Congressional staffers working for lawmakers on their way out of office are among the best paid on Capitol Hill.
The 85 departing members with enough payroll data to calculate a median staff salary have an average office median of $79,715, compared with LegiStorm's congressional median of $75,510. The group includes members who are retiring, were defeated or gave up their seats to run for Senate or another office. Although departing members account for just 16% of the 533 offices with salary data, they make up six of the 10 highest-paying offices, 12 of the top 25 and 19 of the top 50. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), who gave up his House seat for an unsuccessful Senate bid, ranks first with a median staff salary of $128,790.