
(CNN) – Working at the White House includes long days, 7-day work weeks, and a demanding boss who just happens to have his finger on the button.
So what's the going rate to put up with these working conditions?
According to the salary list released by the administration Thursday, 23 White House staffers make $172,000, while two "detailees" – Michael Harsh and Timothy Love – top the list at nearly $180,000. "Detailees" are employees from other government offices who have been assigned to work at the White House for a period of time.
The White House is required to submit an annual salary list to both the U.S. Senate and House.
Most of President Obama's senior aides – including Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, and adviser David Axelrod make $172,000 a year – the same salary they made last year due to a salary freeze the president implemented shortly after taking office.
However, rank-and-file White House staffers make considerably less, with the average salary is $82,700 a year, while the median employee salary is $66,000. The lowest full time salary is just under $38,000 a year.
Obama himself earns $400,000, double the $200,000 President Clinton earned annually during his eight years in office. The president's pay hike went into effect during the presidency of George W. Bush.
In all, the White House employs 469 staff members for a total payroll of nearly $40 million.
– CNN's Alexander Mooney contributed to this report


Why do they need 495 staff members and I see a $20 target just by cutting ALL of the White House staff salaries in HALF.....
So what's the big deal!!! I think CNN should look for better stuff to write about. Presidents need staffs, so why is Obama case different from all of the past presidents.
He makes $400,000 a year and how much does he pay for his own health care?
Not alot of dough considering the hours and
the pressure.
What's ridiculous is the salary and benefits for
congressmen and senators, especially considering
the lack of hours worked and the lack of decision
making.
Which brings to mind....TERM LIMITS...TERM LIMITS
....and....TERM LIMITS !!!!!!!
So how do these figures compare to past administrations?
obama made $400,000 and he took it?? he already made $5,000,000 off his book deal.. lets spend that salary to pay off some debt instead of taxing business!
Do I really need to comment on this. Stop the government spending. Why can't they take a pay cut. Hell I get a pay cut at work all the time. I am a server, so when business is slow, my money is slow. I still manager to live.
Not to mention the humongous mountain of debt continuely being piled onto our future generations. There is no change in this shame..
I think that they should all work for minimum wage like the good people at Goldman Sach$ and AIG.
Overpaid and Overrated
Wow, I am surprised that the staff salaries are that low. An equivilent job as a senior staff member in the private sector would earn at least $300K. These are supposed to be the best and brightest in the world, we should pay them as such.
It's fun giving WH and other politicians a hard time, but yeesh, they're clearly not in it for the money. They make WAY less than their peers in private industry.
While this administration is working so hard on destroying this countries economy, any pay they receive is to much.