- Each year the White House is required to report staff salaries to Congress.
- Biden’s highest-paid official is Francis Collins, making $300,000 as Acting Science Advisor.
- Trump’s top 10 highest-paid staffers made more than the Biden White House makes.
Earlier this month the White House released its annual report to Congress revealing White House personnel salaries.
The Biden administration’s report disclosed the pay of more than 470 people, whose combined salaries total $46,759,727. Overall, the Biden White House employs more than 600 aides. About half of current White House employees make $100,000 or more with the other half making $90,000 or less.
There are 16 Biden White House employees who make $0 a year, including senior policy advisors for immigration, economic policy, public health and democracy and voting rights, among others. Some positions in the White House do not earn a salary because they are considered “detailees” who work for other agencies, which compensate them, and are assigned to work with the White House. Five people in the Trump White house made $0 a year, including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who both served as top advisers to the former president.
Salaries can change from administration to administration depending on a variety of factors, including the number of positions available, inflation, and the president’s priorities.
Since the George W. Bush administration, the presidential salary has been $400,000 a year. Former President Donald Trump donated his salary to various federal agencies.
Vice President Kamala Harris makes $235,100 a year, the federally mandated salary for her position. Former Vice President Mike Pence received a 1.9% raise during his time in office, increasing the vice presidential salary to $230,700.
According to the report, the Biden White House’s 27 highest-paid employees all make over $180,000. The top 10 highest-paid officials begins with Francis Collins, the Acting Science Advisor to the president, who makes $300,000 a year. In comparison, Trump’s highest-paid employee was John Czwartacki, the senior adviser to the chief of staff for strategy and stakeholder engagement, who earned $239,595 annually.
Read More: How Biden and Trump White House Staffers’ Salaries Compare