Meet the highest-paid White House staffers in 2026 — and see how much they make
This report details the salary structure of high-level White House staffers in 2026, noting that top earners make up to $197,200 annually. It compares these government salaries to private sector earnings and the national average income.
Why it matters
It provides transparency regarding public sector compensation and highlights the economic disparity between government service and private industry.
Stephen Miller, Susie Wiles, and Tom Homan are among the highest-paid staffers at the White House. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images The White House salary report shows its top-paid staffers earn up to $197,200 annually. Senior advisors, legal counsel, and policy directors are among the highest earners listed. Government salaries can fall below private sector pay but far exceed the national average income. Working at the White House might be one of the most exclusive and prestigious jobs in the US, but you'd be surprised by how much some of the people around the president make each year. For starters, having the top job — that is, being the president of the US — brings in a salary of $400,000, which some independently wealthy presidents, such as John F. Kennedy, Herbert Hoover, and Donald Trump, have chosen to donate instead.
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