What members of Congress make
For 2026, official salary references list the base annual salary for Senators, House Representatives, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner as $174,000. This is the personal salary figure most people mean when they ask how much a member of Congress makes.
| Role | 2026 salary | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Senator | $174,000 | Base salary for ordinary Senate members. |
| House Representative | $174,000 | Base salary for ordinary House members. |
| Delegate / Resident Commissioner | $174,000 | Listed with House/Senate congressional salary schedule entries. |
| Senate majority and minority leaders | $193,400 | Leadership salary, higher than rank-and-file members. |
| President pro tempore of the Senate | $193,400 | Listed with Senate leadership salary references. |
| Speaker of the House | $223,500 | Higher leadership salary for the House Speaker. |
Salary is not the same as an office budget
A congressional office also receives operating funds for official duties. Those funds can cover staff, district or state offices, official travel, mail, constituent services, and other office work. They are not the member's personal salary. Mixing these two categories creates bad salary claims.
Why public numbers can look different
Search results sometimes mix current salary, older leadership figures, allowances, staff payroll, benefits, or net-worth estimates. For salary, prefer official government references and check the effective date. For wealth or campaign-finance context, use disclosure filings, FEC records, and clearly labeled public estimates.
Official sources checked
- House Clerk salary document for the 119th Congress, dated June 1, 2026.
- U.S. Senate salaries table for Senate salary history and current leadership salary context.
- U.S. Code salary schedule for 2026 congressional salary entries.
The Power Tree uses these as salary references and links users back to the source trail instead of asking them to trust a summary alone.
How to use salary context on The Power Tree
The Power Tree directory shows salary context alongside office contact details, committee links, FEC links, OpenSecrets links, and official sources. Salary explains the public role, but it does not explain campaign finance, personal assets, committee influence, or office operations by itself.
Find the official, then verify the source.
Use the Congress directory for the member card, then open the salary, FEC, OpenSecrets, committee, and official contact links for the full public-source trail.
Open Congress directoryFAQ
How much do members of Congress make in 2026?
The base salary for ordinary Senators and House members is $174,000 in 2026.
Do congressional leaders make more?
Yes. Senate leaders and the President pro tempore are listed at $193,400, and the Speaker of the House is listed at $223,500.
Does salary include office staff or travel budgets?
No. Staff, official travel, mail, and office operations are handled through separate official allowances, not the member's personal salary.
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