White House Job Salaries: Here’s What Each Job Title Pays
Commander in chief isn't the only job at the White House. From receptionists to presidential advisers, many important positions are available in the iconic house on the hill, many of which offer a nice annual salary pushing six figures.
Keep reading and learn what each job in the White House earns.
Chief Of Staff To The First Lady: $183,000
A very important position, the Chief of Staff to the First Lady, is responsible for all of the staff within the First Lady's office. Some of the primary responsibilities include coordinating various communications and events overseen by the First Lady.
Rosalynn Carter was the first First Lady to appoint the position, and now it offers a salary of $183,000.
Chief Of Staff: $183,000
The Chief of Staff is one of those positions within the White House that isn't mandatory for the president to fill, but each administration has found a need for. The person holding the title is almost an assistant, responsible for scheduling meetings and even saying who can and cannot meet with the commander and chief.
As of 2020, the position offers a salary of $183,000.
Chief Calligrapher: $104,200
The White House Chief Calligrapher is responsible for everything having to do with official hand-written documentation. Along with two deputy calligraphers, they design, write, and oversee numerous projects such as place cards, military commissions, service awards, official greetings from the President, and invitations.
In 2018, the chief calligrapher of the White House earned a salary of $104,200.
West Wing Receptionist: $53,000
While the position of West Wing receptionist is very much like any other receptionist job, this one comes with a slight difference. The west wing is where the Oval Office is located!
The receptionist is responsible for answering phone calls, greeting guests, and directing them towards various offices throughout the wing. Their salary is around $53,000.
Deputy Director Of Communications: $158,000
As part of the senior staff of the President, the White House Deputy Director of Communications is responsible for any and all aspects of promoting the president's agenda, typically spearheading the media campaigns.
The person holding this title works on important speeches such as the inaugural address. Their salary is around $158,000.
Executive Assistant To The President: $158,000
Like other executive assistant positions, the person holding the title in the White House is responsible for scheduling out the President's day, making his administration look as good and organized as possible, and maintaining the various relationships on the hill.
The executive assistant to the President is offered a very nice salary of $158,000.
White House Counsel: $183,000
A senior staff member, the White House counsel is responsible for overseeing all legal issues, financial disputes, and ethical concerns surround the president and their administration.
The job also has this person managing the White House's team of lawyers, providing legal guidance when necessary. This position earns a solid salary of $183,000.
Senior Counselor: $183,000
The Senior Counselor to the president is a position that was created during the administration of Richard Nixon. Traditionally, the job of the counselor is to offer the President aid in day-to-day affairs within the White House, including speech writing, the media, and various other communications.
The high-ranking political position offers a salary of $183,000.
Director Of White House Travel Office: $106,000
The responsibilities of the Director of White House Travel Office are pretty much exactly as the title sounds. This person oversees everything to do with the President's travel arrangements outside of the White House.
This includes lodging, costs, and flight plans (even for the press!). The title offers a salary of $106,000.
Director Of White House Visitors Office: $106,000
Whenever someone plans to visit the White House or host an event, they go through the Director of the White House Visitors Office. This person is responsible for making the White House an opening, inviting place for special guests as well as the public.
They are offered a salary of $106,000.
Director Of Stenography: $98,900
A stenographer is a person who is trained to type or write using a shorthand method, usually seen in a courtroom. The President's director of stenography is responsible for overseeing all other stenographers and ensuring all public addresses are transcribed and properly documented.
They are paid a salary of $98,900.
Vice President: $235,100
Aside from the President, the Vice President might be one of the most important jobs in the White House. This person aids the President in governing matters and is one of their closest advisors.
Most importantly, the Vice President takes over for the President if they can no longer serve in office. Their salary is $235,100.
Senior Advisor: $176,461
The White House Senior Advisor is a title that has been used since 1993. The person holding the job title is responsible for numerous departments within the house on the hill, including the Office of American Innovation, the White House Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaisons, and more.
With their responsibilities, the Senior Advisor to the president earns a salary of $176,461.
Senior Videographer: $80,000
The title of Senior Videographer was officially introduced during former President Barack Obama's administration. They are responsible for capturing important events on camera, have it be a state dinner or even the annual turkey pardon.
While they are not helping the President figure out important governmental issues, the Senior Videographer is still a member of the White House team and is offered a salary of $80,000.
Speechwriter: $135,000
While the Communications Director oversees important speeches and turns them into media campaigns, the speechwriters are actually responsible for drafting important addresses for the president.
According to the former director of speechwriting, Jon Favreau, "You're trying to balance what the president would want to say with what people are looking to hear." The position offers a competitive salary of $135,000.
