Ic-salaries About Member of Congress Salaries

Congress is required by Article I, Section 6, of the Constitution to determine its own pay.

Pay adjustments can be enacted through stand-alone legislation or through a commission process, but most commonly member salary increases are implemented through an automatic annual adjustment process in which members receive an automatic “cost of living” allowance increase.

The salary increase takes effect on January 1 of each year unless Congress votes to decline it, though individual members can opt to decline an automatic annual pay increase. By law, members may not receive an increase greater than the increase in the base pay of General Schedule (GS) employees.

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History of Annual Salaries - Members of Congress and Leadership

Year Members of Congress Speaker of the House

Majority and Minority Leaders

and President Pro Tempore
2009 $174,000 $223,500 $193,400
2008 $169,300 $217,400 $188,100
2007 $165,200 $212,100 $183,500
2006 $165,200 $212,100 $183,500
2005 $162,100 $208,100 $180,100
2004 $158,100 $203,000 $175,700
2003 $154,700 $198,600 $171,900
2002 $150,000 $192,600 $166,700
2001 $145,100 $186,300 $161,200
2000 $141,300 $181,400 $156,900
1985 $75,100 n/a n/a
1975 $44,600 n/a n/a
1955 $12,500 n/a n/a
1925 $7,500 n/a n/a
1900 $5,000 n/a n/a
1873 $7,500 n/a n/a
1855 $3,000 n/a n/a
1825 $8 per day n/a n/a
1800 $6 per day n/a n/a
1789 $6 per day n/a n/a

 

 

Comments

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by anonymous on 11/05/2009 09:01 AM EST
this is so the rich get richer and the poor get poorer
by boxcar on 09/02/2009 10:22 AM EDT
As a percentage of the National income, the present Congressional pay scale would be an exceedingly tiny amount but, one would indeed appreciate the effort on their part to economize. Perhaps our anger needs a better target, such as the bankers who pay themselves vast sums and then do not make a corresponding contibution to the economic good.
by Peg on 08/23/2009 11:40 PM EDT
Anonymous stated no COLA adjustment for SS recepients next year,however I read there will be an increase in the amount paid for Part D coverage,so the SS checks will be reduced. I agree we should expect our elected officials to endure the same. After all they do have numerous funding for staff,offices,postage,travel(which should also be frozen or reduced). We are all in this together,aren't we? Maybe not.
by James Hamner on 08/05/2009 08:07 PM EDT
Can any tell me why my pay raise in the military after 16 years was a whopping 48 dollars. And I see the Senators recieved about 5K for thier pay raise I guess it's alot more dangerous in D.C. then th eplaces where we go.
by anonymous on 07/25/2009 08:31 PM EDT
If congress is so worried about the budget how about they all take a cut in their pay. Let each of them work for minimum wage and not get health care benefits. Maybe then they would work to make life better for all people not just a select few. I believe it is time that our elected officials actually started working for the people and not for the special interest groups. If they are truly concerned about the budget let the cuts start in their own pocket book.
by Suzaanne Gerard on 07/20/2009 11:43 AM EDT
Charles Della Peruta, this is the best idea yet! If they were paid by those who elect them, Congressmen (both House and Senate) might be much more responsive to the ideals and ideas of their constituents! How do we get it on the national ballot?
by Kelly on 06/17/2009 12:28 AM EDT
I work in social services in IL. I find it odd and alarming that all of the reps were offered, between a $32,700 and $42,100 increase between the years of 2000 to 2009. I and many others in the social services field make less in one year than the total of their INCREASES alone over 9 years, not to mention their actual saleries. I understand that not all take the COLA increase but I think maybe there should be some salery decreases and raises should be based on Merit.
by anonymous on 05/20/2009 02:16 PM EDT
As recipients of Social Security, we have been notified that there will be no cost of living increase next year. Why doesn't apply to thr Congress as well? Oh, I forgot they are the elite of our society and are above the common citizen. Where did the phrase "Let them eat cake originate"?
by Steve Powers on 05/02/2009 07:20 AM EDT
SALARIES: I'd like to be confident in knowing all salaries in government reflect the norm for the real business world and heavily based on measurable job performance (and I mean all e.g. teachers). I'm rated on my job performance and so are all of you is my strong guess. For government jobs elected officials positions are performance based to some extent because WE vote for them. Also keep in mind, if salaries are not the norm, you're not going to attract a solid wall of good talent.
by lowest approval rating + automatic raise = on 04/29/2009 04:25 AM EDT
Screw the people. They laugh at us as they continue to do as they want, take want they want, and march us deeper and deeper into our economic death. Get rid of the crooks, let's take our country back.
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