Inequality on Top of the Hill: Race, Pay, and Representation among Congressional Staff Members

Abstract

U.S. congressional staffers guide the federal lawmaking process. They assist and advise lawmakers in nearly all dimensions of congressional work. Because of their influence as policymakers in our multiracial democracy, the racial composition of staffers matters. The authors use congressional payroll data from 2001 to 2013, along with predictive algorithms, to investigate how racial groups are employed and compensated. First, the data show that Whites are overrepresented across all staff positions, most noticeably in top-paid positions. Second, the authors find that all racial groups have a significantly lower rate of pay compared with Whites. The results indicate that some, but not all, of this gap is driven by the underrepresentation of racial minorities in higher paying jobs. The consequences of a racialized congressional workplace are far reaching and shape policy creation as well as political participation. The authors contend that Congress must publish more reliable and better organized workforce data to become accountable for its hiring practices.