How much was the US President's yearly salary?
The US President's yearly salary was $200,000 in 1970 and $400,000 in 2025: about twice as much.
Over the same years, prices in general (US inflation, measured by the consumer price index, CPI) rose about 8.3 times. That makes $200,000 in 1970 worth about $1,660,000 in 2025 money. So it did not keep up with prices in general: it buys about 76% less than in 1970.
The biggest change between two listed years came between 2000 and 2025, when it went up 100%, from $200,000 to $400,000.
President's salary: price by year
| Year | Amount | In 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $200,000 | $1,660,000 |
| 1990 | $200,000 | $493,000 |
| 2000 | $200,000 | $374,000 |
| 2025 | $400,000 | $400,000 |
"In 2025 dollars" adjusts each amount for inflation with the CPI, so the years can be compared fairly. How this works.
Where the numbers come from
Set by law (3 US Code section 102). The salary only changes when Congress passes a new law, so it stays the same for decades at a time.
Source: Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives (U.S. Code): 3 U.S.C. 102: Compensation of the President (with Amendments and Effective Date notes). View the source.
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