Rep. Scott Tipton (R-Colo.) was the most generous freshman member of Congress, with a payroll of $243,431 in his first three months of office. Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), on the other hand, had by far the lowest total payroll, not even breaking six digits.

Walsh's payroll was nearly $35,000 less than Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.), the next lowest-paying member. Walsh, a self-identified Tea Party activist, only had three employees when he took office on Jan. 3, although by the end of March his staff totaled 12 people (representatives are allowed to have up to 18 full-time employees). 

Tipton, by contrast, had 16 full-time aides when he took office on Jan. 3, and he expanded his staff to the maximum 18 full-time employees, along with three interns and a part-time shared staffer.

The 2011 first quarter House salary data was released last week, providing the first look at the salaries paid by the large class of 94 House freshmen in the 112th Congress. The average payroll for the group was $176,342. Although these members generally took office with a core group of staffers, most built up their staff over the first few months, so their payrolls lagged behind the average of $246,911 for members returning from the 111th Congress.

10 highest-paying freshmen members of Congress:

10 lowest-paying freshmen members of Congress: