Congressional Salaries and Benefits

Taxes

Members of Congress pay the same payroll taxes as all other workers for Medicare and Social Security, as well as all applicable state, local and federal taxes.


Retirement

Members of Congress are not entitled to a ‘full salary’ retirement, no matter their length of service. Congressional pensions, like those of other federal employees, are financed through a combination of employee and employer contributions.

Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at age 62 if they have completed at least five years of service. Members are eligible for a pension at age 50 if they have completed 20 years of service, or at any age after completing 25 years of service.

(CRS Report RL30631, Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress, Katelin P. Isaacs)

Salary

The U.S. Constitution, in Article I, Section 6, authorizes compensation for Members of Congress “ascertained by law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.” Currently, Members’ salary is $174,000 annually.  

Congressman Heck has never voted to increase his salary as a Member of Congress.

(CRS Report 97-615, Salaries on Members of Congress: Congressional Votes, 1990-2010, Ida Brudnick)