Members of the U.S. House of Representatives make $174,000 a year in base salary, a figure that has held since January 2009. Leadership positions pay more, and every representative also receives a federal pension, matching retirement contributions, subsidized health insurance, and a separate office budget averaging about $1.9 million to run their staff and operations.
Leadership Pay in the House
Three positions earn above the rank-and-file rate:
- Speaker of the House: $223,500
- Majority Leader: $193,400
- Minority Leader: $193,400
The Speaker’s salary is the highest in the legislative branch, a reflection of the role’s place second in the presidential line of succession. Every other voting member, and every non-voting delegate from a territory or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, earns the same $174,000, regardless of seniority, district size, or committee role.1House Radio-Television Gallery. Salaries
Why the Salary Hasn’t Changed Since 2009
Federal law includes an automatic cost-of-living adjustment for congressional pay, tied to changes in the Employment Cost Index. The raise is supposed to take effect each year unless Congress actively blocks it. Congress has blocked it every year since 2009, and the freeze was extended again for fiscal year 2026 through the appropriations process.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 2 USC 4501 – Compensation of Members of Congress After more than fifteen years of inflation, the $174,000 salary has lost roughly a third of its purchasing power.
The mechanism itself came out of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 and was designed to tie raises to private-sector wage growth so members would not have to cast a standalone vote for their own pay. Any adjustment is also capped so it cannot exceed the General Schedule pay increase for federal employees.
The 27th Amendment, ratified in 1992, sets a further check: no change in congressional pay can take effect until after the next House election.3Congress.gov. ArtI.S6.C1.1 Compensation of Members of Congress Members who vote themselves a raise cannot benefit from it until voters weigh in.
Pension and Retirement Savings
Representatives participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System, the same framework covering most federal workers, but with a more generous pension formula. For members with at least five years of qualifying service, each year of congressional or congressional-staff service accrues at 1.7% of the highest three-year average salary, up to 20 years. Service beyond 20 years accrues at 1% per year.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 8415 – Computation of Basic Annuity
In practical terms, a representative who serves 20 years and retires with a high-three average of $174,000 would draw about $59,160 a year from the pension, on top of Social Security.
When a member can start collecting depends on age and length of service. Payments can begin at 62 with at least five years of service, at 50 with at least 20 years, or at any age after 25 years. The early-retirement options require that the member left office involuntarily rather than by resigning.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 8412 – Immediate Retirement
On top of the pension, members contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan, the federal version of a 401(k). The 2026 employee contribution limit is $24,500, with an $8,000 catch-up for those 50 and older, and a higher $11,250 catch-up for ages 60 through 63.6Internal Revenue Service. 401(k) Limit Increases to $24,500 for 2026, IRA Limit Increases to $7,500 The government automatically adds 1% of salary and matches further contributions dollar for dollar up to 5%, so a member who contributes at least 5% receives the full match.7Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). About the Thrift Savings Plan
Health Insurance
Under the Affordable Care Act, members of Congress and designated staff cannot use the standard Federal Employees Health Benefits Program the way most federal workers do. They instead buy coverage through the Small Business Health Options Program exchange in the District of Columbia, and the Office of Personnel Management requires them to select a gold-tier plan to keep the government’s employer contribution.8Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Affordable Insurance Exchanges Guidance – Members of Congress and Staff Accessing Coverage through Health Insurance Exchanges That contribution covers roughly 72% of the premium, in line with what large private employers typically pay.
The Office Budget Is Not Personal Pay
Each representative also receives a Members’ Representational Allowance, a separate budget that pays for running a congressional office. It cannot be used for personal expenses or campaign activity. The average allowance in 2025 is about $1.9 million, with individual amounts ranging from roughly $1.85 million to $2.09 million.
Differences come from logistics. Members whose districts are far from Washington get more for travel; those in expensive real estate markets get more for district office space. The allowance funds staff salaries (typical offices employ 15 to 20 people between Washington and the district), equipment, constituent mail, and travel back and forth from the Capitol. Any unspent money returns to the Treasury at the end of the year rather than rolling over or going to the member.
Limits on Outside Income
Federal law caps outside earned income for House members at 15% of the Level II Executive Schedule salary. With Level II set at $228,000 for 2026, the cap works out to $34,200.9Office of Personnel Management. Salary Table No. 2026-EX The limit applies to wages, consulting fees, and other active earnings. Honoraria for speeches, appearances, or articles are banned outright. A member may direct an honorarium to charity, but even that is capped at $2,000 per event.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 13143 – Outside Earned Income Limitation
Passive income (dividends, capital gains, interest) is not subject to the 15% cap, but it does have to be disclosed. Under the STOCK Act, members must report any purchase or sale of stocks, bonds, or other securities within 45 days. Missed deadlines and undisclosed sources of income can bring fines and ethics investigations.11U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority. Summary of Periodic Transaction Report Requirements
Taxes on Congressional Pay
Congressional salaries are treated like any other earned income for federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. There is no special exemption for serving in Congress.
On state taxes, members do get one protection. A state cannot tax a member as a resident just because the member keeps a home there to attend congressional sessions, so representatives can generally claim their home-state residence for tax purposes even while spending much of the year in Washington. This protection does not apply to members who actually represent the state where their D.C.-area home sits.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 4 USC 113 – Residence of Members of Congress for State Income Tax Laws
Representatives once could deduct up to $3,000 a year in living expenses incurred while away from their home district. The 2017 tax law eliminated that deduction. Members now cover their Washington housing, meals, and commuting out of their after-tax salary with no special write-off.
Death Gratuity
If a sitting member of Congress dies in office, their heirs receive a lump-sum payment equal to one full year of the member’s salary, tax-free. For a rank-and-file representative that is $174,000. The gratuity is typically funded through the next available appropriations bill and comes on top of any survivor benefits from the federal pension system or life insurance.