Shamini 
(C): Twitter
The White House publishes a salary report annually detailing employee compensation, providing an usual glimpse into who gets paid what in the West Wing. The 2025 salary release under President Donald Trump’s second term included over 400 employees in the White House, detailing the pay levels of advisors, assistants and speechwriters, also showing the pecking order among those individuals. The report also details top earners compared to those with no pay but contextualises Trump’s rewards to some of Biden’s previous administration based on the size of staff, average salaries and senior-most pay.
President Trump’s Compensation
| Position | Base Salary | Additional Allowances | Total Annual Compensation |
| President | $400,000 | $50,000 (expenses) | $569,000 (with travel, entertainment, redecorating) |
He also gets:
- $100,000 travel stipend.
- $19,000 entertainment budget.
- A $100,000 (single time) redecoration support allowance.
During his first term in office, Trump has donated his salary to various government agencies and has publicly committed to his salary donation.
Top Paid White House Staff
| Name | Position | Salary |
| Jacalynne B. Klopp | Senior Advisor | $225,700 |
| Edgar Mkrtchian | Associate Counsel | $203,645 |
| 33 Senior Officials | Advisors, Chiefs, etc. | $195,200 |
| Speechwriters | Presidential Writers | $92,500–$121,500 |
| 108 Junior Staffers | Various Roles | $59,000–$80,000 |
A few of the names in the $195,200 tier include:
Press Secretary – Karoline Leavitt
Chief of Staff – Susie Wiles
Border Czar – Tom Homan
Homeland Security Advisor – Stephen Miller
Trade Advisor – Peter Navarro
How Trump Compares to Biden’s Administration
| Category | Trump 2025 | Biden 2024 |
| Total Staff | ~400 | 564 |
| Average Staff Salary | $114,194 | $109,166 |
| Staff Earning $180,000+ | 35+ | 21 |
| Unpaid White House Appointees | 8 | Similar |
Eight Trump officials take no White House salary, such as:
Marco Rubio, as National Security Advisor who is paid through the State Department.
Steve Witkoff, special envoy, who is also paid elsewhere.
