Meet the highest-paid White House staffers in 2026 — and see how much they make

• 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.

While the figure is significantly higher than what the average American makes — $72,800 in 2025, according to the Social Security Administration — it's also less than you would need to be in the top 1% of earners across all US states.

In 2025, the top 1% of earners in Maryland and Virginia, which border the District of Columbia, earn $677,543 and $701,792 annually, respectively.

Government salaries often lag behind what professionals earn in the private sector, since serving the public isn't as lucrative as maximizing shareholder value. Still, to say that those working at the White House are underpaid would be an overstatement.

On July 1, the White House shared with Congress the salaries of all employees inside the president's executive office, including aides, advisors, and staff leaders, as it is legally required to.

Some of the highest-compensated workers around the president include policy advisors and legal counsel, while others are responsible for the president's communications and personnel management. Lower-paid roles include research assistants and press assistants.

Other notable names, like Marco Rubio and David Sacks, declared a $0 salary from the office of the president, either forgoing their salary or receiving compensation from other branches of government.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

See the 34 people who get paid the most inside the White House, after the president himself.

Role: Senior policy advisor

Salary: $197,200

Role: Executive director of the Anti-Fraud Task Force

Salary: $197,200

Role: Senior policy advisor

Salary: $197,200

Role: Deputy executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council

Salary: $197,200

Role: Deputy director of the Presidential Council of Advisors for Digital Assets

Salary: $197,200

Role: Senior advisor

Salary: $197,200

Role: Senior policy advisor

Salary: $197,200

Role: Senior policy advisor

Salary: $197,200

Role: Policy advisor

Salary: $197,200

Role: Executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council

Salary: $195,200

Role: Senior policy advisor

Salary: $195,200

Role: Assistant to the president for policy

Salary: $195,200

Role: Cabinet Secretary

Salary: $195,200

Role: Director of legislative affairs

Salary: $195,200

Role: Director of communications

Salary: $195,200

Role: Deputy assistant to the president and deputy special envoy to Ukraine

Salary: $195,200

Role: Director of management and administration and director to the Office of Administration

Salary: $195,200

Role: Associate counsel

Salary: $195,200

Role: Director of the Domestic Policy Council

Salary: $195,200

Role: Chief of staff to the first lady

Salary: $195,200

Role: Deputy chief of staff for operations

Salary: $195,200

Role: Assistant to the president for economic policy and director of the National Economic Council

Salary: $195,200

Role: Senior policy advisor

Salary: $195,200

Role: Border czar

Salary: $195,200

Role: White House press secretary

Salary: $195,200

Role: Deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security advisor

Salary: $195,200

Role: Senior counselor for trade and manufacturing

Salary: $195,200

Role: Deputy chief of staff director of the Office for Presidential Personnel

Salary: $195,200

Role: Staff secretary

Salary: $195,200

Role: Senior policy advisor

Salary: $195,200

Role: Counsel to the president

Salary: $195,200

Role: Chief of staff

Salary: $195,200

Role: Executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisors for Digital Assets

Salary: $195,200

Role: Director of speechwriting

Salary: $195,200