House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) ordered on Friday that the maximum salary cap for lower chamber staffers be raised to $212,000 per year.
As a result of the change, the maximum salary for House aides is now $38,000 higher than that of lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
“As you know, our hard-working, patriotic Congressional staffers are integral to the functioning of the House of Representatives: ensuring this institution can effectively carry out our legislative and constituent responsibilities,” Pelosi wrote to her colleagues.
“To that end, we must do all we can to retain and recruit the best talent in our nation — and to build a Congressional workforce that reflects the communities we are honored to serve,” she added.
The outgoing House Speaker noted that the pay increase in her order is consistent with recent salary increases for executive branch employees.
Pelosi increased the maximum salary for House staff to $199,300 in 2021. In May, the salary cap was raised to $203,700, and the speaker instituted a minimum salary of $45,000 for staffers.
Members of Congress earn $174,000 per year on average. Members of Congress earn slightly more, with Pelosi earning $223,500 per year as House Speaker.
The increase in the salary cap for employees could be one of Pelosi’s final acts as speaker.
She is scheduled to relinquish her position as House speaker on Tuesday, when the new Republican-majority House convenes.
