Members of Congress: Their Salaries, Benefits, and Allowances

 Congressional Research Service

Salary:  $174,000.  (More for party leaders)

Benefits:

• Tax deductions:  up to $3,000 per year, while away from their congressional districts or home states.6
• Benefits
• eligible to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
• eligible to participate in the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program
• Retirement
• Option 1:  Civil Service Retirement System
• Option 2:  Federal Employees Retirement System
• Social Security:  Mandatory participation for all members of Congress since 1984

Personnel, Office Expenses, and Mail Allowances

• Representatives.  May be used for 
• staff
• travel
• mail
• office equipment
• district office rental
• stationer
• other office supplies.
• $573.9 million in FY2012  (down from $660.0 million in FY2010)
• avg. of 1,319,310 per member
• Senators (similar sues)
• $396.2 million in FY2012 (down from $422.0 million in FY 2010)
• average of $3,962,000 per Senator