How much does a President Make (and other perks of the job)
When George Washington took the job of President of the United States in 1789, he was paid an annual salary of $25,000. It is said that Washington was reluctant to take the salary, but he relented when he was asked to consider how this might affect those who came after him as President, some of whom may be of modest means. It is also said that once he started drawing his salary, he complained that his pay was not sufficient to cover the expenses of his household and at times he even had to pay expenses out of pocket.
Today, the president is paid a salary of $400,000. I was curious what a salary of $25,000 in 1789 equaled in today's dollars, and wouldn't you know that Wikipedia was way ahead of me with this table:
Date established Salary Salary in 2012 Dollars
September 24, 1789 $25,000 $673,451
March 3, 1873 $50,000 $992,777
March 4, 1909 $75,000 $1,954,850
January 19, 1949 $100,000 $967,315
January 20, 1969 $200,000 $1,254,610
January 20, 2001 $400,000 $519,979
Besides the salary, the president is paid a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 non-taxable travel account and $19,000 for entertainment.
A number of other pretty good perks come with the job. The White House serves as the official place of residence for the president. He is entitled to use its staff and facilities, including medical care, recreation, housekeeping, and security services. Naval Support Facility Thurmont (better known as Camp David) is used as a country retreat and for high alert protection of the president and his guests. Blair House, located adjacent to the Old Executive Office Building at the White House Complex and Lafayette Park, is a complex of four connected townhouses exceeding 70,000 square feet of floor space which serves as the president's official guest house and as a secondary residence for the president if needed.
For ground travel, the president uses the presidential state car, which is an armored limousine built on a heavily modified Cadillac-based chassis. One of two identical Boeing VC-25 aircraft, which are extensively modified versions of Boeing 747-200B airliners, serve as long distance travel for the president, and are referred to as Air Force One while the president is on board. The president also uses a United States Marine Corps helicopter, designated Marine One when the president is aboard. The United States Secret Service is charged with protecting the sitting president and his family.
Since 1959, all living former presidents are paid a pension, and are given an office and a staff. The pension has increased numerous times with Congressional approval. Retired presidents now receive a pension based on the salary of the current administration's cabinet secretaries, which is $199,700 as of 2012. Some former presidents have also collected congressional pensions. The Former Presidents Act also provides former presidents with travel funds and franking privileges.
Until 1997, all former presidents, and their families, were protected by the Secret Service until the president's death. In 1997, Congress passed legislation limiting secret service protection to no more than 10 years from the date a president leaves office for all Presidents after Bill Clinton. But on January 10, 2013, President Barack Obama signed legislation reinstating lifetime secret service protection for him, George W. Bush, and all subsequent presidents. Interestingly, a former president's spouse who remarries is no longer eligible for secret service protection.
Today, the president is paid a salary of $400,000. I was curious what a salary of $25,000 in 1789 equaled in today's dollars, and wouldn't you know that Wikipedia was way ahead of me with this table:
Date established Salary Salary in 2012 Dollars
September 24, 1789 $25,000 $673,451
March 3, 1873 $50,000 $992,777
March 4, 1909 $75,000 $1,954,850
January 19, 1949 $100,000 $967,315
January 20, 1969 $200,000 $1,254,610
January 20, 2001 $400,000 $519,979
Besides the salary, the president is paid a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 non-taxable travel account and $19,000 for entertainment.
A number of other pretty good perks come with the job. The White House serves as the official place of residence for the president. He is entitled to use its staff and facilities, including medical care, recreation, housekeeping, and security services. Naval Support Facility Thurmont (better known as Camp David) is used as a country retreat and for high alert protection of the president and his guests. Blair House, located adjacent to the Old Executive Office Building at the White House Complex and Lafayette Park, is a complex of four connected townhouses exceeding 70,000 square feet of floor space which serves as the president's official guest house and as a secondary residence for the president if needed.
For ground travel, the president uses the presidential state car, which is an armored limousine built on a heavily modified Cadillac-based chassis. One of two identical Boeing VC-25 aircraft, which are extensively modified versions of Boeing 747-200B airliners, serve as long distance travel for the president, and are referred to as Air Force One while the president is on board. The president also uses a United States Marine Corps helicopter, designated Marine One when the president is aboard. The United States Secret Service is charged with protecting the sitting president and his family.
Since 1959, all living former presidents are paid a pension, and are given an office and a staff. The pension has increased numerous times with Congressional approval. Retired presidents now receive a pension based on the salary of the current administration's cabinet secretaries, which is $199,700 as of 2012. Some former presidents have also collected congressional pensions. The Former Presidents Act also provides former presidents with travel funds and franking privileges.
Until 1997, all former presidents, and their families, were protected by the Secret Service until the president's death. In 1997, Congress passed legislation limiting secret service protection to no more than 10 years from the date a president leaves office for all Presidents after Bill Clinton. But on January 10, 2013, President Barack Obama signed legislation reinstating lifetime secret service protection for him, George W. Bush, and all subsequent presidents. Interestingly, a former president's spouse who remarries is no longer eligible for secret service protection.