Congressional Staff: CRS Products on Size, Pay, Job Tenure, and Duties
Released: 2020-03-11T00:00:00

T he manner in which staff are integrated and utilized within an organization may reflect the missions and priorities of that organization. In Congress, staff work for Members of Congress in personal, committee, and leadership offices, and are involved with every facet of congressional activity. Activities might include supporting a Member's representational, legislative, leadership, or administrative responsibilities as they arise in those settings.

House and Senate staff activities may be of particular interest as one Congress comes to a close, and another Congress integrates new Members and staff in support of addressing its constitutional and representational responsibilities. Interest in staff issues may also arise when considering committee funding or appropriations for the legislative branch.

CRS has several products about congressional staff, listed below, that provide information about staff roles and data over time about the number of staff, pay levels, and time in specific positions in Member office and committee settings. Congressional clients may contact the authors of the individual reports for additional information.

House of Representatives

CRS Report R43947, House of Representatives Staff Levels in Member, Committee, Leadership, and Other Offices, 1977-2016 , by R. Eric Petersen and Amber Hope Wilhelm.

CRS Report R44323, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2018 , coordinated by R. Eric Petersen.

CRS Report R44682, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2006-2016 , by R. Eric Petersen and Sarah J. Eckman.

CRS Report R44322, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in House Committees, 2001-2015 , coordinated by R. Eric Petersen.

CRS Report R44683, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in House Committees, 2006-2016 , by R. Eric Petersen and Sarah J. Eckman.

Senate

CRS Report R43946, Senate Staff Levels in Member, Committee, Leadership, and Other Offices, 1977-2016 , by R. Eric Petersen and Amber Hope Wilhelm.

CRS Report R44324, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senators' Offices, FY2001-FY2018 , coordinated by R. Eric Petersen.

CRS Report R44684, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in Senators' Offices, 2006-2016 , by R. Eric Petersen and Sarah J. Eckman.

CRS Report R44325, Staff Pay Levels for Selected Positions in Senate Committees, FY2001-FY2015 , coordinated by R. Eric Petersen.

CRS Report R44685, Staff Tenure in Selected Positions in Senate Committees, 2006-2016 , by R. Eric Petersen and Sarah J. Eckman.

Staff Duties, Qualifications, Expectations, and Skills

CRS Report R46262, Congressional Staff: Duties, Qualifications, and Skills Identified by Members of Congress for Selected Positions , by R. Eric Petersen.