Reports Highlights Junior Staffer Pay Disparity on Capitol Hill
While top House of Representatives employees earned a potential salary boost last year when Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) separated member and staffer salary caps, a new report indicates junior staffers have not seen the same pay increases.
According to a new report of payroll data by Issue One–a cross partisan reform organization aimed at improving Congress and backed by nearly 200 members of Congress through the ReFormers Caucus–about 1 in 8 congressional staffers are not earning a living wage. According to Issue One, nearly 1,200 staffers in 2020 made less than the $42,610—the number the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) alleges is a living wage for an adult with no children in the Washington, D.C.
Among entry level staffers, the percent of those who cannot afford the cost of living in the district surges. Approximately 70 percent of staff assistants—the most common entry level position on Capitol Hill—earned less than a living wage in 2020.
“Congressional staff are the heartbeat of our legislative branch who work tirelessly on behalf of the American people. Yet too many are forced to take on side gigs or leave Congress for higher-paying lobbying positions just so they can pay their bills,” stated Issue One CEO Nick Penniman, “If we want a robust and capable Congress that is able to meet the needs of all Americans, it’s time to implement better pay for junior staffers.”
There is also an often-overlooked concern regarding the pay of staffers in district offices, which may reasonably need to vary depending on the cost-of-living in different parts of the United States. In fact, LegiStorm reports close to 15 percent of district staffers earned less than $40,000.
Likewise, Among the 516 individuals who responded to the Congressional Progressive Staff Association (CPSA) survey on work conditions, 39 percent said they had taken out loans for everyday living expenses. Over 350 respondents of the CPSA survey acknowledged they were not satisfied with their current level of compensation.
According to the survey, approximately half of the junior staff members struggled to pay their bills and a quarter did not have enough cash on hand to cover one month's rent. Some reported they’d taken on a second job to supplement their income, though others suggest waiting tables or stocking shelves wasn’t even an option, due to their job's demands.
“This survey also highlights how difficult it is for many people of color, who often come from less privileged backgrounds and can’t afford to take a low-paying job or unpaid internships,” stated Diala Qasem, President of the Congressional Middle Eastern and North African Staff Association.
The survey went beyond pay to address workplace culture issues as well.
When asked if the work environment is toxic in Congress, 86 percent of junior staff and 80 percent of management staff answered yes. Further, 91 percent of survey respondents agree they would like more protections to have a voice in the workplace.
CPSA’s acting steering committee developed and conducted the survey, which ran for nine days and closed on January 14.
