July 6, 2011

Want to Earn a White House Salary?

The White House recently published their annual salary report as part of a commitment to transparency while Obama is in the presidency. According to the report, they’ll pay $37 million in salaries in 2011 – which sounds like an enormous number until you realize just how many people actually work in the White House.

The average salary at for a White House worker is $82,000 annually, which is down slightly from 2010. About a third make between $100,000 and $200,000, though a number of workers make under $50,000 annually. Some of Obama’s advisers actually don’t take a salary at all, while others are in the highest pay grade, making $172,200 annually. Among the top earners are the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterrorism, the Chief of Staff, and the Press Secretary.

Though the $37 million in salaries is split between 454 employees, it’s indisputable that these workers still earn a lot of money! Are you interested in earning a White House salary? Here are a few steps to help you get to the White House:

  • Go to school. A good education to help your career will make you eligible for jobs that pave the way down Pennsylvania Avenue.
  • Work in government positions outside of the White House to gain experience. You can start at the local or state level, but eventually, it helps to gain some experience at the federal level with a government job in Washington.
  • Stay out of trouble! If you have a record, it can be next to impossible to hold a government position, especially in the White House.
  • Network, network, network. In Washington, it often isn’t about what you know, but who you know, so make an appearance at parties and fundraisers, meet as many other government workers as possible, an keep in touch with your contacts.
  • Specialize in your education and experience. It’s easier to find a top-level government job if you have a specialty, such as working in homeland security, rather than just having a general political science degree and bouncing from industry to industry.
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