The White House releases an annual report to Congress detailing the salaries of staff in the Executive Office of the President, offering a transparent snapshot of compensation for aides, advisors, policy experts, communications personnel, and support roles. This report, typically published around July 1 each year, covers hundreds of employees but excludes the President (who earns a fixed $400,000 base salary) and the Vice President.
The most recent data comes from the 2025 Annual Report to Congress on White House Staff, as of July 1, 2025, during the early phase of the second Trump administration. The report lists 404 total staff members, including about 30 detailees (temporary assignments from other federal agencies). Of these, eight individuals received no salary—often a choice made by high-level advisors or those with independent means—while the rest were paid.
Key Salary Statistics
- Highest salary: $225,700, earned by Jacalynne B. Klopp, a senior immigration advisor and detailee. This figure represents the cap for many senior executive roles (aligned with Level II of the Executive Schedule in 2025).
- Second highest: $203,645, paid to associate counsel Edgar Mkrtchian.
- Common senior-level pay: A group of 33 employees earned $195,200, including prominent figures such as Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
- High earners overall: 81 staff members made $150,000 or more, with 40 earning $180,000 or above.
- Average salary (for paid staff): Approximately $111,322.
- Lower-tier salaries: Around 108 employees fell in the $59,000 to $80,000 range, covering administrative, clerical, and entry-level support positions.
- Role-based ranges:
- Deputy assistants: Typically $155,000–$175,000.
- Special assistants: Often $121,500–$150,000.
- Presidential speechwriters: Between $92,500 and $121,500.
Salaries are governed by federal guidelines, with political appointees often reaching caps set by the Executive Schedule, while career civil servants or detailees may follow General Schedule (GS) or Senior Executive Service (SES) scales. Annual adjustments occur, though political roles offer some flexibility within legal limits.
The 2025 payroll totaled around $44.1 million for paid staff, noted as relatively lean compared to prior administrations when adjusted for inflation. This reflects a mix of experienced hires, detailees, and cost-conscious staffing decisions.
For the complete list of names, positions, and exact salaries, the official report is publicly available on whitehouse.gov. These figures provide insight into the competitive pay for high-stakes government roles in the nation’s most powerful office, where proximity to the President comes with significant responsibility—and scrutiny.
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