Capitol Hill staffers aren't paid enough to get by.- We want to know how Hill staffers budget their monthly paycheck as we report on congressional pay.
- Contact us at hillsalarydiary@insider.com or on Signal +1202-567-7343 to tell us you want to participate.
Look beyond the lavishly painted halls and ornate Rotunda, and you'll see Capitol Hill has a dark secret: many of its staffers aren't paid enough to get by.
Some of the very people who write trillion-dollar legislation and make
Most junior-level staffers start out in the low-$30,000 range, and it doesn't get much better from there. In a city as expensive as Washington, DC, where the average monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment is more than $2,000, some interns and junior staffers take on side jobs on top of their grueling, 24/7 Hill responsibilities - just to make rent and pay bills.
Many staffers say that low salaries also prevent diverse, qualified candidates from getting in the door or having long careers with Congress, making the legislative branch less effective at serving the communities it represents.
Insider wants to shed light on workplace issues in the legislative branch. First up, we want to show how Hill staffers live on their salaries as lawmakers debate whether to give them a raise.
What we're looking for: A money diary! Tell us what you make, what your role is, and break down how you spend your monthly paycheck for Insider.
Email us your Capitol Hill money diary to hillsalarydiary@insider.com or contact us on Signal +1202-567-7343 to tell us you want to participate. We'll be contacting you after to get you started on tracking your salary.
Here are some things we're interested in knowing:
- Rent cost
- Groceries
- Dining out and drinks
- Professional clothes
- Dry cleaning/grooming
- Travel or vacation
- Self care/quality of life expenses
- Vehicle (if you have one) lease, upkeep, and gas
- Student loans
- Other expenses and more
We understand this is a sensitive topic, and that your careers are at stake. That's why Insider will not disclose staffers' names, offices, or other information that makes them identifiable in stories resulting from your responses.
Reporters Kristie-Valerie Hoang and Kayla Epstein need to know who you are, but your boss definitely doesn't. If you want to see how we protect sources in print, check out this story on Hill burnout, or this one on low pay.
Do you have other tips about workplace issues on Capitol Hill, including bad bosses, toxic offices, terrible policies, or other systemic problems? Share tips with kepstein@insider.com or khoang@insider.com.