A Bipartisan Majority of Americans Support Raising the Minimum Congressional Staff Salary
By Ellie DeCleene
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently issued a pay order that will require all House staff to be paid no less than $45,000 annually by September 1. However, in the Senate, some staffers can earn as little as $24,154, which translates to an hourly rate far below the $15.50 living wage in Washington, D.C. Staffers argue that providing a minimum salary floor would reduce staff turnover, increase staff retention, and open up opportunities for more Americans to work in the Senate without financial hardship.
New polling from Data for Progress finds that voters across party lines agree and support establishing a minimum salary floor for all congressional staffers by a +26-point margin. This includes Democrats by a +51-point margin, Independents by a +22-point margin, and Republicans by a +8-point margin.
This proposed minimum salary floor is not only popular with American voters, it is also a powerful investment in improving the operations of the Senate. Moreover, establishing this salary floor will ensure that Americans from different socioeconomic backgrounds are able to serve their country. Though the Senate recently appropriated a $45,000 salary floor in the fiscal year 2023 spending bill, lawmakers must ensure this provision remains in the final bill.
Ellie DeCleene is an intern at Data for Progress.