Ethics Counsel: $147,458
The Ethics Counsel is responsible for advising and counseling the President on public issues and conflicts of interest. According to OpenPayRolls.com, the 2020 ethics counsel, Monica Ashar received $147,458 when she held the position.
The website says, "This is 49.5 percent higher than the average pay for co-workers and 123.6 percent higher than the national average for government employees."
Deputy Director Of The National Economic Council: $158,000
The Deputy Director of the National Economic Council (NCE) is responsible for helping head the NCE. This means aiding the President and NCE Director in all matters of foreign and domestic economic matters.
First created in 1993, this White House position is within the President's executive office and is offered a very large salary of $158,000.
Director Of Presidential Personnel: $183,000
The Director of Presidential Personnel is a very important position in the White House, as this person is responsible for vetting potential employees. The Presidential Personnel Office (PPO) is responsible for employing around 4,000 positions with 1,600 needing approval from the Senate.
An important title, the director of presidential personnel is offered a salary of $183,000.
National Security Advisor: $183,000
The National Security Advisor (NSA) aids the President in all things surrounding national security. An executive position, this particular title does not need Senate approval and is appointed by the President.
They are responsible for presenting classified information to the President and are offered a salary of $183,000.
Press Secretary: $183,000
The main role of the White House Press Secretary is to interact with the media, namely about the President's administration, events going on around the world, and how the house on the hill is dealing with different situations.
An important job, as it is a way for the public to stay informed, the press secretary position offers a salary of $183,000.
Social Secretary: $168,000
As part of the First Lady's staff, the Social Secretary is responsible for overseeing a wide variety of events that take place on the White House grounds. According to former Social Secretary Lea Berman, "The White House social secretary is responsible for every event that takes place within the grounds of the White House..."
"So it's hundreds of events each year, and it's everything from a two-person lunch in the family residence to a state arrival ceremony, which can be ... 8,000 people." This title offers a salary of $168,000.
Senior Advisor To The Chief Of Staff: $239,000
While the position of Chief of Staff varies from one administration to the next, they each of a Senior Advisor, helping them make important decisions and offering counsel.
Under the Trump administration, the Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff, John Czwartacki, earned over $239,000, more than his boss and other White House employees.
Executive Clerk: $153,000
The Office of the Executive Clerk is responsible for handling all of the original documents signed by the President. This includes treaties, executive orders, nominations, certificates of awards or medals, pardons, public laws, and more.
The Office of the Executive Clerk was formed back in 1865, and the clerk is offered a salary of $153,000.
Director Of The National Economic Council: $183,000
The Director of the National Economic Council is a senior aide and is responsible for everything related to national security and global economic policy, including classified information, and reports directly to the President.
Due to the responsibilities associated with the title of Director of the National Economic Council, this person is offered a large salary of $183,000.
Immigration Advisor: $161,000
The Immigration Advisor is pretty self-explanatory. The title offers aid and counsel to the President in all things relating to national immigration laws and regulations.
An important position in the White House, the Immigration Advisor, is offered a very hefty annual salary. According to cdn.govexec.com, former Immigration Advisor David Wetmore earned a salary of over $161,000.
Assistant To The President For Trade and Manufacturing Policy: $183,000
The position of Assistant to the President for Trade and Manufacturing Policy was established in 2017 during the Trump administration. It was created to aid the President on trade policies and various strategies to increase economic growth.
As of 2022, the position is thought to be inactive. The last person to hold the position, Peter Navarro, was offered a salary of $183,000.
Director Of White House Information Technology: $168,000
According to the White House, the primary responsibility of the Director of White House Information Technology is to create and optimize "high-quality, efficient, interoperable and safe information systems and information resources..." for both the President and Vice President.
The position was created during the Obama administration, and now offers a competitive salary of $168,000.
President: $400,000
The most important position in the White House is that of the President. The head of state and government and the commander in chief of the United States Armed Forces, the President has a wide range of responsibilities and serves in office for four years.
As the leader of the free world, the President is given a salary of $400,000.
Operations Manager: $56,000
The Operations Manager works within the Oval Office Operations and ensures the President's schedule is set, they are ready for private engagements, and various interactions with the President are accounted for.
The manager is located directly outside of the Oval Office and is offered a salary of $56,000 a year.
Director Of Digital Operations: $89,000
Working out of the Office of Digital Strategy, the Director of Digital Operations is responsible for promoting the President's agenda through means of social media, including Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snap Chat, and Facebook.
Reporting to the White House Director of Communications, the Director of Digital Operations is offered a salary of $89,000.