Senator Chief of Staff Job Description

U.S. senators each have a Chief of Staff

Each member of the U.S. Congress has a staff. A senator's staff is much larger than the staff of a member of the House of Representatives. Each staff is led by a Chief of Staff.

Education

A Senate Chief of Staff often has a master's degree or Ph.D. in political science, communications, or a related field.

Basic Duties

The Chief of Staff ensures that the office operates smoothly and efficiently, which includes overseeing the activities of the other members of the senator's staff. According to Congress.org, the Chief of Staff, "usually has overall responsibility for evaluating the political outcome of various legislative proposals and constituent requests."

Reporting Structure

The Chief of Staff reports directly to the senator and oversees everyone in the office, from unpaid interns to key legislative assistants.

Career Path

You must develop a solid working relationship with a senator in order to become a Chief of Staff. Many legislative staff members started as unpaid interns and worked their way through the ranks. Some Chiefs of Staff were campaign managers for their senator before being appointed.

Salary

According to C-Span, the cable news network dedicated to Congress, the average salary for a Senate Chief of Staff is $116,573.

References

• Congress.org: Congressional Staff Roles
• C-Span: Congressional Staff and what they get paid

Resources

• Legistorm: Congressional Staff Salaries by Staffer Last Name