Omar Bennett
Political campaign staff salaries vary greatly depending on the role, the candidate's financial situation, and the location of the campaign. Campaign workers' salaries can range from $12.67 per hour for an Assistant role to $32.17 per hour for a Financial Advisor role. The average yearly salary for a Campaign Manager is $73,228, but this can vary from $53,000 to $97,000. In some cases, campaign staff can be paid a premium, such as in the case of Steve Abbott, who earned $426,666 for his work on a 2020 campaign. It is worth noting that the FEC does not provide guidance to campaigns on how much to pay their workers, so compensation is determined by the campaigns themselves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average Salary | $71,332 per year |
| Average Hourly Pay Range | $12.67 - $32.17 |
| Average Salary Range | $32,404 - $73,228 per year |
| Highest Salary | $97,239 per year |
| Lowest Salary | $53,000 per year |
| Average Additional Pay | $10,870 per year |
| Hourly Wage Range | $8.17 - $42.55 |
| Average Hourly Wage | $20.57 |
| Top Cities | Green River, WY, San Mateo, CA, San Francisco, CA |
| Average Salary in Top Cities | $42,776 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Salaries vary depending on the campaign and the worker's role
- Pay can be influenced by skill level, location, and experience
- Campaign committees can pay non-incumbent candidates under certain conditions
- Campaign workers can have different salaries for the same job title
- Campaign staff in New York earn the highest hourly rate in the US
Salaries vary depending on the campaign and the worker's role
The salary of a political campaign worker depends on the specific campaign and the worker's role. While the FEC does not provide any guidance on how much campaigns should pay their workers, federal records show that campaign pay can vary significantly. For example, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren paid her campaign manager, Roger Lau, approximately $13,000 per month, amounting to an annual salary of $156,000. In contrast, Republican Senator Susan Collins from Maine disclosed that her longtime chief of staff, Steve Abbott, earned $426,666 for his work on her 2020 campaign.
The average salary for a political campaign worker in the United States is estimated to be around $71,332 per year, with the median being $60,462 per year. The lowest salary is estimated to be around $53,000 per year, while the highest can reach up to $97,239 per year. These salaries can vary based on factors such as skill level, location, and years of experience. For instance, in certain cities like Green River, WY, and San Francisco, CA, the average salary for a political campaign staff job is higher than the national average, offering opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations.
The specific role within a political campaign also influences the salary. For instance, hourly wages for campaign staff can range from as low as $8.17 to as high as $42.55, with the majority falling between $13.70 and $23.32 across the United States. The average hourly rate for an assistant is $12.67, while a financial advisor can earn up to $32.17 per hour. Similarly, a regional director may earn around $32,404 annually, while a campaign manager's salary can reach $73,228 per year.
It is worth noting that some campaign workers may simultaneously hold positions in government offices, which can impact their compensation. For example, Vanessa Moody, the state director for Republican Senator Tom Cotton, disclosed earning $27,500 for consulting work on his Senate campaign while still working as his director. Additionally, there are rules governing what staffers can and cannot do if they take on two jobs, such as not taking campaign-related calls from congressional offices.
Crafting Powerful Political Campaign Images: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Pay can be influenced by skill level, location, and experience
Political campaigns are free to determine how much they compensate staff members as there is no guidance from the FEC or any other governmental body. This means that pay can vary significantly depending on various factors such as skill level, location, and experience.
Skill Level
The salary of a campaign worker depends on their skill level and the specific role they play in the campaign. For example, the average hourly pay for an assistant on a political campaign is approximately $12.67, while a financial advisor can expect to earn around $32.17 per hour. Similarly, the average annual salary for a regional director is about $32,404, whereas a campaign manager may earn around $73,228.
Location
The location of the campaign can also influence pay, as minimum wage requirements differ by jurisdiction. Campaigns in areas with a higher cost of living may offer higher salaries to attract talent.
Experience
Experience plays a crucial role in determining pay rates for campaign workers. Senior staff members with extensive experience in politics are likely to command higher salaries than those in more junior roles. For example, a longtime chief of staff to a senator may be hired to manage a reelection campaign, as seen in the case of Steve Abbott, who earned $426,666 for his work on the 2020 campaign.
Additionally, individuals with experience working directly for members of Congress or in Capitol Hill offices are often sought after for campaign roles due to their intimate knowledge of policy positions and the needs of constituents. Their salaries may reflect the value placed on this institutional knowledge.
It is worth noting that campaign work is often temporary or contract-based, and individuals may return to their previous government roles after the campaign concludes. In some cases, campaign work can be more financially lucrative than comparable periods in government jobs, especially at senior levels.
