July 2, 2009 12:08 PM

Obama's Key Advisers Make $172,200

By
Mark Knoller
Topics
White House
(iStockphoto)
For some of those who work at the White House, it's the downside of government openness and transparency: anyone can look up their salaries.

A list of 487 employees in the Executive Office of the President – and their annual pay, is now posted on the White House Web site.

The list spans the West Wing spectrum from receptionist to chief of staff.

Since 1995, the White House has been required to submit a staff salary list to Congress. And usually the list is leaked to members of the press.

But this is the first time the White House itself has made the list a public document.

"Consistent with President Obama's commitment to transparency, this report is being publicly disclosed," said the White House on its Web site.

How would you feel if your employer posted everyone's name, title and salary? I suspect it would cause quite a stir at CBS News. Let's see, Katie Couric...

The list shows 22 senior staffers earning top pay of $172,200 a year. They include the Sunday talk show names such as advisors David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett, National Security Adviser Gen. Jim Jones, press secretary Robert Gibbs, Economic Advisor Larry Summers as well as Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

In all, there are 144 on the list earning six figure paychecks. But on his second day in office, Mr. Obama imposed a pay freeze on all of them. They won't get the annual increases others in government get each January as long as the freeze is in effect.

"During this period of economic emergency, families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington," said Mr. Obama on January 21st in announcing the pay freeze on his top aides.

Still, there's one name on the White House list that tops all others: David Marcozzi, Director of Public Health Policy. His salary is put at $192,934. Technically, he's not a White House staffer, but an official on loan from the Department of Health and Human Services. Government officials in the Senior Executive Service can earn a top base pay of $196,700. There are 32 "detailees" on the staff list.

The list also shows many White House staffers earning far less: a switchboard operator, $42,800; a receptionist, $36,000; and policy analyst, $38,000.

As interesting as the salaries are some of the titles:


  • correspondence analyst, $36,000


  • presidential support specialist, $41,210


  • assistant supervisor of classification, $75,537.


    • Some may gripe about their salaries when compared to others, but all know it's a rare privilege to work at the White House.

    Nobody works here just for the pay.

    (CBS)
    Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent. You can read more of his posts in Hotsheet here. You can also follow him on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/markknoller.

Add a Comment
by koko98-2009 July 3, 2009 12:57 AM EDT
It's easy for us to complain about a six figure salary but for these folks it's chump change. A Congressman makes about $171,000 a year, but CBS did a story earlier in the year about a dozen Congressmen who have to sleep IN THEIR OFFICES. If the head of Disney were to become president he would have to take a 95% pay cut.
Reply to this comment
by carlyt1 July 2, 2009 5:33 PM EDT
Top salaries same as in the Bush administration but caliber of staff is not the same. There is a related post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?p=2024
Reply to this comment
by vicoa July 2, 2009 2:32 PM EDT
"How would you feel if your employer posted everyone's name, title and salary?"

This is the most asinine comment a so-called journalist could make. If someone is being paid by the public, their salary SHOULD be public. This is particularly true for those who are simply appointed to a position. I like knowing what MY employees are paid. Only an idiot would suggest otherwise.
Reply to this comment
by somejtl July 2, 2009 1:37 PM EDT
There are a variety of reasons why the top advisors do earn $172,000 (notice the verb "earn"), but a not-so-obvious reason is that they put in 18-hour days, or some crazy number like that. With a life like that, they are giving a lot to the country.
Reply to this comment
by spurrs56 July 2, 2009 2:57 PM EDT
Really? Then our guys/gals fighting for us should get much much more; after all they work 24 hours a day and could be killed at any time. They really are giving alot to the country.
by ltaylor974 July 2, 2009 1:19 PM EDT
As a public school teacher my salary has always been public and my neighbors don't mind commenting that I make too much for their tax dollar. $47,000 a year to teach their children while they go off to work and make twice as much as I do. Their cars cost more then my yearly salary.

I'd much rather not have my salary published every year and I don't make any money!!!! Somethings should remain private.
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