Working at the White House might be one of the most exclusive and prestigious jobs in the US, but you’d be surprised by how much some of the people around the president make each year.
For starters, having the top job — that is, being the president of the US — brings in a salary of $400,000, which some independently wealthy presidents, such as John F. Kennedy, Herbert Hoover, and Donald Trump, have chosen to donate instead.
While the figure is significantly higher than what the average American makes — $72,800 in 2025, according to the Social Security Administration — it’s also less than you would need to be in the top 1% of earners across all US states.
In 2025, the top 1% of earners in Maryland and Virginia, which border the District of Columbia, earn $677,543 and $701,792 annually, respectively.
Government salaries often lag behind what professionals earn in the private sector, since serving the public isn’t as lucrative as maximizing shareholder value. Still, to say that those working at the White House are underpaid would be an overstatement.
On July 1, the White House shared with Congress the salaries of all employees inside the president’s executive office, including aides, advisors, and staff leaders, as it is legally required to.
Some of the highest-compensated workers around the president include policy advisors and legal counsel, while others are responsible for the president’s communications and personnel management. Lower-paid roles include research assistants and press assistants.
Other notable names, like Marco Rubio and David Sacks, declared a $0 salary from the office of the president, either forgoing their salary or receiving compensation from other branches of government.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
See the 34 people who get paid the most inside the White House, after the president himself.
Gary Barnett
Role: Senior policy advisor
Salary: $197,200
Scott Brady
Role: Executive director of the Anti-Fraud Task Force
Salary: $197,200
Lucas Croslow
Role: Senior policy advisor
Salary: $197,200
Blake Deeley
Role: Deputy executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council
Salary: $197,200
Harry Jung
Role: Deputy director of the Presidential Council of Advisors for Digital Assets
Salary: $197,200
Peter Lake
Role: Senior advisor
Salary: $197,200
James “J.C.” Miller
Role: Senior policy advisor
Salary: $197,200
Joseph Simonson
Role: Senior policy advisor
Salary: $197,200
Nick Stewart
Role: Policy advisor
Salary: $197,200
Jarrod Agen
Role: Executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council
Salary: $195,200
Brittany Baldwin
Role: Senior policy advisor
Salary: $195,200
Walker Barrett
Role: Assistant to the president for policy
Salary: $195,200
Meghan Bauer
Role: Cabinet Secretary
Salary: $195,200
James Braid
Role: Director of legislative affairs
Salary: $195,200
Steven Cheung
Role: Director of communications
Salary: $195,200
John Coale
Role: Deputy assistant to the president and deputy special envoy to Ukraine
Salary: $195,200
Joshua Fisher
Role: Director of management and administration and director to the Office of Administration
Salary: $195,200
Shawn Flynn
Role: Associate counsel
Salary: $195,200
Vince Haley
Role: Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Salary: $195,200
Hayley Harrison
Role: Chief of staff to the first lady
Salary: $195,200
William ‘Beau’ Harrison
Role: Deputy chief of staff for operations
Salary: $195,200
Kevin Hassett
Role: Assistant to the president for economic policy and director of the National Economic Council
Salary: $195,200
Anne Hawkins
Role: Senior policy advisor
Salary: $195,200
Tom Homan
Role: Border czar
Salary: $195,200
Karoline Leavitt
Role: White House press secretary
Salary: $195,200
Stephen Miller
Role: Deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security advisor
Salary: $195,200
Peter Navarro
Role: Senior counselor for trade and manufacturing
Salary: $195,200
Daniel Scavino
Role: Deputy chief of staff director of the Office for Presidential Personnel
Salary: $195,200
Will Scharf
Role: Staff secretary
Salary: $195,200
Courtney Stecker
Role: Senior policy advisor
Salary: $195,200
David Warrington
Role: Counsel to the president
Salary: $195,200
Susie Wiles
Role: Chief of staff
Salary: $195,200
Patrick Witt
Role: Executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisors for Digital Assets
Salary: $195,200
Ross Worthington
Role: Director of speechwriting
Salary: $195,200
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