When it comes to presidential advising, the pay is pretty good.
A newly released White House report shows that three of President Obama’s closest — adviser Valerie Jarrett, National Security Adviser Susan Rice and personal counselor John Podesta — top the salary scale for White House aides, drawing in $172,200 each.
The list of staffer salaries shows that 456 aides who serve at the pleasure of the president draw in between $42,000 and $172,200 per year, U.S. News and World Report reported.
By law, the White House is required to release the information — including names, titles and salaries of all executive level employees — on an annual basis.
A pay freeze put in effect at the president’s request has left senior-level staffers with the same take-home base pay as pervious years.
But mid-level and entry-level worker received a base pay hike from $36,000 in 2009 to $42,000 this year, the Daily Mail said.
On top of that, those in the White House earning less than $100,000 a year were given a one percent hike in salary.
Others taking home the top tier pay pay of $172,200 include senior adviser Dan Pfieffer, press secretary Joshua Earnest, deputy national security adviser Tony Blinken and deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes.
Former press secretary Jay Carney was pulling in the max salary when he manned the podium.
First lady Michelle Obama’s chief of staff, Tina Tchen makes $172,200 a year — as do White House communications director Jennifer Palmieri and national economic council official Jeffrey Zients, the Daily Mail said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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