Salaries of members of the United States Congress
This chart shows historical information on the salaries that members of the United States Congress have been paid. The Government Ethics Reform Act of 1989 provides for an automatic increase in salary each year as a cost of living adjustment that reflects the employment cost index. Since 2010 Congress has annually voted not to accept the increase, keeping it at the same nominal amount since 2009. The Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1992, prohibits any law affecting compensation from taking effect until after the next election.
| Year | Salary | Per diem/annum | Percent adjustment | In 2014 dollars |
| 1789 | $50 | per annum | ||
| 1795 | $1 | per diem only Representatives | ||
| $7 | per diem only Senators | |||
| 1796 | $6 | per diem | ||
| 1815 | $1,500 | per annum | $19,084 | |
| 1817 | $6 | per diem only Representatives | ||
| $7 | per diem only Senators | |||
| 1818 | $8 | per diem | ||
| 1855 | $3,000 | per annum | $75,109 | |
| 1865 | $5,000 | per annum | $76,244 | |
| 1871 | $7,500 | per annum | $146,107 | |
| 1874 | $5,000 | per annum | $103,183 | |
| 1907 | $7,500 | per annum | $187,663 | |
| 1925 | $10,000 | per annum | $133,587 | |
| 1932 | $9,000 | per annum | $154,137 | |
| 1933 | $8,500 | per annum | $153,397 | |
| 1934 | $9,000 | per annum | $157,080 | |
| 1934 | $9,500 | per annum | $165,807 | |
| 1935 | $10,000 | per annum | $170,276 | |
| 1947 | $12,500 | per annum | $130,741 | |
| 1955 | $22,500 | per annum | $196,223 | |
| 1965 | $30,000 | per annum | $222,206 | |
| 1969 | $42,500 | per annum | $270,697 | |
| 1975 | $44,600 | per annum | $193,587 | |
| 1977 | $57,500 | per annum | $221,500 | |
| 1979 | $60,662.50 | per annum | $194,778 | |
| 1982 | $69,800 | per annum only Representatives | $168,569 | |
| 1983 | $69,800 | per annum only Senators | $163,343 | |
| 1984 | $72,600 | per annum | $162,891 | |
| 1985 | $75,100 | per annum | $162,645 | |
| 1987 | $77,400 | per annum | $158,784 | |
| 1987 | $89,500 | per annum | $183,606 | |
| 1990 | $96,600 | per annum only Representatives | $172,342 | |
| 1990 | $98,400 | per annum only Senators | $175,553 | |
| 1991 | $125,100 | per annum only Representatives | $214,192 | |
| 1991 | $101,900 | per annum only Senators | $174,470 | |
| 1991 | $125,100 | per annum only Senators | $214,192 | |
| 1992 | $129,500 | per annum | 3.5% | $215,267 |
| 1993 | $133,600 | per annum | 3.2% | $215,614 |
| 1998 | $136,700 | per annum | 2.3% | $197,114 |
| 2000 | $141,300 | per annum | 3.4% | $191,866 |
| 2001 | $145,100 | per annum | 2.7% | $193,924 |
| 2002 | $150,000 | per annum | 3.4% | $195,774 |
| 2003 | $154,700 | per annum | 3.1% | $198,143 |
| 2004 | $158,100 | per annum | 2.2% | $196,029 |
| 2005 | $162,100 | per annum | 2.5% | $194,380 |
| 2006 | $165,200 | per annum | 1.9% | $193,266 |
| 2008 | $169,300 | per annum | 2.5% | $185,614 |
| 2009 | $174,000 | per annum | 2.8% | $191,533 – 174,000 |
Additional pay schedule for the Senate and House positions:
SCHEDULE 6—VICE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
| Position | Salary |
| Vice President | $230,700 |
| Senators and House Representatives | $174,000 |
| Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico | $174,000 |
| President pro tempore of the Senate | $193,400 |
| Majority leader and minority leader of the Senate | $193,400 |
| Majority leader and minority leader of the House of Representatives | $193,900 |
| Speaker of the House of Representatives | $223,500 |