A rank-and-file Member of the U.S. House of Representatives earns $174,000 a year, a salary that has been frozen since 2009. On top of that base pay, House of Representatives pay and benefits include federal health insurance through DC Health Link, life insurance under FEGLI, a pension under the Federal Employees Retirement System, a Thrift Savings Plan with government matching contributions, and an official office budget averaging roughly $1.93 million per Member. Leadership positions pay more, and outside income is strictly capped.
Salary and the Pay Freeze
The $174,000 figure applies to every rank-and-file Representative. Federal law under 2 U.S.C. § 4501 provides for an automatic annual adjustment tied to the Employment Cost Index, which measures changes in private-sector labor costs.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 2 USC 4501 Compensation of Members of Congress Every year since 2009, however, Congress has blocked that adjustment through language inserted into annual spending bills. The salary has not moved in more than a decade as a result.
Leadership Pay
House leaders are paid more than rank-and-file Members, and those figures have been frozen at the same time. The Speaker of the House earns $223,500 per year. The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader each earn $193,400.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 2 USC 4501 Compensation of Members of Congress
Health and Life Insurance
Under the Affordable Care Act, Members must obtain health coverage through DC Health Link, the District of Columbia’s small-business exchange. Enrollment is not automatic. A Member has to actively sign up during the open enrollment window each year to receive a government contribution toward premiums.2DC Health Link. Congressional Enrollment The employer share mirrors what other federal employees receive, covering a significant portion of the premium.3U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Are Members of Congress Who Are in US Territories Eligible to Enroll in Health Plans via the DC Health Link
Retirement can bring Members back into the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. A former Member may re-enroll in FEHB after leaving office if they retire on an immediate annuity and were continuously enrolled in any FEHB-eligible plan, or covered as a family member, during the five years of service immediately before retirement. Any gap in coverage restarts that five-year clock.4U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Insurance FAQs
Life insurance comes through the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance program. Basic FEGLI coverage equals annual salary rounded up to the next $1,000, plus $2,000, with a $10,000 floor. Basic coverage is automatic unless waived. Three optional tiers can be added by election: Option A adds a flat $10,000, Option B provides up to five multiples of annual pay, and Option C covers a spouse and eligible children.5eCFR. 5 CFR Part 870 Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program
The Congressional Pension
Nearly every sitting Member is covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System. FERS has three components: Social Security, a defined-benefit pension called the Basic Benefit Plan, and the Thrift Savings Plan. A Member becomes eligible for the pension after five years of creditable civilian service.6Office of Personnel Management. CSRS FERS Handbook Chapter 101 Serve only one two-year term, and there is no pension.
How the Pension Is Calculated
The FERS formula multiplies an accrual rate by years of service and by the Member’s “high-3” salary, meaning the average of the three consecutive highest-paid years. For Members who entered Congress before 2013, the accrual rate is 1.7% of high-3 pay for each of the first 20 years of congressional service, then 1% for each additional year.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 8415 Computation of Basic Annuity That 1.7% rate is more generous than the 1% rate most regular federal employees earn.
In dollars, a pre-2013 Member with 20 years of service and a high-3 average of $174,000 would draw about $59,160 a year (1.7% × $174,000 × 20). Add five more years, and the total rises to roughly $67,860, with the extra five years accruing at the lower 1% rate.
Members who first entered Congress after December 31, 2012 accrue at 1% per year for all service and pay a higher employee contribution into the system. Reforms in 2012 and 2013 brought their pension terms in line with ordinary federal employees.
When Payments Can Begin
Leaving Congress does not always mean collecting immediately. An unreduced annuity starts right away in these situations:
- Age 50 with 20 years of service.
- Any age with 25 years of service, provided at least 20 years are congressional.
- Age 62 with 5 years of service, the standard FERS threshold.
A Member who leaves before hitting any of those combinations but has at least five years of service qualifies for a deferred annuity starting at age 62.8eCFR. Part 842 Federal Employees Retirement System Basic Annuity
The Thrift Savings Plan
The TSP operates like a 401(k), with pre-tax or Roth contributions. For 2026, the elective deferral limit is $24,500. Members 50 and older can add $8,000 in catch-up contributions, and those turning 60 through 63 in 2026 qualify for a higher catch-up limit of $11,250.9The Thrift Savings Plan. 2026 TSP Contribution Limits
The government adds two contributions on top. Every FERS participant receives an automatic 1% of base pay, whether or not they contribute anything themselves. On top of that, the government matches the Member’s own contributions dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% of pay, then 50 cents per dollar on the next 2%. Contribute 5% of pay, and the total government contribution reaches 5% of pay (the 1% automatic plus a 4% match).10The Thrift Savings Plan. Contribution Types
A Member’s own contributions and the matching contributions are vested immediately. The automatic 1% vests after three years of federal service for most FERS employees, with some positions vesting after two. Leave before vesting, and that 1% and its earnings are forfeited.11The Thrift Savings Plan. Thrift Savings Plan Vesting Requirements and the TSP
The Office Allowance Is Not Personal Income
Each Member receives an annual office budget called the Members’ Representational Allowance. The MRA is not salary and cannot be converted to personal use.12House Committee on Ethics. Members Representational Allowance It pays for staff salaries, district office rent, equipment, telecommunications, postage, printing, and official travel between Washington and the home district.
The dollar amount varies by Member under a formula that accounts for the distance from the district to D.C. and local real estate costs. Recent MRA figures have ranged from roughly $1.85 million to $2.09 million per Member, averaging about $1.93 million. The allowance can also reimburse up to half the annual premium of a professional liability insurance policy for the Member and qualifying supervisory staff.13United States Committee on House Administration. Members Congressional Handbook
Using MRA funds for personal expenses, campaign activities, or primarily social events is prohibited. A Member who misspends is personally liable for the amount, and the House Ethics Committee can investigate and recommend discipline. Serious cases can lead to criminal prosecution.12House Committee on Ethics. Members Representational Allowance
Outside Income and Honoraria
Members can earn outside income from activities such as teaching, consulting, or writing, but the total is capped. For 2026, outside earned income cannot exceed $33,855.14House Committee on Ethics. FAQs About Outside Employment
Honoraria are separately banned. Payment for a speech, appearance, or article has been prohibited since 1991 under the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, regardless of topic or amount, and the House Ethics Committee cannot grant waivers.15House Committee on Ethics. Laws Rules and Standards of Conduct Governing the Outside Employment of Members and All Staff Any payment offered for such an appearance must be declined or donated to charity.