Donating Directly: Supporting Your Candidate of Choice
You may want to see also
Campaign committees can pay non-incumbent candidates under certain conditions
Campaign committees are the official committees run by the candidate and their campaign team. They are subject to rules set by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) regarding how money is raised and spent. The FEC does not provide guidance on how much campaigns should pay their workers, and so the campaigns themselves determine how much to compensate staff members.
Campaign workers' salaries can vary greatly, even for the same job title. For instance, a campaign assistant's hourly pay can range from approximately $12.67 to $32.17 per hour. Similarly, a campaign manager's annual salary can range from about $32,404 to $73,228. In 2020, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine faced a challenging reelection campaign and hired her longtime chief of staff, Steve Abbott, to manage her campaign. Abbott disclosed earning $426,666 for his work on the campaign. In contrast, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren paid her campaign manager, Roger Lau, around $13,000 per month or $156,000 annually.
Additionally, congressional staffers may sometimes take on campaign work, either by temporarily leaving their Capitol Hill jobs or working on campaigns after hours or during the weekends. In such cases, they may be compensated differently than their regular congressional jobs, with campaign-only work potentially paying more, especially at the senior levels.
Kamala Harris' Property Portfolio: Private Homes and Public Office
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Tariffs are Taxes That Americans Pay | Bumper Sticker or Car Magnet | Political Blue Magnetic Bumper for Trucks Cars [7.5x3.75]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Vp2o7W2YL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Campaign workers can have different salaries for the same job title
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 doesn't necessarily mean getting paid more. For instance, in 2020, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine faced a challenging reelection campaign. She hired her longtime chief of staff, Steve Abbott, to manage her campaign, and he disclosed earning $426,666 for his work, according to an annual personal financial document.
In another instance, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts ran for president in 2020. FEC data shows she paid her campaign manager, Roger Lau, about $13,000 a month, which amounts to an annual salary of $156,000. This example demonstrates how salaries can vary significantly even for the same role, with Abbott earning over 2.5 times more than Lau for their respective campaign manager roles.
The pay disparity in political campaigns can be influenced by various factors, including the candidate's financial resources, the competitiveness of the race, and the experience and expertise of the campaign staff. In some cases, individuals may take on campaign work in addition to their regular jobs, which can impact their earnings. For example, Vanessa Moody reported working as the state director for Senator Tom Cotton while also consulting for his Senate campaign, earning an additional $27,500 for her outside work.
The geographic location of the campaign can also play a role in salary variations. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a Political Campaign Staff job is above the national average in certain cities, with Green River, Wyoming, topping the list, followed by San Mateo and San Francisco, California. The national average salary for a Political Campaign Staff role is $42,776, while the estimated total pay for a Political Campaign Worker is $71,332 per year, with an average of $60,462, according to Glassdoor.
Blackrock's Political Donations: Campaigns and Contributions
You may want to see also
Campaign staff in New York earn the highest hourly rate in the US
Political campaign staff in New York earn an average of $22.48 an hour, with salaries ranging from $8.94 to $46.52. This makes New York the highest-paying state for campaign staff in the US, with Manhattan offering the highest salaries within the state. The average annual salary for a political campaign manager in New York is $84,162, with salaries ranging from $62,542 to $110,286. The highest salary for a campaign manager in New York City specifically is $123,321 per year, with a minimum of $70,674.
The pay for campaign staff varies depending on the role and the campaign. For example, the role of assistant typically pays $12.67 per hour, while a financial advisor can expect to earn $32.17 per hour. Campaign managers can also earn very different salaries depending on the campaign they are working on. For instance, Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts paid her campaign manager, Roger Lau, $13,000 per month, or $156,000 annually. In contrast, Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine reported that her campaign manager, Steve Abbott, earned $426,666 for his work on her 2020 campaign.
It is worth noting that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) does not provide any guidance to campaigns on how much to pay their workers. As a result, campaigns have the autonomy to determine how much they compensate their staff members. This can lead to significant variations in pay even for staff with the same job title. Additionally, campaign staff may have the opportunity to increase their pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.
Police Political Donations: Ethical or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The average salary for a political campaign worker in the United States is $71,332 per year, with the lowest salary being $53,000 and the highest being $97,239 per year. The hourly rate ranges from $12.67 for assistants to $42.55 for financial advisors.
The FEC does not provide any guidance to campaigns on what they should pay their workers. Campaigns have the autonomy to decide how much they compensate their staff members.
A federal officeholder must not receive compensation as a candidate from campaign funds. However, a non-incumbent candidate may receive compensation from their principal campaign committee under certain conditions. The compensation must not exceed 50% of the minimum annual salary paid to a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The salary of a campaign manager can vary depending on the campaign and their experience. The average salary for a campaign manager is $73,228 per year, with some campaign managers making as little as $50,000 and others making as much as $156,000 per year.
