Jonah Patel
Campaign managers are responsible for coordinating a political campaign's operations, including fundraising, advertising, and polling. While the role can be performed on a volunteer basis, campaign managers are often paid salaries, with presidential campaign managers earning higher incomes than those working on smaller-scale campaigns. The salaries of presidential campaign managers have been known to vary widely, with some earning over $100,000 per year, while others earn as little as $70,000.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average salary of a campaign manager | $74,998 per year |
| Average salary of a campaign manager (according to Glassdoor) | $102,003 per year |
| Highest salary of a campaign manager (according to Glassdoor) | $137,411 per year |
| Salary range of a campaign manager | $62,367 to $83,764 |
| Average base salary of a campaign manager | $72,057 |
| Average total cash compensation of a campaign manager | $72,674 |
| Salary range of a campaign manager (including base and annual incentives) | $62,731 to $85,120 |
| Salary of Biden campaign manager Jennifer O'Malley Dillon | $271,000 per year |
| Salary of deputy campaign manager Pete Kavanaugh | $120,780 per year |
| Salary of deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield | $112,020 per year |
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What You'll Learn
Salaries of campaign managers for Donald Trump and Joe Biden
The salaries of campaign managers and other staffers working for presidential candidates and presidents have long been a subject of public interest. This is also the case for the campaign managers and staffers of former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden.
Donald Trump's Campaign Managers and Staffer Salaries
During his 2020 reelection campaign, President Donald Trump's highest-paid staffers were his communications director, Tim Murtaugh, and attorney Michael Glassner. They earned an annual gross salary of $271,000, according to federal records. Trump's campaign also paid for various consulting services, such as political, communications, and strategy. For example, the campaign paid Parscale Strategy LLC, the firm of former campaign manager Brad Parscale, nearly $33,000 in August.
Trump's campaign tends to outsource most of its operations to independent contractors rather than putting them on the internal campaign payroll. This allows individuals more control over how they pay their taxes. Trump has his own payroll companies, Trump Payroll Corp. and Trump Tower Commercial LLC, through which he pays his staff. While specific salary data for Trump's 2016 campaign managers could not be found, one source revealed that an office manager for his presidential campaign earned an annual salary of around $32,000.
Joe Biden's Campaign Manager and Staffer Salaries
During his 2020 presidential campaign, Joe Biden's campaign manager, Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, was the highest-paid staffer among his salaried staff. While her exact salary is not known, it is estimated that the top Biden campaign general-election salaries were marginally higher than those of Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign staff. Biden's campaign staff was reported to be quite diverse, with about half of the overall staffers identifying as people of color and more than half being women.
Some of Biden's other top-paid staffers included policy adviser Jake Sullivan ($129,924 annualized), foreign policy adviser Tony Blinken ($121,572), deputy campaign manager Pete Kavanaugh ($120,780), general counsel Dana Remus ($119,820), and senior adviser and Chief Operating Officer Maju Varghese ($118,740).
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Average salary of a campaign manager
The role of a campaign manager is to coordinate a political campaign's operations, including fundraising, advertising, polling, and getting out the vote. While they are often a campaign's most visible leader after the candidate, modern campaign managers, especially at the presidential level, focus on executing rather than setting strategy.
Campaign managers' salaries can vary depending on the level of the campaign and the individual's experience. For instance, the base salary for a political campaign manager typically ranges from $62,367 to $83,764, with an average base salary of $72,057. The average total cash compensation, including base and annual incentives, can be anywhere from $62,731 to $85,120, with an average of $72,674. However, salaries can go as high as $137,411 per year, with the highest-paid campaign staffers often being communications directors or attorneys.
According to another source, the average salary for a campaign manager is $74,998 per year, while another source puts the average at $102,003 per year. The variation in salaries may be due to factors such as the campaign's budget, the candidate's popularity, and the campaign manager's experience and negotiating skills.
It is worth noting that campaign managers working on presidential campaigns can expect to earn higher salaries than those working on smaller-scale campaigns. For example, during the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden's campaign manager, Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, was the highest-paid staffer on his campaign, though her exact salary was not disclosed.
