along party lines and it's taken forever and now they are forming a bipartisan committee? Give me a break. My vote will not go to any incumbent! They might even try to sneak in a salary increase as they have done in the past.

Posted by Michael on 08/02/2011 03:20 AM EDT

I'm with Sheila we need to cut congressional pay and benefits to match that of the per capitia income of their state. Perhaps they will begin to act in the best interest of their true constituency, rather than big business and the wealthiest 10% of the country. Oh and the Tea party should be listed as a terrorist organization! The way they just manipulated the poorest Americans and the military with the debt ceiling vote was a terrorist act! Get these traitors Out of office and in jail where they belong!

Posted by Bob Rodriguez on 08/01/2011 06:12 PM EDT

And we wonder why this country is so far in debt. Do our lawmakers give a rip, I don't think so.

Posted by Sheila on 07/29/2011 07:08 PM EDT

I'm thinking Boston Tea Party! They aren't in Washington because they care about the American public, they are there to get rich while we all starve to death, lose our homes, our jobs and our dignity. Add up the numbers: Congress, President & V.P. pay without expense & staff accts = $137,767,800 (includes an avg. contribution to retirement each of $82,000) Average amount for the same # of working Americans = $27,218,125 (no retirement contributions made for them) Cut Congress' salary to the average saves minimum of $110,549,675 year! They need to learn to live like the people they represent.

Posted by Nelson on 07/27/2011 04:22 PM EDT

Time for Recall elections!!! Time for the tree of liberty to be refreshed!!

U.S. lawmakers among world's best compensated

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