Eleanor Finch
Working on a political campaign can be a demanding but rewarding job, especially for those with an interest in politics and technology. While there are no standard rates of pay, salaries can vary significantly depending on the role, location, and experience of the worker. Campaign workers usually start with field, advance, or fundraising work and then move on to policy or political work. Salaries can range from approximately $12.67 per hour for assistant roles to $32.17 per hour for financial advisors, with campaign managers earning an average of $73,228 per year. Some senior staffers may even earn hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on their connections and experience. Most paid positions are paid weekly, and volunteers may be able to reduce their living costs with campaign support.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Salary range | $8.17 to $42.55 per hour |
| Average salary | $20.57 per hour |
| Annual salary range | $32,404 to $73,228 |
| Annual salary for campaign manager | $156,000 |
| Annual salary for senior congressional staffer | $135,468 |
| Annual salary for chief of staff | $426,666 |
| Salary payment frequency | Weekly |
| Hiring process | Networking, online job boards |
| Work type | Field, advance, fundraising, policy, political, data gathering, data analysis, data modelling, data visualization, digital marketing, online campaigns, coding |
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What You'll Learn
- Campaign worker salaries vary based on location, experience, and job title
- Campaigns decide worker pay, with no guidance from the FEC
- Campaign workers often start with field, advance, or fundraising work
- Networking is crucial to getting a job on a political campaign
- Campaign funds are sometimes used to pay a candidate's compensation
Campaign worker salaries vary based on location, experience, and job title
In addition to location and job title, experience also plays a role in determining campaign worker salaries. Senior congressional staffers earning a minimum of $135,468 annually for their Capitol Hill jobs are allowed to earn up to $29,895 while working on campaigns, according to ethics rules. For instance, in 2020, Vanessa Moody, the state director for Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, reported earning $27,500 for her work on his Senate campaign, in addition to her regular salary.
It is worth noting that the FEC and other governmental bodies do not provide guidance to campaigns on staff compensation. As a result, campaign pay can vary significantly, and campaigns have the autonomy to determine how much they pay their workers. For example, during her 2020 presidential campaign, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts paid her campaign manager, Roger Lau, approximately $13,000 per month, amounting to an annual salary of $156,000.
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Campaigns decide worker pay, with no guidance from the FEC
Political campaign worker pay is decided by the campaigns themselves, with no input or guidance from the FEC or any other governmental body. This means that campaign worker salaries can vary widely, even for the same job title. For example, in 2020, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine hired her longtime chief of staff, Steve Abbott, to manage her campaign, and he earned $426,666 for his work. In contrast, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts paid her campaign manager, Roger Lau, about $13,000 a month, or $156,000 annually.
Campaign worker pay also depends on factors such as skill level, location, and years of experience. For example, political campaign staff in New York earn an average of $20.57 per hour, which is higher than the national average of $16.32 per hour. Additionally, campaign workers in high-cost-of-living cities like Santa Rosa, California, can expect to earn more than those in lower-cost-of-living areas like Green River, Wyoming.
It is worth noting that many campaign workers are not in it for the immediate monetary rewards. Instead, they view the work as a way to gain connections and experience that will benefit their careers in the long run, especially if they have political aspirations. As such, some campaigns may offer different forms of support for their volunteers, such as helping to reduce living costs.
Campaign work is often done in addition to a staffer's regular job, and they may work a "double shift" by first working in an official capacity and then doing campaign work in their free time. Senior congressional staffers earning a minimum of $135,468 a year for their Capitol Hill jobs are allowed to earn no more than $29,895 working on campaigns, according to ethics rules in both the House and Senate.
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Campaign workers often start with field, advance, or fundraising work
Field work involves direct voter contact, canvassing, and engaging with the public to explain the candidate's goals and ideas. Field organisers are the primary liaison between the campaign and local influencers, such as community activists and interest group leaders. They are responsible for distributing campaign materials, such as lawn signs and bumper stickers, and providing valuable information about the communities they work in.
Advance work includes scheduling and coordinating the candidate's appearances and events, ensuring everything is in order before the candidate arrives. This department works closely with the field team and is responsible for maximising the candidate's influence on voters.
Fundraising is essential for spreading the candidate's message and establishing credibility. Fundraisers plan and conduct events, manage online fundraising, and generate the funds needed for the campaign. Their work often serves as an independent test of the candidate's credibility.
Salaries for campaign workers vary widely, even for the same job title. Pay depends on factors such as skill level, location, and years of experience. Campaign managers can earn around $156,000 annually, while assistants might make approximately $12.67 per hour. Campaign work is often a stepping stone to permanent positions, and building a network is crucial for future opportunities.
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Networking is crucial to getting a job on a political campaign
If you don't know anyone currently working on a particular campaign, reach out to campaign alumni. Many campaign workers are repeat players, and if a friend has worked on a campaign before, they may know someone now working on a campaign that interests you. Use your college or law school alumni connections and identify alumni working on campaigns or affiliated with partisan work. For example, groups such as the National Republican Senatorial Committee or Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Your personal and professional contacts are a surefire way to expand your political network. People in your circles may know community leaders, donors, or people willing to volunteer or donate to local campaigns. These potential connections could be great for your campaign. That's why it's important to refer to your campaign rolodex and reach out to all your contacts about volunteer and donation opportunities.
To get a job on a political campaign, it's important to make a plan. Ask yourself questions such as: What are your relocation and remote work preferences? What do you need from an organization's mission, vision, values, and culture? Identify your preferred places of work, leadership styles, organizational cultures, and causes you care about. While the perfect job might be hard to locate, finding a political campaign job that aligns with your values and career goals is achievable.
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Campaign funds are sometimes used to pay a candidate's compensation
Political campaigns can pay their workers vastly different salaries, even for the same job title. For example, a campaign manager's salary can range from $42,776 to $156,000 annually. The amount of compensation a campaign worker receives depends on who they work for, and federal records show just how much campaign pay can vary. Ultimately, it is the campaigns that determine how much they compensate staff members, as the FEC and other governmental bodies do not provide guidance on what campaigns should pay their workers.
Campaign funds may not be used for an expense that exists independent of the campaign. For example, campaign funds cannot be used to pay for food, supplies, or attire for political functions. Campaign funds also cannot be used to cover expenses related to deaths within the candidate's family unless the death arises from campaign activity. In addition, campaign funds may not be used for tuition payments unless the costs are associated with training campaign staff.
On special occasions, campaign funds may be used to purchase gifts or make donations of nominal value to persons other than the candidate's family. Gifts to charity are not considered personal use expenses as long as neither the candidate nor any member of their family receives compensation from the charitable organization before it has spent the entire amount donated.
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Frequently asked questions
Campaign workers can have vastly different salaries even for the same job title. How much they get paid depends on who they work for. Working on a presidential campaign won't necessarily mean getting paid more. Salaries can range from $8.17 per hour to $42.55 per hour, with an average of $20.57 per hour. Salaries also depend on the worker's skill level, location, and years of experience.
Political campaigns pay their workers through campaign funds. Campaigns determine how much they compensate staff members, and federal records show that campaign pay can vary. Most paid positions are paid weekly, and except for experienced and high-profile senior operatives, the compensation is usually fairly low.
Networking is a crucial way to obtain a job in politics. Campaign workers usually begin with field, advance, or fundraising work, and later move on to policy or political work. Previous experience with digital marketing, online campaigns, and/or coding is valued.