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Highest and lowest salaries of campaign managers
The salary of a campaign manager varies depending on the company, the level of the position, and the location. For instance, in the United States, the average salary for a campaign manager is $74,998 per year, with a range of $62,367 to $83,764. The total cash compensation, including base pay and incentives, can reach up to $85,120 per year. However, some sources claim that the average salary for a campaign manager in the US is $102,003, with the highest salary reaching $137,411 per year.
On the other hand, political campaign hourly pay rates can vary significantly, with assistants earning approximately $12.67 per hour and financial advisors earning up to $32.17 per hour. Annual salaries in political campaigns can range from $32,404 for a regional director to $73,228 for a campaign manager.
When it comes to presidential campaigns, the salaries of campaign managers and staffers can be even higher. For example, during the 2020 election, Donald Trump's campaign staff were paid significantly more than in the previous election. Trump's communications director, Tim Murtaugh, and attorney, Michael Glassner, earned an annual salary of $271,000. In contrast, Joe Biden's campaign manager, Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, was the highest-paid staff member on his campaign team.
It is worth noting that campaign managers may also be paid volunteers, particularly in modern presidential campaigns, where they execute rather than set the strategy.
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Responsibilities of a campaign manager
A campaign manager's salary can vary depending on the campaign and the level of experience required for the role. The base salary for a campaign manager ranges from $62,367 to $83,764, with an average base salary of $72,057. The average salary across all campaigns is $74,998 per year. However, salaries can be much higher for those working on presidential campaigns. For example, Biden's campaign manager, Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, was the highest-paid staffer on his campaign team.
Now, onto the responsibilities of a campaign manager. The role of a campaign manager is to coordinate a political campaign's operations, including fundraising, advertising, polling, and getting out the vote through direct contact with the public. They are often the most visible leader of the campaign after the candidate themselves. While they may not be responsible for setting the campaign strategy, they are tasked with executing it. This can include managing volunteers and deploying their talents where they can be of most use to the campaign.
Campaign managers may also be involved in determining which voters the campaign should prioritize contacting and how best to contact them. This involves data management and analysis, as well as a good understanding of the campaign's target groups. They may also be responsible for administrative tasks, such as responding to campaign mail and emails, and managing campaign finances, including the salaries of paid staff.
In the case of presidential campaigns, it is common for campaign managers to have to commit to the role for the long haul, which can be as long as two years. This means that campaigns will want to see evidence of a candidate's commitment before offering them a position of responsibility.
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Top paying companies for campaign managers
The salary of a campaign manager varies depending on the company, the role, and the level of experience of the individual.
The average salary for a campaign manager in the United States is around $74,998 per year, with a base salary range of $62,367 to $83,764. The total cash compensation, including base pay and annual incentives, can range from $62,731 to $85,120.
However, for presidential campaigns, the salaries can be significantly higher. For example, during the 2020 election, some of the highest-paid staffers for Joe Biden's campaign included policy adviser Jake Sullivan ($129,924 annualized) and foreign policy adviser Tony Blinken ($121,572). On Donald Trump's campaign, communications director Tim Murtaugh and attorney Michael Glassner earned an annual salary of $271,000.
Some of the top-paying companies for campaign managers include Google, with a median marketing campaign manager salary of $127,331, and PitchBook Data, with a median salary of $121,741. Salesforce and Pearson are also considered great companies for campaign managers, with competitive salaries and innovative platforms.
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Frequently asked questions
The salary of a campaign manager in the US can vary depending on the company, the location, and the level of experience required. The average salary for a campaign manager in the US is $74,998 per year, with salaries ranging from $62,367 to $83,764. The highest salary for a campaign manager in the US is $137,411 per year.
The salary of a presidential campaign manager can depend on several factors, including the size and scope of the campaign, the candidate's fundraising ability, and the manager's level of experience and expertise.
Some of the highest-paid presidential campaign managers include Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, who managed the campaign of Democratic nominee Joe Biden, and Bill Stepien, who managed President Donald Trump's reelection campaign.
Yes, it is possible for presidential campaign managers to be unpaid volunteers. However, modern campaign managers, especially at the presidential level, are typically paid staff members who are responsible for executing the campaign's strategy.
